04/30/1994 11:45 AM Senate JUD

 SENATOR TAYLOR brought  CSHB 334(FIN) am  (SENTENCING;3RD SERIOUS             
 FELONY OFFENDER) before the committee.                                        
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE CON BUNDE, prime sponsor of HB 334, pointed out that           
 fiscal impact will not incur by passage of this legislation for a             
 period of 12 to 15 years because those current people who would               
 commit a third felony will already be incarcerated for 12 to 15               
 years.  He added that the fiscal impact and the amount it is                  
 diminished is an imponderable when it comes to how much of a                  
 deterrent it will be with the possibility of a long-term sentence             
 facing a career criminal.                                                     
                                                                               
 Number 300                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR LITTLE referred to the fiscal note from the Department of             
 Corrections.  She said if the incarcerents currently in the system            
 already have two or three of these eligible offenses against them,            
 the effects would be coming much more rapidly than the fiscal note            
 would imply.  PATTY SWENSON, staff to Representative Bunde                    
 confirmed that the felonies do accumulate and there are people in             
 prison now with some felonies, but she thinks the Department of               
 Corrections feels that they will be in prison long enough so that             
 there will be no immediate fiscal impact.                                     
                                                                               
 Number 329                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR commented that when the same legislation was signed            
 into law in California, Governor Pete Wilson said it would mean               
 that they would need to build additional facilities over the next             
 several years for 82,000 additional prisoners.  REPRESENTATIVE                
 BUNDE responded that California's population base is different than           
 Alaska's population base, and this proposed legislation is written            
 much more tightly and relates only to crimes against people.                  
                                                                               
 Number 370                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR LITTLE said she was generally supportive of the                       
 legislation, but is very concerned about the impacts to the                   
 Department of Corrections and other departments by passing such a             
 bill.  She asked Representative Bunde if he is personally willing             
 to financially support those systems that are going to be impacted            
 by imposition of this legislation.  REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE answered             
 that he would.                                                                
                                                                               
 Number 390                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR HALFORD moved that CSHB 334(FIN) am be passed out of                  
 committee with individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection,             
 it was so ordered.