Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/30/2025 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB62 | |
| SB134 | |
| SB35 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 62 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 134 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 35 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 62-BOARD OF PAROLE: MEMBERSHIP, REPORT
1:36:01 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration of SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE
FOR SENATE BILL NO. 62 "An Act relating to the board of parole;
and providing for an effective date."
1:36:23 PM
SENATOR LOKI TOBIN, District I, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 62. She stated that SB 62 seeks to
strengthen and modernize Alaska's Board of Parole by improving
structure, accountability, and capacity to support both public
safety and rehabilitation. SB 62 expands the board from five to
seven members to ensure broader expertise and representation. SB
62 would reserve one new seat for a member of a federally
recognized tribe, acknowledging that Alaska Native people make
up 40 percent of the state's incarcerated population despite
being only 20 percent of the general population. Another seat
would go to an individual with professional experience in mental
health or substance abuse treatment, such as a licensed
psychiatrist, psychologist, or rehabilitation specialist,
recognizing that about 80 percent of incarcerated individuals
have behavioral health challenges. SB 62 would designate a third
new position for a crime victim, a family member of a victim, or
a victims' rights advocate, ensuring that the perspective of
those impacted by crime is represented in parole decisions.
1:38:45 PM
SENATOR TOBIN stated that SB 62 also requires the Board of
Parole to submit an annual public report detailing its
activities, decision-making processes, and parole outcomes. She
said this transparency measure responds to widespread concern
that the operations of the Board of Parole are opaque. Since
2020 parole hearings and releases have dropped 75 and 79 percent
respectively, without clear explanation. By requiring data and
analysis, policymakers will be better equipped to understand and
address why so few eligible individuals are being granted
parole. She said a key goal of SB 62 is cost containment. Alaska
currently spends approximately $74,000 per year per incarcerated
person four times more than what it invests per student and
ranks ninth nationally in prison costs. She said by improving
parole opportunities and supporting successful reintegration, SB
62 aims to reduce unnecessary incarceration expenses while
maintaining public safety. Through expanded representation,
professional expertise, and greater transparency, the bill seeks
to restore balance, accountability, and humanity to the state's
parole system.
1:41:21 PM
LOUIE FLORA, Staff, Senator Loki Tobin, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided the sectional analysis for
SB 62:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Version N Sectional Analysis
Section 1 Amends AS. 33.16.020 (a) to expand the
Alaska Board of Parole from five to seven members. As
in current statute, these members are appointed by the
Governor and subject to legislative confirmation.
Section 2 Amends AS 33.16.020 (b) by applying term
limits of two five-year terms to members, replacing
current statute which states that members shall serve
staggered five-year terms, until their successors are
appointed.
Section 3 - Modifies AS 33.16.030 selection criteria
for board members. Section 3 creates specific seats on
the board, requiring one member to be a licensed
physician; one to be a victim of a crime, family
member of a victim, or a member of a crime victim's
advocacy group; one member to have experience in drug
or alcohol addiction recovery support; and one member
to be part of a federally recognized tribe in the
state.
1:42:23 PM
MR. FLORA continued with the sectional analysis for SB 62:
Section 4 Amends AS 33.16.030 (c) by adding the
requirement that not more than three of the board
members may be current or former employees of a
correctional institution.
Section 5 Amends AS 33.16.030 by adding a
definitions section to include definitions for
designated seats on the Board of Parole. The
definition of "federally recognized tribe" at AS
23.20.520 is as follows: "a tribe that is recognized
by the United States Secretary of the Interior to
exist as an Indian tribe under 25 U.S.C. 5131
(Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994);
and includes any subdivision, subsidiary, or business
enterprise wholly owned by a federally recognized
tribe"
Section 6 Adds a new section of statute at 33.16.280
to require an annual report on Board of Parole
operations and parole decisions.
Section 7 - Uncodified law specifying that a member of
the board who has previously served two or more terms
may finish their term but shall not be reappointed.
Section 8 Establishes an effective date of January
2026.
1:43:28 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced invited testimony on SB 62
1:43:47 PM
KAREN CANN, Former Deputy Secretary, Transitional Services,
Department of Corrections (DOC), Eagle River, Alaska, testified
by invitation on SB 62 and read the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Discretionary Parole allows incarcerated individuals
the opportunity to be released on supervision to
follow an approved reentry plan that will help support
them to be successful in their community.
1:44:24 PM
MS. CANN continued with her testimony of SB 62:
Many incarcerated individuals participate in programs,
education and counseling looking forward to being a
better citizen, friend, and family member when they
are released on parole. This commitment to change
makes communities and facilities safer.
Unfortunately, many of the people I have talked with
in Alaska prisons view the Parole Board as a group of
people who deny their application without explanation.
I had conversations with far too many incarcerated
individuals in Alaska who refused to apply for
discretionary parole because it was a "waste of time".
They felt chastised during the hearing, were refused
parole and did not know when they would eligible
again. All too often I heard the statement, "who would
put themselves through that"? Even people who are on a
"waitlist" for programs often give up leading to
depression and hopelessness or anger. How can people
be held accountable if expectations are not
communicated?
The community must also see the Parole Board as a
fair, deliberate institution focused on assessing an
individual's risk to reoffend and community safety.
