Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120
04/02/2024 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB330 | |
| HB228 | |
| HB190 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 330 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 228 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 190 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 330-RESTRICT PRISONER ACCESS DIGITAL DEVICES
3:06:45 PM
CHAIR SHAW announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 330, "An Act relating to the use and possession
of electronic devices by prisoners."
3:07:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SARAH VANCE, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, introduced HB 330. She provided a sponsor statement,
[included in the committee packet], which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
House Bill 330 embodies a common-sense and impactful
approach to correctional reform. By authorizing
institutions to provide prisoners with restricted
access to tablets for education, reentry, and
essential life purposes, this legislation extends
opportunity and a path toward successfully
reintegrating into society without the likelihood of
future criminal activity. This strategy for preparing
prisoners for successful reentry isn't primarily
rooted in compassion; it's also a strategic public
safety measure.
Recognizing the pivotal role education plays in
breaking the criminal cycle, HB 330 enables access to
limitless educational and programming resources
through tablets. By acknowledging the transformative
influence of learning in the rehabilitation process,
the bill prioritizes the State's long-term goal of
reintegrating individuals into society as productive
and law-abiding citizens, thereby preventing future
crimes and avoiding any future victims.
Allowing inmates restricted access to tablets does not
constitute a luxury or reward. To the contrary, in our
digital era, investing in education and rehabilitation
through technology isn't about being soft on crime;
it's about tackling the underlying causes of criminal
behavior, thereby reducing recidivism rates and
preventing new crimes.
Research consistently underscores how effective
education is in reducing the likelihood of an
individual committing a new crime. By equipping
individuals with the knowledge and skills required for
a constructive life, HB 330 not only enhances public
safety but also alleviates the financial strain linked
with incarcerating repeat offenders. The resultant
cost savings could potentially rescue the state
millions of dollars in the long run, rendering this
legislation a prudent investment in societal well-
being.
3:10:10 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
3:10:32 PM
BOB BALLINGER, Staff, Representative Sarah Vance, Alaska State
Legislature, provided a video during the presentation of HB 330,
on behalf of Representative Vance, prime sponsor. The video,
titled "DC jails and AWS CPC," described a partnership with
American Prison Data Systems and Amazon Webservices to help
provide cloud certification programs for incarcerated people.
3:14:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE provided a PowerPoint presentation, titled
"HB 330 Restrict Digital Access to Prisoners" [hard copy
included in the committee packet]. She stated that
participation in correctional education programs significantly
reduced the risk of recidivism. She moved to slide 4 and said
that those who are enrolled in post-secondary education programs
while incarcerated were 48 percent less likely to be
reincarcerated than those who do not pursue further education.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE moved to slide 5, titled "Path to
Employment," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Formerly incarcerated people are unemployed at a rate
of over 27 percent - higher than the total U.S.
unemployment rate during any historical period,
including the Great Depression
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE moved to slide 6, titled "Barriers to
Participation," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Among the 57% of people in state prisons who had never
participated in education programming; 18% cite never
being offered the opportunity.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE said that research indicates that gainful
employment post-release significantly decreases the likelihood
of recidivism. Investing in skills developed during
incarceration is beneficial to individuals and the community.
She noted the barriers to educational opportunities due to
funding issues.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE moved to slide 7, titled "Educational
Aspirations of Prisoners," which read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
70%
Want to participate in education
29%
Of the 70%, 29% want earn a certificate from a college
or trade school
18%
Of the 70%, 18% want to earn a certificate from a high
school diploma/GED or an Associate's degree
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE moved to slide 8, titled "Return on
Investment in Correctional Education," which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
For every dollar spent on correctional education, $5
is saved in three-year re-incarceration costs
- a 400% ROI
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE said that HB 330 enhances public safety and
results in cost savings. She made note of the attached zero
fiscal note. She explained that the bill also offers the
opportunity for incarcerated individuals to connect with their
legal counsel and families.
3:18:54 PM
PHILIP LICHT, President and CEO, Set Free Alaska, described
services offered to those who are reentering the community after
incarceration. He described that in his experience, the more
disconnected from their family and communities people become,
the more difficult it is to reintegrate them, and thus are more
likely to commit new crimes, which perpetuates the cycle.
MR. LICHT said he is a strong proponent of educational
opportunities for incarcerated individuals. Rehabilitation will
help with reintegration. He mentioned it can be a challenge to
provide services to incarcerated individuals due to
technological limitations within institutions. He mentioned
that his younger brother currently is incarcerated in Arizona
and has access to a tablet. He described the benefits for
incarcerated individuals to be able to communicate with family
members and participate in educational programs on the tablet.
