04/24/2025 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

         SB  19-PRISONERS: ELECTRONIC DEVICE ACCESS/USE                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:59:38 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  KAWASAKI   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of SENATE  BILL NO. 19 "An Act relating  to the use                                                               
and possession of electronic devices by prisoners."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:00:13 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  ROBERT  MYERS,  District Q,  Alaska  State  Legislature,                                                               
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor  of SB 19 presented summary  of the bill.                                                               
He  explained  he is  working  to  expand  access to  tablets  in                                                               
prisons  as  tools for  re-entry,  education,  cost savings,  and                                                               
improved  security.  This bill  has  been  introduced in  various                                                               
forms for eight or nine years,  and he hopes it will finally pass                                                               
this session.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:01:25 PM                                                                                                                    
[CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SB 19.]                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:01:39 PM                                                                                                                    
ROBERT FETTER,  representing self,  Juneau, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
support of SB 19 and shared  a personal history of trauma, abuse,                                                               
addiction,  and  repeated  incarceration, beginning  with  severe                                                               
abuse   and  drug   exposure  at   age  five.   After  years   in                                                               
institutions, foster  care, and  prison, he eventually  got sober                                                               
in 2019,  pursued education with  great difficulty,  regained his                                                               
children,  and built  a  successful  career. He  said  he is  now                                                               
active in  re-entry work  and mentoring  work. He  emphasized the                                                               
importance of digital tools for  people leaving prison. He argued                                                               
that tablets can provide crucial  access to education, treatment,                                                               
housing,  and  employment  resources, helping  individuals  avoid                                                               
relapse and reducing  the risk of returning  to prison. Providing                                                               
these  tools at  the critical  moment of  release can  strengthen                                                               
reentry and improve communities.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:05:43 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI  asked if  he could  share some  experiences after                                                               
prison release; like how long  the incarceration was, the biggest                                                               
challenges faced  in reentering society, and  any suggestions for                                                               
how the state could better support that transition                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:06:06 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. FETTER  answered that  a major hurdle  after release  was the                                                               
lack of communication between  agencies. While organizations like                                                               
the Juneau  Reentry Coalition do good  work, critical information                                                               
often doesn't  reach those  being released. He  said many  had to                                                               
rely  on informal  tips  from peers  in  transitional housing  or                                                               
halfway  houses to  navigate available  resources. He  emphasized                                                               
that timely access to accurate  information is crucial during the                                                               
vulnerable  reentry period,  when  it's easy  to relapse  without                                                               
proper guidance and support.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:07:56 PM                                                                                                                    
DOREEN  SCHENKENBERGER, CEO,  Partners  for Progress,  Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska, testified in  support of SB 19 and stated  that this bill                                                               
is  urgent. She  said  federal funding  cuts  and state  staffing                                                               
challenges  limit  available   services,  and  recidivism  rates,                                                               
particularly  among Alaska  Native  people,  are rising.  Digital                                                               
tools  can  provide  access  to  education,  treatment,  recovery                                                               
services, housing and employment  support, reentry planning, peer                                                               
and  tribal  services,  and  more,  all  of  which  increase  the                                                               
likelihood of  successful community reintegration. She  said many                                                               
other states  already use  technology safely  for rehabilitation.                                                               
Alaska  must update  its  laws and  practices  to meet  statutory                                                               
rehabilitation obligations,  as most released  individuals arrive                                                               
with no resources, support, or  housing. Expanding digital access                                                               
will  foster  connection,  improve  reentry  success,  strengthen                                                               
families, enhance community safety, and reduce public costs.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:12:38 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the arrival of Senator Wielechowski.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[CHAIR KAWASAKI closed public testimony on SB 19.]                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:13:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:13:12 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report SB 19, work order 34-                                                                      
LS0230\N, from committee with individual recommendations and                                                                    
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:13:30 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no objection and SB 19 was reported from                                                                   
the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:14:25 PM                                                                                                                    
There being no further business to come before the committee,                                                                   
Chair Kawasaki adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing                                                                      
Committee meeting at 4:14 p.m.