Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120
03/31/2022 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
SB7 | |
HB226 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= | HB 124 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
*+ | HB 226 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 7-STATE TROOPER POLICIES: PUBLIC ACCESS 3:14:38 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the first order of business would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 7(JUD), "An Act requiring the Department of Public Safety to publish certain policies and procedures on the department's Internet website." 3:15:02 PM SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, Alaska State Legislature, prime sponsor of CSSB 7(JUD), summarized the legislation. She explained that the bill would require that the Department of Public Safety (DPS) publish on their website the department's current policies and procedures related to the conduct of peace officers employed or regulated by the department. The duty of DPS, she said, was to ensure public safety within communities and, as such, the public must be able to easily access the current policies and procedures that require peace officers to adhere to. 3:15:48 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened public testimony on CSSB 7(JUD). 3:16:15 PM LISA RUSH, Alaska Black Caucus, expressed her support for SB 7. She said studies had shown that public access to information about how law enforcement agencies make critical organizational decisions, and the outcomes of such decisions, had the potential to increase public and organizational accountability and promote trust between police and the citizens they serve. She argued that effective police leaders must work to establish a culture of transparency and accountability in order to build public trust. She reiterated the Alaska Black Caucus's support for the bill. 3:19:06 PM KASEY CASORT stated her support for SB 7. She recalled the death of Bishar Hassan, who was shot 12 times by Anchorage police officers. The officers fired more than 21 shots and failed to administer any medical help for several minutes while Mr. Hassan was lying on the ground. She explained that the information about that incident was gathered from dash cam footage, which was released years after his death. She stated that police brutality was a deadly problem in Alaska and believed that the passage of SB 7 would initiate the bare minimum to providing basic transparency around policing in the state. She expressed support for the package of police reform bills that were introduced by Senator Gray-Jackson [SB 1, SB 2, SB 3, SB 4, SB 46, and SB 7] and urged passage of the proposed legislation. 3:20:26 PM MICHAEL GARVEY, Anchorage, Alaska, stated his support for SB 7, which would further the objective of transparency, he said. He pointed out that police officers interacted with the public every day and were taxpayer funded public servants. For that reason, he argued that the public should be allowed know their standards of conduct and hold them accountable. He highlighted the public's distrust and frustration due to the inability to access police policy and records. He argued that SB 7 would be a concrete step to counter that distrust. 3:22:24 PM CHRISTIANE ALLISON recounted what she characterized as emotional and mental torture that she endured from two Alaskan State Troopers on January 23, 2009. She opined that there was little transparency and less accountability among police officers. She believed that the posting of public policies would empower the public to seek accountability and urged the committee to pass the proposed legislation to protect Alaskan citizens. CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS requested further clarity on the incident Ms. Allison endured. MS. ALLISON explained that her daughter had passed away from a household fall. She said the state made an accusation against her husband based on a "junk science" theory, called "chicken baby syndrome." She believed that in an effort to forcibly turn her against her spouse, the troopers subjected her to graphic photos of her child for four hours. She said the officers did not allow her to leave the room until she agreed with their record of events. CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS closed public testimony on CSSB 7(JUD) and invited final comment from committee members. REPRESENTATIVE TARR thanked Ms. Allison for calling in and reminding the committee that the system could work better in times of difficulty, pain, and stress. She expressed her hope that CSSB 7(JUD) would accomplish that. 3:27:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY emphasized the importance of continuing to build and improve trust between the public and public safety officials. 3:28:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN shared his understanding that the department was already publishing its policies and procedures on the website; for that reason, he was unsure of the bill's necessity. He addressed the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) provision in the bill, opining that there may be a gap in the policy. 3:29:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN moved to report CSSB 7(JUD) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 7(JUD) was reported from the House State Affairs Standing Committee.