04/07/1999 06:07 PM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 11(JUD)                                                                                                  
"An Act relating to good time credits for prisoners                                                                             
serving sentences of imprisonment for certain                                                                                   
murders."                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Dave Donley restated that Alaska had liberal good-                                                                      
time provisions.  There was a growing concern among victims                                                                     
that those serving time for first and second degree could                                                                       
have inappropriate early release through the good time                                                                          
release.  There was a national movement that sentences be                                                                       
understandable.  It would be too expensive to institute an                                                                      
across the board change to the state's 33% good time                                                                            
release so he proposed applying this to those serving fist                                                                      
and second-degree murder sentences.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
He realized that many serving sentences for those crimes                                                                        
had lengthy terms, but felt that through good time release                                                                      
programs, the sentences served were greatly reduced.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
He noted there would be a substantial fiscal impact in the                                                                      
future. However, he felt the national 85% standard was                                                                          
appropriate and should be applied to these crimes.  Moving                                                                      
closer to honesty in sentencing also appropriate.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Early release of murderers sent a bad message to the                                                                            
community.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
He felt there was a logical distinction between those who                                                                       
committed murder and other crimes.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Tape: SFC - 99 #81, Side B    6:55 PM                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Al Adams commented that if every state had the same                                                                     
sentencing for crimes, this would be appropriate.  Because                                                                      
Alaska had higher sentences, they would be serving too much                                                                     
time.  He discussed the issue of high medical costs for                                                                         
housing older prisoners.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Blair McClune commented that there could be * challenges to                                                                     
the original bill. He felt that was less of an issue with                                                                       
the CS.  He hoped the committee would consider the amount                                                                       
of time it would take a prisoner to reenter the community                                                                       
after a lengthy prison term.  He suggested housing them in                                                                      
a halfway house or similar facility.  He agreed that truth                                                                      
in sentencing was important.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Bruce Richards commented that Senator Dave Donley covered                                                                       
the issues of the bill. He noted that the department                                                                            
submitted a zero fiscal note because the fiscal impact                                                                          
would be realized beyond the years listed on the notes.  He                                                                     
did a prediction of their current prisoners.  He estimated                                                                      
the first year impact would be $53X,000.  It was a policy                                                                       
call with a significant impact.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The cost would continue to increase with geriatric costs.                                                                       
He testified that inmates tended to have a higher abuse of                                                                      
their own bodies and therefore geriatric problems began at                                                                      
the age of 50.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Al Adams noted that Alaska sent many prisoners to                                                                       
Arizona, which recently implemented the 85% standard. He                                                                        
wondered if those prisoners were affected by that.  Bruce                                                                       
said they were not.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator Dave Donley commented on the public support of the                                                                      
death penalty.  He felt that was in part due to the                                                                             
perception that murders served very short sentences.  This                                                                      
bill may be a cheaper alternative than the high cost of the                                                                     
death penalty.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Al Adams had not seen the survey done by Senator                                                                        
Randy Phillips and questioned the social make-up of those                                                                       
questioned.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Dave Donley reiterated his stance on the importance                                                                     
of the bill despite the fiscal impact.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Dave Donley made a motion to move from committee.                                                                       
Senator Al Adams objected. The bill was reported out by a                                                                       
vote of 9-1.  Senator Al Adams cast the nay vote.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Break 7:06 PM / 7:16 PM