03/25/2008 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY

             HJR 34-FEDERAL FUNDING FOR DNA TESTING                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR FRENCH announced the consideration of HJR 34.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:35:14 PM                                                                                                                    
CRYSTAL KOENEMAN,  Staff to Representative  Bob Roses,  sponsor of                                                              
HJR 34,  said that  this resolution asks  Congress to  reenact the                                                              
Debbie Smith  DNA Backlog  Grant Program.  The program,  which was                                                              
originally  passed in 2004  and is  due to  expire in fiscal  year                                                              
2009,  ensures  that DNA  evidence  can  be  used to  convict  the                                                              
guilty and  free the  innocent. Alaska has  about 400  backlog DNA                                                              
cases and  reauthorizing the program  will ensure  continuation of                                                              
the grants so the backlog can be addressed.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
She  noted that  the packets  contain information  on the  federal                                                              
grants that Alaska  has obtained and what has been  done with that                                                              
money.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  FRENCH said  he  assumes  that this  would  cost the  state                                                              
nothing, and Ms.  Koeneman agreed. He asked if  the resolution has                                                              
a connection to the Innocence Project.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS.  KOENEMAN replied  there really  is no  connection. She  added                                                              
that according  to the Innocence  Project website, Alaska  has not                                                              
had any post-conviction DNA exonerations.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:37:32 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  FRENCH said  he believes  that's accurate,  and noted  that                                                              
Mr.  Bill Oberly  has  been hired  to  head the  Alaska  Innocence                                                              
Project. He  asked how  much Alaska might  get if Congress  elects                                                              
to reauthorize the program.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. KOENEMAN  estimated that the  state has, on  average, received                                                              
about $160,000 a year.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  FRENCH  noted  that  the grants  total  $151  million,  and                                                              
commented  that he'd  like Alaska  to get  a little  more of  that                                                              
money.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Hearing and  seeing no one else  who wished to testify,  he closed                                                              
public testimony. Finding no discussion, he asked for a motion.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:39:02 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  HUGGINS motioned  to report  HJR 34  from committee  with                                                              
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR FRENCH  announced that  without objection,  HJR 34  is moved                                                              
from the Senate Judiciary Committee.