This bill would add board members with a background in
medicine, behavioral, or mental health, human
development, substance abuse or similar fields of
experience and knowledge necessary to accurately
assess a person's risk to the community and approve a
release plan that has the components for success. The
change in the composition of the board would also more
accurately reflect the incarcerated population in
Alaska prisons.
This bill would also provide transparency and
accountability to the community and Legislature.
Currently, the Parole Board does not collect or
publish data on the reasons why parole was denied or
granted, making it impossible to develop policy or
reentry plans with steps that would lead to success on
Parole and a reduction in recidivism.
1:46:48 PM
MS. CANN continued with her testimony of SB 62:
We do not know why the Alaska Board of Parole has
granted parole in only 27 percent of discretionary
parole cases over the last four years - far lower than
historical trends, or why the Board has reviewed only
2 applications for geriatric parole over the past 7
years; denying them both.
During the last ten years, the number of incarcerated
people 55 years old and older has increased by 50
percent. Many of these people need specialized medical
care and treatment for illnesses ranging from
cognitive disease such as Alzheimer's, to end stage
kidney disease and advanced cancer. Their housing unit
looks more like a hospital than a prison and the cost
of their care is far beyond the average $202 per day
housing cost. A physician, psychologist or
psychiatrist has the knowledge to accurately assess
risk and approve a safe community placement. Too often
people are spending the last days of their life in a
prison cell unable to care for their own basic needs
while there is a family member willing to care for
them in the community.
The low rate of parole approvals has not improved
public safety and has contributed to overcrowding in
facilities and ballooning budget costs for the DOC
diverting resources away from things that make us safe
and vibrant, including healthcare and education.
According to 2023 data from the Parole Board's
webpage, only 5 percent of people released on
discretionary parole had their parole revoked. This
reminds me of an individual I worked with who was
granted parole after taking advantage of educational
and vocational programs while incarcerated. He
obtained an advanced degree, a trade and is supporting
other parolees to do the same. Individuals who are not
granted discretionary parole, or give up until they
are released on mandatory parole at the end of their
sentence have a 95 percent revocation rate.
1:49:14 PM
MS. CANN continued with her testimony for SB 62:
The longer an individual is incarcerated the greater
the financial burden on the people of Alaska. It
costs about $202 dollars per day to incarcerate an
individual NOT including medical care for chronic
diseases, specific geriatric care, end-of-life, or
emergency care. Paroling just one person saves Alaska
a minimum of over $73,000 a year. The paroled
individual not only contributes to Alaska's economy in
purchases and taxes verses draining the economy at
$202 per day but reenters their community and family.
Please make the Parole system fair and accountable,
keep communities and facilities safe and pass SB 62 to
make Alaska's criminal legal system more just.
1:50:21 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN raised public concerns that SB 62 would allow the
release of individuals who may still pose a danger and asked
what safeguards would ensure parolees are safe and unlikely to
reoffend.
1:51:02 PM
MS. CANN replied that the new process enhances community safety
by creating individualized parole plans tailored to each
person's specific risks developed by trained professionals to
help parolees successfully reintegrate and become productive
citizens.
1:52:07 PM
SENATOR TOBIN explained that SB 62 does not change existing
criminal justice laws or the parole review process but allows
for a more specialized and knowledgeable board. With increased
expertise and transparency, the Board of Parole would make more
informed and affirmative decisions that strengthen public trust
and safety.
1:53:04 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked for an explanation of how the Board of
Parole's leadership operates, including how the chair is
selected and whether an executive director or administrator
oversees the board.
1:53:30 PM
MR. FLORA answered that an executive director manages the Board
of Parole's administrative functions and staff support, though
he deferred to Ms. Cann for details on how the board chair is
selected.
1:54:13 PM
MS. CANN replied that the board chair is appointed and supported
by administrative staff who manage applications from
incarcerated individuals and schedule their hearings before the
parole board.
1:54:46 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked how incarcerated individuals are notified
of their parole eligibility and what resources are available to
help them apply for discretionary parole.
1:55:11 PM
MS. CANN answered that incarcerated individuals work with an
internal parole officer who ensures they meet eligibility
timelines and assists with preparing and submitting the required
paperwork to the parole board.
1:55:36 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked if there was a clear matrix outlining what
prisoners must do to qualify for discretionary parole and the
specific goals they need to meet to qualify.
1:56:00 PM
MS. CANN replied that a lack of clear expectations for parole
eligibility has caused frustration, as inmates may complete
programs but still be denied parole without understanding why.
SB 62 aims to increase transparency, set clear requirements, and
reduce confusion and anger by helping inmates know what they
must achieve to be considered for parole.
1:57:22 PM
SENATOR TOBIN referenced SB 62, page 3, line 3, and explained
that the annual report will include a summary of the statutory
and regulatory criteria most frequently used by the board,
helping incarcerated individuals understand parole expectations
and which programs to complete, addressing the current lack of
transparency that discourages participation in rehabilitation.
1:58:10 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN expressed his concern that victims and their
families want assurance that serious crimes are punished
appropriately. He noted that short sentences, time served on
pretrial release, and early parole eligibility may contribute to
perceptions of injustice, especially as higher evidentiary
standards make violent crime convictions harder. While
supporting rehabilitation, he emphasized the need to balance it
with equitable and meaningful justice for victims.
2:01:17 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN held SB 62 in committee.