Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/21/2024 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB151 | |
| SCR10 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 151 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SCR 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE BILL NO. 151
"An Act establishing the Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Persons Review Commission; relating to
missing and murdered indigenous persons; relating to
the duties of the Department of Public Safety; and
providing for an effective date."
9:05:32 AM
Co-Chair Olson relayed that it was the first hearing for SB
151.
9:06:00 AM
ALMERIA ALCANTRA, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, addressed a
Sectional Analysis (copy on file):
CS FOR SENATE BILL 151 (STA) "Missing/Murdered
Indigenous People; Report" Sectional Analysis
Section One: Amends AS 18.65.240(a) requiring cultural
training, supervised by an Indigenous coordinator or
entity, be incorporated into the standards of police
officer training under the Alaska Police Standards
Council.
Section Two: Amends AS 44.41.020 by adding subsection
(k), requesting the Department of Public Safety (DPS)
to submit names and information relating to missing
persons to the National Missing and Unidentified
Persons System (NamUs) database.
Section Three: Amends AS 44.41 by adding Sec.
44.41.023, directing the Department of Public Safety
to employee at least two individuals to investigate
cases involving missing and murdered indigenous
peoples and act as liaisons between law enforcement
agencies, communities in the state, and federally
recognized tribes.
Section Four: Amends the uncodified law by adding the
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Review
Commission. Section Five: Directs the Department of
Public Safety to conduct a needs assessment to be
submitted to the Legislature no later than January 1,
2026.
Section Six: Amends the uncodified law by adding a new
section, clarifying that those certified to be police
officers on or before the effective date of sec. one
must participate in the mandated cultural training
within two years of the effective date of this Act.
Section Seven: Repeals Section Five on January 1,
2026.
Section Eight: Sets a sunset date for the Commission
of January 1, 2027.
Section Nine: Sets an effective date of January 1,
2025.
9:08:50 AM
KENDRA KLOSTER, CO-DIRECTOR OF LAW AND POLICY, ALASKA
NATIVE WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill. She relayed that in
addition to being Co-Director of Law and Policy at the
Alaska Native Womens Resource Center, she was a member of
the Missing, Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-
Spirit (MMWIG2S) Alaska Working Group, which consists of 5
Alaska Native non-profits working on every front of issues
related to Alaska Natives.
Ms. Kloster explained that the bill came forward after many
discussions between communities and various state
departments. She stressed the importance of the cultural
training provision, explaining the need for understanding
of Alaska Native communities. She cited communication
barriers throughout investigative processes. She said she
had worked with MMIP investigators, the positions of which
this bill would solidify.
Ms. Kloster noted that there were currently four MMIP
investigators and identified that the bill only made a
proviso for two investigators. She noted that Alaska has
one of the highest rates of MMIP across the nation and
stressed the need for MMIP investigators. She supported an
increase in investigators from two to four and added that
there was enough work for as many as six. She urged the
committee to strengthen the mandatory reporting language.
9:13:07 AM
Co-Chair Stedman was interested to know the geographical
dispersion of MMIP. He considered that this was a statewide
issue.
Ms. Kloster relayed that she had some data that she would
share with the committee. She noted that the Executive
director for Data for Indigenous Justice could speak to the
question. She stated that the issue was statewide.
9:14:30 AM
Co-Chair Olson asked Ms. Kloster to touch upon the urgency
and concern regarding the subject matter of the bill.
Ms. Kloster reiterated that she worked with the MMIWG2S
working group and other organizations, which received
regular calls from families asking for help with cases of
missing or murdered family members. She said that the
numbers of MMIP was increasing, and Alaska ranked the
highest in the nation for MMIP. She stressed that the
matter of MMIP was urgent and required immediate attention.
9:17:24 AM
DR. CHARLENE AQPIK APOK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DATA FOR
INDIGENOUS JUSTICE (via teleconference), spoke in favor of
the bill. She noted that she was Co-Director of Gender
Justice and Healing at Native Movement. She noted that Data
for Indigenous Justice put out a report in 2021 that listed
229 cases of MMIP in the state; that number had risen to
over 1000 in 2024. She stated that DPS had collaborated
with other agencies to release quarterly reports to help
law enforcement understand the resources necessary to
combat the issue. She stressed that the matter was ongoing
and urgent. She advocated for an increase from two to four
investigators in the bill.
Dr. Apok reiterated the urgent nature of the crisis.
9:20:43 AM
Dr. Apok discussed the need a committee of diverse voices
coming together in a collaborative effort to address the
issue. She felt that the bill was an equitable measure that
would address the issue of MMIP in the state.
Dr. Apok discussed mandatory reporting and expressed
gratitude that agencies were currently entering data into a
database. She emphasized the importance of mandatory
reporting and stressed the need for DPS to have up-t-date
and modern data infrastructure and technology.
9:23:15 AM
Senator Bishop asked Dr. Apok about her comments and asked
her to repeat the information about "archaic" databases.
Dr. Apok relayed that several years ago conversations about
data collection and reporting had revealed that some DPS
data systems in the state were archaic long term and
modern infrastructure for law enforcement would be
necessary to combat the issue of MMIP in Alaska.
Co-Chair Olson asked for Dr. Apok's thoughts on cooperation
between her organization and the Department of Law and DPS.
