03/11/2020 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 137                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of                                                                     
     Parole; and providing for an effective date."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:22:37 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR PETER MICCICHE,  SPONSOR, explained the legislation.                                                                    
He  remarked that  it  was an  uncomplicated  bill, and  the                                                                    
Board would extend to five years.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:23:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL  WILLIS, INTERN,  SENATOR PETER  MICCICHE, explained                                                                    
the legislation.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:24:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KRIS  CURTIS,   LEGISLATIVE  AUDITOR,  ALASKA   DIVISION  OF                                                                    
LEGISLATIVE  AUDIT,  explained the  audit  of  the Board  of                                                                    
Parole.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:32:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman looked at number  2, and wondered whether it                                                                    
required funding.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Curtis replied  that  the  commissioner described  that                                                                    
there  was  already  corrective action  to  update  Highland                                                                    
Mountain Correctional  Center. She remarked  that additional                                                                    
corrective  action would  occur  in the  constraints of  the                                                                    
budget.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman queried a timeframe to address the issue.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Curtis replied that they did not provide a timeline.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  wondered whether  there would be  contact to                                                                    
the department.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Curtis replied  that she  did not  have a  mechanism to                                                                    
follow up on the finding unless there was another audit.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof OPENED public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:34:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHARLES MCKEE,  SELF, ANCHORAGE (via  teleconference), asked                                                                    
for  proof of  jurisdiction stated  in a  hearing he  had on                                                                    
September 30. He had asked  the court for consideration, but                                                                    
only one charge was dismissed.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:36:57 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JEFF  EDWARDS, DIRECTOR,  BOARD  OF  PAROLE, ANCHORAGE  (via                                                                    
teleconference),   stated   that   he  was   available   for                                                                    
questions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski  looked at  the no-show  percentage and                                                                    
wondered whether  there was effort to  lower that percentage                                                                    
number.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Edwards replied in the affirmative.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski  asked for an example  of technical and                                                                    
a nontechnical violation.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Edwards  responded that  a nontechnical  violation would                                                                    
be something  like a  new criminal charge,  as opposed  to a                                                                    
technical violation,  which would  be something like  a drug                                                                    
or alcohol use violation.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop reviewed the fiscal note.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SB  137  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.