Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120
03/31/2022 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB7 | |
| HB226 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 124 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 226 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 7-STATE TROOPER POLICIES: PUBLIC ACCESS
3:14:38 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the first order of business
would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 7(JUD), "An Act requiring the
Department of Public Safety to publish certain policies and
procedures on the department's Internet website."
3:15:02 PM
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, Alaska State Legislature, prime
sponsor of CSSB 7(JUD), summarized the legislation. She
explained that the bill would require that the Department of
Public Safety (DPS) publish on their website the department's
current policies and procedures related to the conduct of peace
officers employed or regulated by the department. The duty of
DPS, she said, was to ensure public safety within communities
and, as such, the public must be able to easily access the
current policies and procedures that require peace officers to
adhere to.
3:15:48 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened public testimony on CSSB 7(JUD).
3:16:15 PM
LISA RUSH, Alaska Black Caucus, expressed her support for SB 7.
She said studies had shown that public access to information
about how law enforcement agencies make critical organizational
decisions, and the outcomes of such decisions, had the potential
to increase public and organizational accountability and promote
trust between police and the citizens they serve. She argued
that effective police leaders must work to establish a culture
of transparency and accountability in order to build public
trust. She reiterated the Alaska Black Caucus's support for the
bill.
3:19:06 PM
KASEY CASORT stated her support for SB 7. She recalled the
death of Bishar Hassan, who was shot 12 times by Anchorage
police officers. The officers fired more than 21 shots and
failed to administer any medical help for several minutes while
Mr. Hassan was lying on the ground. She explained that the
information about that incident was gathered from dash cam
footage, which was released years after his death. She stated
that police brutality was a deadly problem in Alaska and
believed that the passage of SB 7 would initiate the bare
minimum to providing basic transparency around policing in the
state. She expressed support for the package of police reform
bills that were introduced by Senator Gray-Jackson [SB 1, SB 2,
SB 3, SB 4, SB 46, and SB 7] and urged passage of the proposed
legislation.
3:20:26 PM
MICHAEL GARVEY, Anchorage, Alaska, stated his support for SB 7,
which would further the objective of transparency, he said. He
pointed out that police officers interacted with the public
every day and were taxpayer funded public servants. For that
reason, he argued that the public should be allowed know their
standards of conduct and hold them accountable. He highlighted
the public's distrust and frustration due to the inability to
access police policy and records. He argued that SB 7 would be
a concrete step to counter that distrust.
3:22:24 PM
CHRISTIANE ALLISON recounted what she characterized as emotional
and mental torture that she endured from two Alaskan State
Troopers on January 23, 2009. She opined that there was little
transparency and less accountability among police officers. She
believed that the posting of public policies would empower the
public to seek accountability and urged the committee to pass
the proposed legislation to protect Alaskan citizens.
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS requested further clarity on the incident
Ms. Allison endured.
MS. ALLISON explained that her daughter had passed away from a
household fall. She said the state made an accusation against
her husband based on a "junk science" theory, called "chicken
baby syndrome." She believed that in an effort to forcibly turn
her against her spouse, the troopers subjected her to graphic
photos of her child for four hours. She said the officers did
not allow her to leave the room until she agreed with their
record of events.
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS closed public testimony on CSSB 7(JUD) and
invited final comment from committee members.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR thanked Ms. Allison for calling in and
reminding the committee that the system could work better in
times of difficulty, pain, and stress. She expressed her hope
that CSSB 7(JUD) would accomplish that.
3:27:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY emphasized the importance of continuing to
build and improve trust between the public and public safety
officials.
3:28:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN shared his understanding that the
department was already publishing its policies and procedures on
the website; for that reason, he was unsure of the bill's
necessity. He addressed the Village Public Safety Officer
(VPSO) provision in the bill, opining that there may be a gap in
the policy.
3:29:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN moved to report CSSB 7(JUD) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 7(JUD) was
reported from the House State Affairs Standing Committee.