Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
04/14/2021 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| SB122 | |
| SJR1 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | SB 122 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 122-VICTIM DEFINITION
2:14:51 PM
CHAIR REINBOLD reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 122, "An Act relating to the
definition of 'victim.'"
2:15:27 PM
KELLI TOTH, Staff, Senator Lora Reinbold, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, on behalf of the sponsor,
paraphrased the sponsor statement.
[Original punctuation provided]:
SB122 is a bill that removes the word "adult" before
the word "child" in the definition in AS 12.55.185 (C
ii). By removing the word adult, the definition of a
victim will include a child of a person who has been a
victim of a crime when a parent or guardian is
deceased. SB122 will ensure victim rights for a child
of a deceased parent or guardian.
She explained that this will allow a child to participate in the
case in the same way as the victims could if they were not
deceased. She stated that the bill has a zero fiscal note.
2:16:50 PM
MS. TOTH provided the sectional analysis. The bill consists of
one section. On page 2, line 1, subparagraph (ii), the language
"an adult" is deleted and "a" is inserted. It would then read:
(ii) a child, parent, brother, sister, grandparent, or
grandchild of the deceased; or
2:17:45 PM
CHAIR REINBOLD turned to invited testimony.
2:18:05 PM
TAYLOR WINSTON, Executive Director, Office of Victims' Rights,
Legislative Affairs Agency, Anchorage, Alaska, stated she
noticed the disparity in the treatment of children of victims of
crimes. This became an issue in a case, which was later
resolved. However, it highlighted the difficulty minor children
of a crime victim can encounter because as minors, they are
precluded from constitutional and statutory rights when their
parent is the victim of an offense. The definition in statute
does not list an age qualifier for the adult child, parent,
brother, sister, grandparent, or grandchild of the victim of a
crime. A minor spouse or child couldn't give a victim statement
or receive restitution or other rights given to crime victims in
the state.
MS. WINSTON referred to the definition of "victim" under AS
12.55.185 (19). Subparagraph (C) pertains to a victim of a crime
who died. If that person had a sister and a minor child, the
sister would be entitled to rights but not the minor child. This
bill will make it equitable, she said.
2:20:20 PM
SENATOR KIEHL pointed out a possible unintended consequence. He
asked if a situation could arise where a homicide victim has a
very young minor child who could not give a meaningful victim
impact statement or participate in parole hearings or other
matters that a victim would be entitled to. He said the language
in AS 12.55.185(19)(C) refers to "one of the following."
MS. WINSTON responded that could be the situation for all
victims. For example, it is possible an adult child or brother
of a homicide victim could be incompetent and therefore unable
to use the law and the protections in the same way others could.
This bill will ensure that barriers are not erected because of
someone's age. She pointed out that very young children often
want to participate and most courts will allow them to do so.
She noted that an adult, such as a guardian or guardian ad litem
usually will represent the child.
2:23:18 PM
SENATOR KIEHL suggested that an amendment might be necessary to
clarify that a child is entitled to participate in matters as
the child of a victim [identified in subparagraph (A)].
2:23:47 PM
CHAIR REINBOLD suggested that he could work with her office on
any amendments.
2:23:55 PM
SENATOR SHOWER asked whether AS 12.55.185(19)(C)(iii) would
provide a safety net.
MS. WINSTON said the language, "adult child" became a point of
litigation in which a teenage child whose mother was murdered
was not allowed to avail herself of her crime victim's rights
due to her age. She stated that she argued in pleadings that the
court had the discretion to use the language "any other person"
in AS 12.55.185(19)(C)(iii). However, the court declined to do
so. Currently, a grandchild of a murder victim would have more
rights than the victim's minor child. She said from a victim's
rights perspective that was offensive.
2:25:42 PM
SENATOR HUGHES referred to page 1, line 12, to AS
12.55.185(19)(C), which allows sub-subparagraph (i), (ii), or
(iii) to be used. She asked what would happen if a minor aged 17
was married to the dead victim. She asked if "one of the
following" should be changed to "any one of the following." She
referred to page 1, line 10, to AS 12.55.185(19(B)(ii), which
uses the language "adult child." She asked if that language
should also be changed to include a minor child.
SENATOR HUGHES restated her question.
MS. WINSTON agreed. She opined that it was not the intention of
the law to limit any opportunity for a dead victim's close
relatives listed in sub-subparagraph (ii) to attend a hearing or
receive restitution to one person. She referred to line 12, AS
12.55.185(19)(C), and suggested it would be better to use "any
one of the following" rather than "one of the following." She
said AS 12.55.185(19)(B) uses the language "one of the
following". However, if the homicide victim, as specified by
subparagraph (A), was a minor, incompetent or incapacitated,
subparagraph (B) relates to (A).
2:28:44 PM
MS. WINSTON acknowledged that a situation could arise when a
minor parent becomes a victim of a crime. However, she offered
her belief that the minor child would already be covered in that
situation. She explained that AS 12.55.185(19(C) relates to
homicide victims and lists people who are considered the victims
entitled to participate in hearings or receive compensation. AS
12.55.185(19)(B) pertains to situations in which the victim of a
crime was a minor, incompetent, or incapacitated. Subparagraph
(B) would allow a spouse, parent, adult child, guardian, or
custodian of that victim of a crime to receive compensation as a
victim or to participate in parole hearings or other matters.
