Legislature(2001 - 2002)
05/11/2002 11:50 AM Senate JUD
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
May 11, 2002
11:50 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Robin Taylor, Chair
Senator John Cowdery
Senator Gene Therriault
Senator Johnny Ellis
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Dave Donley, Vice Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 230
"An Act relating to recommending or refusing psychotropic drugs
as a treatment for children and to the evaluation and treatment
of children with behavioral or psychological problems."
MOVED CSSB 230(JUD) OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 207(RLS)
"An Act moving election district 24 as described in the
Constitution of the State of Alaska at statehood from the Second
Judicial District to the Fourth Judicial District and adding the
Nabesna area to the Third Judicial District and removing it from
the Fourth Judicial District."
MOVED CSHB 207(RLS) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 230 - See HESS minutes dated 3/4/02.
CSHB 207(RLS) - No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
Senator Bettye Davis
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 230
Representative Mary Kapsner
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 207
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 02-31, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN ROBIN TAYLOR called the Senate Judiciary Committee
meeting to order at 11:50 a.m. Senators Cowdery, Therriault and
Chair Taylor were present. The committee took up SB 230.
SB 230-PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS FOR CHILDREN
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, sponsor, informed members that SB 230 has
the support of many groups, school districts, and the Department
of Education and Early Development (DOEED). Many other states
have adopted similar legislation because of problems where
children were being forced to take prescription psychotropic
drugs. Senator Davis said this legislation has no cost. She
pointed out this legislation will be helpful to school districts
and the Department of Health and Social Services because many
times workers can force children out of their homes by insisting
they need to take psychotropic drugs. With SB 230 in place,
workers can recommend that children be placed on psychotropic
drugs but it would not give them the authority to demand that
children take those drugs.
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR thanked Senator Davis and said he has heard of
situations in his district in which children were placed on
psychotropic drugs but once the children were removed from the
drugs and the school setting, they did very well.
SENATOR ELLIS moved SB 230 with individual recommendations to the
next committee of referral.
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked if the committee adopted Version J.
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR noted that Version J needed to be adopted and
SENATOR DAVIS agreed.
SENATOR ELLIS moved to withdraw his previous motion and then
moved to adopt Version J (Lauterbach, 3/26/02) as the working
draft before the committee.
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR announced that without objection, Version J was
adopted.
SENATOR ELLIS moved CSSB 230(JUD) and any accompanying fiscal
notes on to the next committee of referral with individual
recommendations.
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR commented that the fiscal notes are zero fiscal
notes so the bill does not have to be heard in the Finance
Committee. He then announced that with no objection, CSSB
230(JUD) moved from committee.
The committee took up HB 207.
HB 207-REALIGNMENT OF JUDICIAL DISTRICTS
REPRESENTATIVE MARY KAPSNER, sponsor of HB 207, told members that
HB 207 is a "clean-up" bill. It removes 13 villages on the Yukon
River from the Second Judicial District and places them in the
Fourth Judicial District. She explained when judicial districts
were designed at Statehood, they were put together based on
commerce and transportation patterns at the time. Nome and
Fairbanks were the transportation hubs and Yukon villagers could
easily go to Nome for their judicial needs. However,
transportation patterns have changed so that residents of the 13
villages have to travel to Bethel and Anchorage to get to Nome to
deal with their legal matters. Those residents are currently
being serviced by the Fourth Judicial District based in Bethel,
but they cannot vote to retain the judges in that district.
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked if anyone else wished to testify. No one
responded. He then said no amendments have been offered and that
he would entertain a motion.
SENATOR COWDERY moved CSHB 207(RLS) from committee with
individual recommendations.
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked if this legislation is supported by the
court system.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER said it is and that Doug Wooliver of the
court system helped to draft the bill and resolve the Nabesna
problem.
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR said he spoke with Mr. Wooliver earlier who
expressed support. He then announced that with no objection, CSHB
207(RLS) moved from committee with individual recommendations. He
then recessed the meeting to a call of the chair.
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