He explained that families of people who are incarcerated pay
for the ability to text and contact the person through a third-
party program. He expressed his opinion that HB 330 could
benefit incarcerated individuals in Alaska.
3:23:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE passed around an example tablet on behalf
of the invited testimony from ViaPath Technologies.
3:24:15 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
3:24:41 PM
JOHN PILCHER, Associate Vice President of Sales and Engineering,
ViaPath Technologies, provided a demonstration of the purpose-
built tablet for corrections facilities and explained that each
offender would utilize their unique pin which is paired with a
photo for added security. He explained how the tablets were
designed with security in mind.
MR. PILCHER showed an inmate handbook that needs to be
acknowledged by the user before proceeding to use the tablet.
He showed a profile page, which has educational content
available to the offenders. He mentioned that offenders can
continue to access their educational accounts after
incarceration as they reintegrate into the community.
MR. PILCHER showed the education application and said that
teachers are given access to assign work. He discussed
electronic communication on the tablet, which provides a secure
environment for inmates to communicate with their families. No
apps or Internet access is available on the tablets other than
Department of Corrections (DOC) approved secured content.
MR. PILCHER explained that video visitation can be utilized on
tablets and has a secure internal system that can be monitored
and recorded by the facility.
3:29:45 PM
PELICIA HALL, Senior Vice President, ViaPath Technologies,
emphasized educational, vocational, and family reunification
services and substance abuse and mental health treatment
programs that are available through the program. She explained
that the tablets serve as a force multiplier for correctional
systems. She noted a lack of adequate staff in corrections
facilities across the country. Devices provide services at the
fingertips of incarcerated people. Communication services help
to ensure a pathway of rehabilitation and reentry. She
highlighted the stringent security of the devices.
3:32:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT asked for more information about how
incarcerated individuals can contact friends and family
utilizing the tablets.
MR. PILCHER explained that friends and family can request
contact with an offender and then DOC staff can approve or
disapprove the communication. The communications offered
include messaging and video calls.
3:33:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked about the fiscal note and whether
tablets already exist in the facilities.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE said that the cost of the tablets would not
be incurred by the state. She explained that there are a
variety of third-party opportunities as well as payment by the
families of inmates for tablets.
3:34:14 PM
APRIL WILKERSON, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Corrections,
said that there is currently a pilot program that is limited and
is approved for attorney-client meetings. She said DOC is
working with the Parole Board to utilize ViaPath Technologies to
reduce the travel costs associated with parole hearings. She
said DOC is working with courts to undergo court hearings on the
tablets. She said there is currently a limited number of
tablets at the Goose Creek Correctional Center for video court
hearings.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed her excitement about the bill.
She asked what HB 330 will mean to DOC.
MS. WILKERSON expressed the hope to increase efficiency and
expand program capabilities. The department hopes to deploy
telemedicine through tablets. She reported that in 2023, just
over 5,000 individuals were transported outside the institution
for medical purposes. Through preventative telemedicine,
medical costs for the incarcerated can be significantly reduced.
The implementation of tablets creates an opportunity to offset
manual processes like paper mail. She explained that requests
for information currently involve handwritten requests and
responses. Converting to an electronic process would generate
efficiency and alleviate manual processes.
3:38:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked if any security issues have arisen
within the pilot project.
MS. WILKERSON explained that there are currently only six active
tablets and about 300 are expected to be deployed by the end of
month. A slow roll-out will help to ensure security is
maintained within the institution.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked for more information about security.
MR. PILCHER explained that the tablet software is custom-built
for corrections. He described the internal wireless
infrastructure, which is installed by ViaPath Technologies and
is accessible only by ViaPath Technologies tablets.
3:40:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked who provides instruction for the
educational components of the software.
MS. HALL explained that ViaPath Technologies is partnered with
third parties who provide educational content. ViaPath
Technologies has its own learning management system that
provides thousands of courses with evidence-based programming.
There is a catalog of programming available for vocational
services and a myriad of other topics. Educational programs are
carefully vetted for robust educational services.
3:42:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked if visitation at DOC is back to
pre-COVID-19 pandemic standards.
MS. WILKERSON answered yes.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked if the current methods for
visitation are in person or over the phone.
MS. WILKERSON answered yes. She described the different types
of visitations.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked about cost of phone calls within
corrections facilities.