Dr. Apok responded that the partnerships should be strong
and continually fostered.
9:25:56 AM
LISA PURINTON, ACTING LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC SAFETY, spoke to a new fiscal note from the
Department of Public Safety, OMB Component number 2325. She
said that to help manage and support the commission, a
program coordinator position would be necessary, which
would add to the year one cost. She noted that costs would
decrease going forward. The required report would cost the
department additional funds as the work would be contracted
outside of the department. She said that an implementation
plan would be necessary after the report was complete,
which would require additional funds. She said that the
note also included funding for two of the four
investigators needed.
9:29:26 AM
Senator Bishop referenced Section 1 of the bill that
referenced cultural training. He asked whether the training
was already in use or had to be developed.
Ms. Purinton relayed that the department, through the
academy, offered cultural awareness training. She believed
any cost could be absorbed by the department. She deferred
to the commissioner for additional information.
9:30:31 AM
Co-Chair Olson He asked whether the funds were sufficient
for the scope of the effort that was going forward.
Ms. Purinton thought that the requested funds would cover
the report, but additional funds could be needed to
implement the findings of the report.
Co-Chair Olson asked whether the sunset date was realistic.
Ms. Purinton replied that the work could push past the
sunset date, and it could be helpful to revisit the sunset
date.
9:32:49 AM
COL. JAMES COCKERELL, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY, offered some background detailing his work to date
on the MMIP emergency. He discussed his retention of
investigators, who worked under his direction. He relayed
that he received requests from all over the state to
investigate MMIP cases. He described that the investigators
were engaged in tedious work that involved significant
emotions and were dedicated to the issue. He shared that he
provided a quarterly report on MMIP in Alaska, culling
information from police departments across the state.
Commissioner Cockrell related that information on missing
Alaskans was submitted to the National Missing and
Unidentified Person System (NamUs) 60 days after a report
was filed in-state. He explained that NamUs was a long-term
missing persons database. He said that when a person went
missing in Alaska the report went into the missing person
clearing house, which DPS managed for all police
departments around the state. He furthered that a follow-up
occurred after 30 days and if the person was still missing
after 60 days, they were entered into NamUs. He offered to
provide copies of missing person database information.
9:38:24 AM
Commissioner Cockrell said that anything known about the
nature of the disappearance was noted in the database. He
explained that Alaska did not have a provision that
prevented reporting a missing person before they had been
missing 24 hours. He said that time was critical to finding
the missing person. He expressed excitement about the
outreach and the report. He noted that DPS had two tribal
liaisons, as well as victim navigators who provided support
to victims and who were highly used.
Commissioner Cockrell expressed strong support for the
legislation. He stressed that a better job needed to be
done to provide professional police services in rural areas
of the state.
9:42:45 AM
Co-Chair Stedman noted that the proposed termination date
was in 2026.
Commissioner Cockrell suggested the date be pushed out,
based on the objectives of the department.
Ms. Alcantra asked whether the question related to the
sunset date or the report date for the DPS needs
assessment.
Co-Chair Stedman replied that he was questioning the sunset
date.
Ms. Alcantra relayed that the date was set by the sponsor,
to determine the need for the commission. She noted the
report would be due January 1, 2027, which would determine
next steps forward. She said that it would be up to the
legislature to determine whether the commission should be
extended.
Co-Chair Olson thought the date was set for as a
legislative starting point to consider the work of the
commission.
9:45:01 AM
Senator Bishop asked the commissioner to speak to how DPS
interfaced with affiliate agencies to work on the issue,
and how the bill might strengthen the relationships.
Commissioner Cockrell thought law enforcement in the state
was like a big family, with many connections and shared
assets. He mentioned the import of cooperation in the state
because of its size and population.
Senator Bishop referenced Section 1 of the bill and
cultural training. He assumed the training would be
provided at the police academy.
Commissioner Cockrell stated that cultural training was
currently available at the academy. He identified that he
wanted to provide the training during in-services. He noted
that there was a lot to teach incoming staff about the
cultures in Alaska. He hoped that once the department had
real cultural training provided by partners who were
experts in Alaskan issues.
9:48:40 AM
Co-Chair Olson thanked Commissioner Cockrell for his
service.
9:49:00 AM
Ms. Alcantra thanked the committee for considering the
legislation.
Co-Chair Olson set an amendment deadline for the following
Monday at noon.
SB 151 was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
9:49:25 AM
AT EASE
9:54:36 AM
RECONVENED
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 151 - Letter of Support - AKNWRC. Jan 5.2024.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2024 9:00:00 AM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 DPS AST 031724.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2024 9:00:00 AM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 ANTHC Support.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2024 9:00:00 AM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 MMIP. Testimony. 02.05.2024.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2024 9:00:00 AM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2024 9:00:00 AM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2024 9:00:00 AM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Summary of Changes U to R.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2024 9:00:00 AM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Support Letter - MMIWG2S AK Working Group.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2024 9:00:00 AM |
SB 151 |
| SCR 10 CS in SFIN summary of changes 3-21-24.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2024 9:00:00 AM |
SCR 10 |
| SCR 10 work draft version B.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2024 9:00:00 AM |
SCR 10 |