03/04/1994 01:15 PM House JUD

  HB 418 - EXTEND BOARD OF PAROLE                                              
                                                                               
  Number 510                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN PORTER announced that HB 418 would be taken up                      
  next.                                                                        
                                                                               
  Number 515                                                                   
                                                                               
  RENEE CHATMAN, Legislative Aide to Rep. Bettye Davis, Prime                  
  Sponsor of HB 418, spoke on behalf of Rep. Davis and read a                  
  sponsor statement.  In summary, the bill would simply extend                 
  the Board of Parole.  She noted that there was a zero fiscal                 
  note.  The sponsor statement follows:                                        
                                                                               
  HB 418 would extend the Board of Parole for the customary                    
  four-year period un A.S. 44.66.010(c).  Under current law,                   
  and without passage of this legislation, the Board is                        
  scheduled to sunset on June 30, 1994.                                        
                                                                               
  The State Board of Parole was created in 1960 and has been                   
  an essential component of Alaska's criminal justice system.                  
  There are currently 70 felons on parole supervision.  EAch                   
  year, about 400 prisoners are eligible to be released to                     
  discretionary parole supervision for a portion of their                      
  sentence.  In addition, 500 prisoners are released to                        
  mandatory parole supervision for a period equal to one-third                 
  of their sentence.                                                           
                                                                               
  Expiration of the Parole Board will not alter the state's                    
  responsibility under Title 33, Chapter 16, which provides                    
  for prisoners to be eligible for and supervised on                           
  discretionary and mandatory parole.  The State will almost                   
  certainly be a party to costly litigation to determine the                   
  legal status of prisoners, parolees and victims.                             
                                                                               
  The Board of Parole has been an effective vehicle in                         
  administering the parole process.  I urge your support of HB
.                                                                         
                                                                               
  Number 547                                                                   
                                                                               
  RICHARD COLUMN, Executive Director, Parole Board, Department                 
  of Corrections, testified in support of HB 418.  He made                     
  himself available for questions.                                             
                                                                               
  Number 564                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. JAMES motioned to move HB 418 from committee with                       
  individual recommendations and a zero fiscal note.                           
                                                                               
  With no objection, HB 418 was moved from committee.