2:30:23 PM
SENATOR HUGHES referred to page 1, line 7 of SB 122. She said
that subparagraph (B) pertains to subparagraph (A), the person
against whom an offense has been perpetrated that is also a
minor, incompetent, or incapacitated. She said the mentally
disabled victim who is alive could also have a minor child who
is also affected. She suggested that sub-subparagraph (ii)
should not read "adult child."
MS. WINSTON said she understood her concern. She said that if
the committee wanted to expand the definition of victims, it
could do so.
She explained that the difference between AS 12.55.185(19)(B)
and AS 12.55.185(19)(C) is that the direct victim is dead in
subparagraph (C). Therefore, it provides a list of people
recognized as victims. In subparagraph (B), the victim is not
dead but may be under 18, mentally challenged, or in a coma. In
that instance, it provides for a person who is related to come
before the court to speak on behalf of the incompetent victim of
a crime. She acknowledged that the list of people identified in
subparagraph (B) could be expanded by including minor children,
but it would considerably expand the definition.
2:32:48 PM
SENATOR HUGHES characterized this as an important policy
decision because the child of a homicide victim could come
before the court to testify how they are impacted. The parent
will be gone forever.
SENATOR HUGHES pointed out that the parent who was victimized
but not killed may be disabled or in a coma. In that case, the
child may be living with the disabled parent. She asked why that
child would not be allowed to come before the court, too. She
was unsure why it would be placed under one category and not the
other.
2:33:59 PM
One might ask if the incapacitated victim's parent, brother,
sister, grandparent, or grandchild should also have those same
opportunities under subparagraph (B). MS. WINSTON responded that
she was not saying that it could not be done. She said she is
all for as many victimized people to have opportunities to
participate in the process, but it will potentially expand the
notification on all things and increase the fiscal note.
2:35:22 PM
CHAIR REINBOLD reminded members that SB 122 only changes the
language from "an adult child" to "a child" in sub-subparagraph
(C) on page 2, line 1.
MS. WINSTON agreed.
2:35:47 PM
SENATOR KIEHL interpreted subparagraph (B) to mean that the
direct victim is not legally able to speak. In subparagraph (C)
the direct victim cannot physically participate because the
direct victim is deceased. He offered his view that people who
could speak on their behalf should be similar. He said he was
not inclined to open the list up to everyone. However, he said
he thinks it makes sense to have an adult give the victim impact
statement when the direct victim is disabled and unable to speak
on their behalf. It makes great sense to expand sub-subparagraph
(ii) to include a minor child. He hoped these suggestions would
accomplish the bill's intent, which is good. He said it makes
sense to have one adult acting as the direct victim's
spokesperson in parole hearings or other proceedings such as
modifying the sentencing process. He said he did not want to
dramatically increase the fiscal note.
2:37:45 PM
MS. WINSTON said she was unsure of the changes to be made.
SENATOR KIEHL stated that he would like to work on this language
with the sponsor.
2:38:32 PM
SENATOR MYERS related his understanding that subparagraph (B)
would establish guardianship for the victim of a crime who is
still alive. While he understood Senator Hughes' concern that
the direct victim is not the only victim, he was hesitant to
expand the bill to multiple people without first considering all
of the victim's rights in Alaska. If an incapacitated crime
victim did not have an apparent guardian, such as a parent or
spouse, the court would appoint one. He suggested that
[subparagraph (B) should not be changed.
2:39:54 PM
SENATOR HUGHES stated that the committee needs clarification
whether this pertains to victims who can submit an impact
statement, victims who will act as guardians and victims who
will be eligible for restitution. She said the committee has
discussed victims providing impact statements before the court.
She asked if that person would be eligible for restitution or if
this relates to assigning guardianship.
MS. WINSTON said the change in SB 122 to sub-subparagraph (ii)
was to allow a child of a homicide victim to have all the crime
victim rights. Those rights do not pertain to guardianship. It
would go beyond providing an impact statement. For example, that
language would include whether the 15-year-old child wants to be
in the courtroom during the trial or is entitled to restitution.
It may pertain to some type of privacy rights, such as a defense
attorney seeking private records, such as counseling or school
records. She stated that there are many victims' rights that a
child of a homicide victim could not participate in or have
access to. She highlighted that the case she previously
mentioned was that a child wanted to be in the courtroom to
observe proceedings but was not allowed to do so since the dead
victim's child was not an adult.
2:43:13 PM
CHAIR REINBOLD stated that the bill's goal was to allow a child
to have rights.
2:44:09 PM
CHAIR REINBOLD opened public testimony on SB 122.
2:44:26 PM
KATIE BOTZ, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, stated her full
support of SB 122. She recommended that the bill not be opened
up to everyone. She asked members to be mindful that victims,
including children and minors, should have the right to attend
or not attend court proceedings, especially if they have been
victimized.
2:46:28 PM
CHAIR REINBOLD closed public testimony on SB 122.
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