Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/11/1993 02:45 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 11, 1993
2:45 P.M.
TAPE HFC 93 - 20, Side 2, #000 - end.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Ron Larson called the meeting of the House Finance
Committee to order at 2:45 P.M.
PRESENT
Co-Chair Larson Representative Brown
Co-Chair MacLean Representative Foster
Vice-Chair Hanley Representative Martin
Representative Parnell Representative Therriault
Representatives Hoffman, Grussendorf and Navarre were not
present for the meeting.
ALSO PRESENT
John Laravee, Vice-President, International Association of
Residential & Community Alternatives, Boston, Mass.;
Representative Cliff Davidson.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
PRESENTATION BY: JOHN LARAVEE, VICE-PRESIDENT
International Association of Residential &
Community Alternatives
CAMBRIDGE ENERGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES
HB 73 An Act relating to state and local taxation and
other state regulation as affected by the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act, as amended, and
related federal statutes; and providing for
an effective date.
HB 73 was WAIVED from Committee.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENTIAL & COMMUNITY
ALTERNATIVES
JOHN LARAVEE, VICE-PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES, reviewed written
testimony. [Attachment #1].
He noted in sentencing and corrections, the country as a
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whole is experiencing a uniform crisis of crowding in
prisons, overloading of probation and parole, and a
deterioration of public image which has significantly
impacted the system's products, punishment, deterrence and
rehabilitation. He stressed that the business of criminal
justice hasn't learned anything from this crisis.
Mr. Laravee recommended the concept of "intermediate
sanctions" which could provide an opportunity to debate
questions and define the purpose and expectations of
criminal justice. These would afford a fundamental change
in the way people think about sentencing. According to the
Alaska Sentencing Commission, Intermediate Punishments offer
a way to keep sentencing practices and prison capacity in
balance by:
1. Overtaxed prisons are undermining respect for the
justice system;
2. Prisons are too costly to serve as the principal
sanction;
3. Prisons are not the elixir for crime.
The premise of which intermediate sanctions are based is
that the justice system deals with a wide range of offenders
as measured by:
1. The seriousness of their crime;
2. The risk they present to public safety;
3. And their needs.
Intermediate sanctions are intended to bridge the gap
between prison and probation, between 24-hour incarceration
and once a month or less probation contacts.
Mr. Laravee stated that intermediate sanctions, rather than
adding it to a stable of programs, must be approached in a
purposeful way:
1. They must provide value. The purpose and
expectations for intermediate sanctions must be
clearly defined, and stated in terms of outcomes,
not in terms of introducing more programs.
2. Intermediate sanctions, and the stated purpose and
expectations, must obtain legitimacy and support.
3. Intermediate sanctioning systems must be tailored
to the social, political and economic environment
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of the community.
4. There must be a range of credible sanctions tied
together by agreed upon policy.
5. Individual sanctions in the range must have
integrity and capability of doing what they were
designated to do.
6. Offenders must be targeted for specific sanctions.
7. Intermediate sanctioning systems must be
adequately financed.
Mr. Laravee concluded with three summary points.
1. Simply creating and funding community corrections
programs is not enough. For them to be used
properly intermediate sanctions must be integrated
into the state's accepted punishment policy.
2. In determining the appropriate sanction for the
offender, don't get caught in the "more is better"
trap. What can result is an overly expensive,
rigid program in which no offender can
successfully and no agency can properly deliver.
3. To succeed, it simply requires leadership.
Representative Parnell asked what would be required to
adequately fund "intermediate sanctions" in Alaska. Mr.
Laravee explained this information would depend on outcome
expectations and at that time allocating resources in that
way. He added, the first eighteen months of probation is
the critical period of time. Usually the first six months
are when most violations occur. He recommended supervision
be stopped after eighteen months.
He added that the State does not need to look at expansion
of dollars but rather check how the allocated funds are
currently spent. Several states have changed their
sentencing policy rather than expand beds. He summarized
that creating expectations based on fiscal realities is
important.
Representative Davidson asked further clarification of the
necessary specifications for intermediate sanctions. He
asked the components of tailoring to local options. Mr.
Laravee replied that it is necessary to discover those
programs through research and then introduce those into
communities if they are appropriate for that community. It
is necessary to know who are the offenders, what are their
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needs, understanding their risk factors, what could the
community provide to address those needs and where will the
program fill in. The program must be tailored to the local
community in terms of the inmate population, resources and
the interest of the community which includes local
tolerance.
Representative Parnell asked that a copy of the residential
and community alternatives be presented to the Correction's
subcommittee. Mr. Laravee agreed.
HOUSE BILL 73
"An Act relating to state and local taxation and other
state regulation as affected by the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act, as amended, and related federal
statutes; and providing for an effective date."
Co-Chair MacLean provided the Committee with a memorandum to
Co-Chair Larson regarding "waiving" of HB 73. [Attachment
with federal amendments made to the Alaska Native Settlement
Act (ANCSA) in 1991.
Representative Martin asked if the change would affect only
corporation property. Co-Chair MacLean stated HB 73 would
affect corporation and village corporation property; also
homeowners property which they own for a twenty year period
would be taxed under this federal law.
Representative Martin asked at which point would it become
individual property. Co-Chair MacLean explained the
property would become taxable once it becomes "double-up".
This law is already in existence.
Co-Chair Larson MOVED TO WAIVE HB 73 to the next committee
of referral. There being NO OBJECTIONS, it was so ordered.
CAMBRIDGE ENERGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES (CERA) CONTRACT/OIL
PRICE FORECASTS
Co-Chair Larson provided the Committee with Attachment #3, a
Memorandum from Mike Greany, Legislative Fiscal Analyst,
regarding the Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA)
Contract/Oil Price Forecasts. He noted a request from the
Senate Finance Co-Chairs to accept the Cambridge oil price
forecasting services for a period of one year for an amount
not to exceed $17.5 thousand dollars.
Representative Martin inquired how often a report would be
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made available from CERA. Co-Chair Larson explained the
services Cambridge would provide as a retainer client:
* Their quarterly World Oil Watch publication;
* Special oil reports and fax alerts;
* Two seats to their annual conference;
* Regular phone access and teleconference
participation in a joint House/Senate Finance
Committee meeting (to be held in March or April,
1993).
Co-Chair Larson MOVED to honor the request of the Senate
Finance Committee and pay half the amount billed by CERA to
provide the contract. There being NO OBJECTIONS, it was so
ordered.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 3:25 P.M.
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