05/06/1993 10:30 AM House FIN

  SENATE BILL NO. 51                                                           
                                                                               
       "An Act providing  for establishment of work  camps for                 
       juveniles adjudicated delinquent,  and extending to all                 
       cities  and  to  nonprofit  corporations  authority  to                 
                                                                               
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       maintain facilities for juveniles."                                     
                                                                               
  JERRY  BURNETT, LEGISLATIVE  STAFF, SENATOR  PHILLIPS stated                 
  that  SB  51  provides authorization  to  the  Department of                 
  Health and Social Services  to add work camps for  juveniles                 
  to institutions already provided for in statute.                             
                                                                               
  SHERRIE GOLL, ALASKA WOMEN'S LOBBY (AWL) spoke in opposition                 
  to SB 51.  She asserted that the legislation is vague.   She                 
  noted that the  legislation does indicate how the work camps                 
  will relate  to other residential  and detention facilities.                 
  She  stressed  the need  to  identify those  juveniles which                 
  would be  placed in  work camps.   She  emphasized that  the                 
  current system is working.  She maintained that juveniles in                 
  work camps should fall under child labor laws.                               
                                                                               
  Representative Brown asked  if the Department of  Health and                 
  Social  Services knows  which  juvenile offenders  would  be                 
  placed in work camps.                                                        
                                                                               
  ELMER LINDSTROM, SPECIAL ASSISTANT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                 
  SOCIAL  SERVICES  replied  that   the  Department  has   not                 
  formulated  a   plan  for  the  proposed  work  camps.    He                 
  emphasized that  regulations regarding  the work  camps will                 
  have  to  be  developed.   He  noted  that regulations  must                 
  delineate the program and create a profile of juveniles that                 
  may benefit from the program.                                                
                                                                               
  Representative Martin MOVED to report SB 51 out of Committee                 
  with  individual recommendations  and with  the accompanying                 
  fiscal note.   Co-Chair Larson OBJECTED  for purposes of  an                 
  Amendment.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Representative  Brown  presented  to   members  AMENDMENT  1                 
  (Attachment 1).  She noted that the Amendment  would provide                 
  that  laws  applicable  to  the  employment of  children  be                 
  applied  to  juvenile  offenders.     Representative  Hanley                 
  expressed  concern   that  juvenile   activities  would   be                 
  restricted  beyond  the level  of  restriction applied  at a                 
  retention center.                                                            
                                                                               
  Mr. Lindstrom assured members that  the Department would not                 
  implement a program contrary to other sections of state law.                 
  Representative Martin  stated  that he  would  not  consider                 
  kitchen and  garden tasks  as work.   Representative  Hanley                 
  asked  for information  regarding  laws applicable  to child                 
  employment.    Co-Chair Larson  asked  if minimum  wage laws                 
  would apply.                                                                 
                                                                               
  Mr. Burnett  stated that the Department of Labor has offered                 
  to work with the Department of Health and Social Services to                 
  assure that the principles of child labor laws be applied to                 
                                                                               
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  juvenile offenders placed  in work camps.  He clarified that                 
  juvenile offenders cannot be considered employees.                           
                                                                               
  Representative  Grussendorf  expressed   concern  that   the                 
  Amendment would be too restrictive.                                          
                                                                               
  Representative Brown MOVED  to ADOPT  AMENDMENT 1.   A  roll                 
  call vote was taken on the motion.                                           
                                                                               
  IN FAVOR: Brown, Hoffman, MacLean                                            
  OPPOSED:  Foster,  Grussendorf,  Hanley,   Martin,  Parnell,                 
                 Therriault, Larson                                            
                                                                               
  Representative Navarre was absent from the vote.                             
                                                                               
  The MOTION FAILED (3-7).                                                     
                                                                               
  Co-Chair Larson reiterated the  motion to MOVE SB 51  out of                 
  Committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  with  the                 
  accompanying fiscal note.  There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                 
  so ordered.                                                                  
                                                                               
  SB 51 was reported out of Committee with "no recommendation"                 
  and with a  fiscal impact note  by the Department of  Health                 
  and Social Services, dated 3/8/93.