MS. WILKERSON answered that currently inmates pay for phone
calls. Currently, four free phone calls are provided per week.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked if there is a cost for in-person
visitation.
MS. WILKERSON answered that in-person visitation incurs no cost
to incarcerated individuals or their families.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK mentioned that she supports the proposed
legislation. She expressed her concern with the sponsor
statement's reference to cost-savings.
MS. WILKERSON offered her reassurance that the department will
continue to maintain in-person visitation. She stated the HB
330 is an enhancement not replacement of current operations.
3:45:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked who would own the devices.
MS. WILKERSON said they are owned by ViaPath Technologies and
made available through a lease program.
MR. PILCHER confirmed that the tablets are provided and owned by
ViaPath Technologies.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked about the payment models utilized
to pay for tablet leases.
MS. WILKERSON explained that the model will depend on the
legislation and request for proposal among contractors. Under
the current pilot program, DOC is not responsible for costs.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked if costs would shift to families.
MS. WILKERSON answered that the costs would depend on the
outcome of negotiations through procurement and contactors. She
said that she envisions a certain level of free use and then
costs may be shifted to families or incarcerated individuals.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked about device maintenance and
whether DOC will need to pay to have employees trained to
maintain the devices.
MS. WILKERSON said the intent of DOC is to ensure that the
provider maintains the equipment. Viapath Technologies has
provided its own infrastructure and is responsible for
maintenance. She said DOC may be responsible for only a small
amount of troubleshooting.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked about software upgrades.
3:49:41 PM
MR. PILCHER stated that software updates are carried out
remotely.
MS. HALL explained that it is not the desire of ViaPath
Technologies to implement a model where families or incarcerated
individuals pay for the devices.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked about communication recordings
and how attorney-client privileged conversations remain private.
MR. PILCHER explained that there is a provision in the
technology to mark someone as a "professional visitor" and those
conversations would not be recorded. For conversations with
friends and families, a notification is utilized to inform those
parties that they will be recorded.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked if the department would need to
upgrade the Wi-Fi.
MS. WILKERSON responded that the DOC infrastructure is old and
has worked with ViaPath Technologies to install a new network.
3:52:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked how ViaPath Technologies was chosen.
MS. WILKERSON answered that she is aware of about five
businesses with similar corrections-grade tablets. The
department coordinated with the National Association of State
Procurement Officials (NASPO) and initiated a contract with
ViaPath Technologies.
3:54:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW announced that HB 330 was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 330 Supporting Document - Improving Public Safety.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/16/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 330 |
| HB 330 Supporting Document - Inspire_Tablet_Program_Write_Up.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/16/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 330 |
| HB 330 Supporting Document - Not a luxury.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/16/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 330 |
| HB 330 Supporting Document - RAND.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/16/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 330 |
| HB 330 Supporting Document - Research in Support of Digital Access (2).pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/16/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 330 |
| HB 330 Version H Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/16/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 330 |
| HB 330 Version H Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/16/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 330 |
| HB 330 Version H.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/16/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 330 |
| HB228 Version A 02022024.pdf |
HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
| HB228 Sponsor Statement 02012024.pdf |
HMLV 2/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
| HB228 Sectional Analysis 02012024.pdf |
HMLV 2/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
| HB228 Version R 02022024.pdf |
HMLV 2/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
| HB228 Presentation - STA.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
| HB 228 Sectional Analysis Version P.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
| HB228 Fiscal Note - DCCED.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
| HB 228 Sectional Analysis Version P.pdf |
HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
| HB 228 Sponsor Statement Version P.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
| HB0190B.pdf |
HSTA 3/12/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 190 |
| HB190 Alaska Sunset Commission Presentation.pdf |
HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/9/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 190 |
| List of Divisions and Corporations Under Each Department (for presentation).pdf |
HSTA 3/12/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
|
| HB190 Alaska Sunset Commission Presentation 3.12.2024.pdf |
HSTA 3/12/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/16/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 190 |
| HB 190 - Amendment 1 Carrick HSTA.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 190 |
| HB 190 - Amendment 2 Carrick HSTA.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 190 |
| HB 190 - Amendment 3 Carrick HSTA.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 190 |
| CS for HB 190 Summary of Changes Version B to S.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/9/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 190 |
| CSHB 190 Sectional Analysis Version S.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 190 |
| HB 190 - Sponsor Statement Version S.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/9/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/16/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 190 |
| HB 190 Verison S.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/16/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 190 |
| HB 190 Fiscal Note - Office of Gov.pdf |
HSTA 3/26/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/9/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/16/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 190 |