HB 35-PRISONERS: ELECTRONIC DEVICE ACCESS/USE  2:40:00 PM CHAIR CLAMAN announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 35(STA) "An Act relating to the use and possession of electronic devices by prisoners." CHAIR CLAMAN said this is the first hearing of this bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The intention is to hear a Senate committee substitute (SCS) for HB 35. 2:40:13 PM CHAIR CLAMAN solicited a motion. 2:40:20 PM SENATOR KIEHL moved to adopt the Senate committee substitute (SCS) for CSHB 35, work order 34-LS0355\T, as the working document. 2:40:35 PM CHAIR CLAMAN objected for purposes of discussion. 2:40:48 PM BREANNA KAKARUK, Staff, Senator Matt Claman, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the summary of changes for HB 35 from version H to version T. [Original punctuation provided.] Summary of Changes   House Bill 35: Version H to Version T Page 2, line 14, following "X": Insert: "or" Page 2, line 14, following "NC-17": Delete: ", or television shows rated "TV-MA" MS. KAKARUK said version T contained some conforming changes. 2:41:19 PM CHAIR CLAMAN removed his objection and SCS CSHB 35 was adopted as the working document. CHAIR CLAMAN invited the bill sponsor to introduce HB 35. 2:41:35 PM REPRESENTATIVE REBECCA HIMSCHOOT, District 2, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 35, introduced her bill. She stated that tablets are found in 48 other correctional systems and said Alaska is behind in adopting similar policies. She explained that the bill provides policy direction to the Department of Corrections, allowing it to negotiate with vendors to bring tablets into the system. The goal of HB 35 is to reduce recidivism rates, which are among the highest in the nation, and to prepare better the approximately 95 percent of incarcerated individuals who will return to their communities to be more successful upon their return. 2:42:37 PM CHAIR CLAMAN announced invited testimony on HB 35. 2:42:59 PM MARSHA OSS, Reentry Coordinator, Fairbanks Reentry Coalition, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified by invitation in support of HB 35. She stated that she draws from her lived experience, having grown up in an environment that included untreated mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and other forms of trauma. She said she spent a lot of her youth and adulthood in juvenile detention, foster care, and girls' homes, and ultimately was arrested for a felony. MS. OSS stated that she serves approximately 110 individuals through her coalition in the Fairbanks area. She said she previously worked as a case manager for five years and as a substance abuse counselor for more than 25 years, primarily in hospitals and correctional facilities. She described her work with justice-involved individuals as her life's work. She spent 36 years working full-time while giving back to her community through various volunteer positions. MS. OSS stated that getting an education or graduating is not a conversation many of her clients have had, nor has she ever had with a parent or anyone. She described herself and clients as "throw-away" kids. She emphasized the importance of planning before reentry, noting that successful reentry contributes to safer communities. She explained that developing a structured plan before release helps ensure individuals can access services such as obtaining a GED, entering trade programs, and connecting with support systems. She stated that tablets could assist by allowing individuals to communicate with peer support, case managers, counselors, and other service providers before release. Increased access to resources, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, college paperwork, and paperwork for the Literacy Council of Alaska, would help get individuals going. MS. OSS said the Fairbanks Reentry Coalition supports HB 35 and DOC's efforts to expand opportunities. 2:46:37 PM BARBARA MONGAR, Coalition Coordinator, Mat-Su Reentry Coalition, Mat-Su, Alaska, testified by invitation in support of HB 35. She stated that she has served in her role for approximately 5.5 years. The coalition includes state agencies, such as the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) and the Department of Corrections (DOC), as well as community substance treatment centers, Mat-Su Health Services, tribal organizations, nonprofit entities, and private community service organizations. MS. MONGAR explained that the coalition's strong community partnerships enable the delivery of wraparound services to its clients. She stated that reentry planning begins at least 30 days before release and includes services such as case planning, housing support, employment assistance, parole and probation support, and referrals for substance use and mental health treatment. MS. MONGAR stated that HB 35 would help remove barriers to incarcerated individuals' access to electronic devices, such as computers and tablets. She said that the Mat-Su Reentry Coalition supports DOC's efforts to expand access to electronic devices for vocational training, education, treatment and recovery services, reentry planning, housing and employment assistance, telehealth, peer support, tribal visitation, and other services. MS. MONGAR emphasized that early access to services increases the likelihood of successful reintegration and stated that successful reentry contributes to safer communities. 2:49:02 PM DON HABEGER, Coalition Coordinator, The Juneau Reentry Coalition, Juneau, Alaska, testified by invitation in support of HB 35. He stated that he would highlight two primary points. MR. HABEGER highlighted his first point: that community partners face ongoing challenges in accessing incarcerated individuals before release. He emphasized the importance of beginning reentry work before individuals are released, not at the gate. He provided examples of situations that limited access to incarcerated individuals. He said communications were shut down during the COVID pandemic. The Lemon Creek Correctional Center was temporarily closed due to compromised building structures. He said these were unintended events that prevented the community from working with incarcerated individuals. MR. HABEGER spoke to his second point and described the limitations of the phone system. He explained that if he misses a call from an incarcerated individual, he receives a general recording that states, "somebody from one of our institutions tried to call you." He said if he is not there to pick up the call and accept charges, he has no way of knowing who called. He expressed his belief that tablets could help address some of these challenges and communication barriers. MR. HABEGER pointed out that other states have implemented similar programs and are seeing positive results. He referred to a program in California, The Last Mile. It provides digital skills training to incarcerated individuals to help them become programmers. He said 75 percent of participants who complete the program are hired, and 40 percent of those earn above-average wages. The goal for those who are released is to find employment and become productive members of their communities. 2:52:27 PM TERI TIBBET, Coordinator, Alaska Reentry Partnership, Juneau, Alaska, testified by invitation in support of HB 35. She stated that she agreed with and echoed the testimony provided by previous speakers. MS. TIBBET pointed out that recidivism rates have dropped in Alaska, noting that data from 2015 to 2021 shows a decrease from approximately 63.17 percent to 54.49 percent. She said that this decline coincides with the expansion of reentry efforts beginning around 2015. She explained that during that time, the Alaska Mental Health Trust began funding reentry coalitions, and the Department of Health implemented grants to support reentry case managers working with individuals on reentry plans before release. She stated that many support systems have been implemented since 2015 that coincide with the decline in recidivism rates. MS. TIBBET noted that, while she does not have specific data establishing a direct causal relationship, the timing of these initiatives and the reduction in recidivism suggest they may be contributing factors. She said the Alaska Reentry Partnership supports the passage of HB 35 and the effort to expand digital technology inside correctional facilities so those incarcerated can leave better than they entered. 2:55:27 PM CHAIR CLAMAN opened public testimony on HB 35; finding none, he closed public testimony. 2:55:50 PM SENATOR TOBIN asked whether the Department of Corrections considered how to address potential risks of individuals with limited internet literacy. She expressed concern that individuals could be vulnerable to identity theft or other harmful activities and asked what safeguards are in place to protect them. CHAIR CLAMAN stated that the DOC would be asked to address that question at a future hearing. 2:56:37 PM CHAIR CLAMAN held HB 35 in committee.