Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/13/2023 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB71 | |
| SB119 | |
| SB32 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 71 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 32 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 119 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 119-STATE IDENTIFICATION CARD FOR PRISONERS
3:40:22 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.
119 "An Act relating to state identifications and driver's
licenses for persons in the custody of the Department of
Corrections; relating to state identifications issued by the
Department of Corrections; relating to the duties of the
commissioner of corrections; relating to misconduct involving
confidential information; relating to voter identification;
relating to identification for fishing permits; relating to
identification for debtor financing statements; and providing
for an effective date."
3:40:42 PM
SENATOR ROBERT MYERS, District Q, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 119, introduced the legislation
speaking to the sponsor statement.
Senate Bill 119 provides easier access to
identification cards for reentrants upon release,
granting them an important tool for reintegration.
SB 119 grants the Department of Corrections the
statutory authority to issue state IDs to anyone
leaving their custody that does not have an ID in
their possession. Individuals are required to present
a valid form of ID in order to gain new employment,
apply for housing, drive a car, open a bank account,
travel, purchase a phone, apply for Medicaid or Social
Security, obtain medication, and register to vote. The
inability to find housing or employment or obtain
medications are significant factors in whether or not
a person is likely to reoffend, endangering public
safety and costing the state more money once they are
back in prison.
Reentry is an essential part of public safety.
Ensuring reentrants are supported during their
transitional period helps improve community well-being
and public safety. By providing reentrants with a
valid form of identification upon their release we
also provide the individual with an essential tool for
finding housing, employment, and medical care and
alleviate the risk of reoffending.
3:42:06 PM
DAWSON MANN, Staff, Senator Robert Myers, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the sectional analysis
for SB 119 on behalf of the sponsor.
Section 1: AS 11.76.115 (c) Page 1, Lines 8-12
This section adds information encoded on Department of
Corrections identification cards to the list of
confidential information that is prohibited to obtain
illegally.
Section 2: AS 15.07.055 (e) Page 1, Line 13, Page 2,
Lines 1-10
AS 15.07.055 - This section clarifies that an ID
issued by the Department of Corrections can be used to
register to vote or change voter registration.
Section 3: AS 16.10.267 (c) Page 2, Line 11-15
This section adds conforming language that states a
fishermen may use a Department of Corrections
identification card to verify their identity for a
limited entry permit.
Section 4: AS 33.30.011 (a) Page 2 Lines 16-31, Page
3, Lines 1-31, Page 4, Lines 1-31, Page 5, Lines 1-19
This section requires the Department of Corrections to
ensure that a prisoner has an identification card in
their possession upon release. The Department of
Corrections will issue a person an ID if they do not
have one, and they will pay the application fee an
identification issued by the Department of
Administration.
Section 5: AS 33.30.105 Page 5, Lines 20-31, Page 6,
Lines 1-23
New section AS 33.30.105 is added with the following
subsections:
AS 33.30.105 (a) The Department of Corrections shall
issue an Identification Card that is identical to a
Driver's license except that the card will be a
different color and clearly state that the card is for
identification purposes only.
AS 33.30.105 (a) 1 Identification Cards issued by
the Department of Corrections will be assigned
distinguishing numbers.
AS 33.30.105 (a) 2 - Identification Cards issued by
the Department of Corrections must include a person's
full name, date of birth, physical description, and
photograph.
AS 33.30.105 (a) 3 - Identification Cards issued by
the Department of Corrections must include a
signature.
AS 33.30.105 (a) 4 - Identification Cards issued by
the Department of Corrections must have features
designed to prevent tampering.
AS 33.30.105 (a) 5 - Identification Cards issued by
the Department of Corrections must clearly display
that a person is under the age of 21.
AS 33.30.105 (a) 6 - Identification Cards issued by
the Department of Corrections must clearly state that
the individual is restricted from purchasing alcoholic
beverages.
AS 33.30.105 (b) - Identification Cards issued by the
Department of Corrections may not show a person's
social security number.
AS 33.30.105 (c) Identification Cards issued by the
Department of Corrections expire 180 days after they
are issued or 90 days after the person turns 21,
whichever comes first.
AS 33.30.105 (d) A person cannot provide false
information in an application for a Department of
Corrections identification card, use a fraudulent
identification card, or allow another person to use
their identification card.
AS 33.30.105 (e) It is a misdemeanor to violate
section (d) of AS 33.30.105 in this bill.
Section 6: AS 45.29.503 (a) Page 6 Lines 24-31, Page
7, Lines 1-31, Page 8, Lines 1-4
Clarifies that an Identification card issued under AS
33.30.105 is a valid form of ID for financial
documents.
Section 7: AS 45.29.503 (g) Page 8, Lines 5-10
Clarifies that the most recently issued identification
card issued by the department is the only valid card.
Section 8: Page 8, Line 11 This section establishes an
effective date for the bill of January 1st, 2024
SENATOR MYERS noted the individuals his office had invited to
answer questions.
3:47:49 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked whether the ID card would be Real ID
compliant.
SENATOR MYERS answered no; someone who is just released from
prison often is not able to provide proof of residence, which is
a requirement for Real ID.
3:48:59 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SB 119.
CHAIR KAWASAKI referenced the fiscal note analysis from the
Department of Corrections (DOC) that says DOC will "make a good
faith effort" to ensure a released prisoner has a valid state ID
card. He asked if it was the department's intent that all
prisoners will have a state identification card upon release.
3:50:20 PM
APRIL WILKERSON, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Corrections,
Juneau, Alaska, answered yes. If the individual had a valid
State of Alaska ID when they entered prison, that will be
returned if it's still valid; otherwise, an ID card will be
issued upon release.
3:51:06 PM
MICHAEL GARVEY, Advocacy Director, American Civil Liberties
Union of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, stated support for ensuring
that people returning to their communities from prison have
valid identification because it's a critical piece to reentry.
When someone is released without identification they may not be
able to do routine tasks such as secure housing, apply for a
job, establish a consistent mailing address, apply for a bank
account, have a steady phone number, or get health care outside
an emergency situation. Leaving prison without proper ID adds
one more thing to the list of things a person needs to do to
survive outside of prison. He said it's in everybody's best
interest to ensure that people who are released from prison have
the tools they need to succeed and not feel ostracized by
society.
MR GARVEY encouraged the committee to make sure that the
requirements for ID listed in SB 119 will not allow the cards to
be produced in a way that could identify the person as
previously incarcerated. He reiterated support for SB 119 and
its intent.
3:53:09 PM
DON HABEGER, Coalition Coordinator, Juneau Reentry Coalition,
Juneau, Alaska informed the committee that he submitted a letter
to the sponsor in support of SB 119. He conveyed a story that
illustrates the real need for the legislation. In early November
he received a call from someone who was recently released from
Lemon Creek Correctional Center and wanted an ID card. The first
trip to DMV wasn't successful because he didn't have a birth
certificate to prove his identity. He had the birth certificate
in hand a month later and they made a second trip to DMV. The
man was denied again because he didn't have proof of address.
The emergency shelter wrote a letter on their letterhead saying
the man was staying at the emergency shelter. DMV accepted that
and the man got a state ID card.
MR. HABEGER said what's so significant about the story is how
long it took to gather the necessary information to satisfy the
DMV requirements to obtain an identification card. All the man
was trying to do was to start the process to reestablish himself
in the community. Whatever the state can do to decrease the
impediments to reentry is important. He said that is why the
Juneau Reentry Coalition supports SB 119.
3:56:07 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI closed public testimony on SB 119 and held the
bill in committee.