05/05/1998 03:20 PM Senate JUD

     CSHB 252(FIN) - CRIMINAL RECORDS & OFFENDER REGISTRATION                  
                                                                               
SENATOR PARNELL brought CSHB 252(FIN) before the committee as the              
next order of business.                                                        
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE JOE RYAN, prime sponsor of HB 252, explained that               
legislation brings  the state into compliance with federal law,  It            
a two-tier system that is put in place for sex offenders that fail             
to register properly or fail to reregister.  They would be guilty              
of a class A misdemeanor for a first offense, which would have a               
minimum sentence of 35 days in jail.  A second offense would be a              
class C felony, which would be a presumptive sentence with a                   
minimum of two years in jail.  He said this legislation will give              
law enforcement and the prosecutors the teeth necessary in the law             
to get into compliance.                                                        
                                                                               
Number 106                                                                     
                                                                               
CAPTAIN TED BACHMAN, Division of Alaska State Troopers, Department             
of Public Safety, testifying from Anchorage, stated the                        
department's support for the legislation and that he and Diane                 
Shenker, also with the department, were available for questions                
from the committee.                                                            
                                                                               
Number 082                                                                     
                                                                               
JAYNE ANDREEN, Executive Director, Council on Domestic Violence and            
Sexual Assault, Department of Public Safety, voiced the council's              
support for HB 252.  A strong sex offender registration program and            
statutes for Alaska goes a long way to improve the protection for              
potential victims in the future.  She expressed appreciation for               
the section relating to situations where a sex offender has failed             
to register and the duration of that time gets added on at the end             
of the 15 years that they are required to register.                            
                                                                               
Due to the lack of a quorum, HB 252 was set aside for further                  
action until later in the meeting.                                             
Number 160                                                                     
                                                                               
     CSHB 252(FIN) - CRIMINAL RECORDS & OFFENDER REGISTRATION                  
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR called the meeting back to order and asked the                 
pleasure of the committee on CSHB 252(FIN).                                    
                                                                               
SENATOR PARNELL moved CSHB 252(FIN be passed out of committee with             
individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so                   
ordered.