HB  81-ACCESS TO MARIJUANA CONVICTION RECORDS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:01:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GRAY  announced that the  first order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 81,  "An Act restricting  the release  of certain                                                               
records  of convictions;  and providing  for an  effective date."                                                               
[Before the committee was CSHB 81(STA).]                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:02:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DAVID  NELSON, Alaska  State  Legislature,     as                                                               
prime  sponsor,  stated  that CSHB  81(STA)  would  make  certain                                                               
marijuana   possession   convictions    confidential   on   basic                                                               
background  checks while  keeping them  available for  government                                                               
agencies and qualified people.   Individuals who were at least 21                                                               
years of age at the time of  the crime, possessed 1 ounce or less                                                               
of marijuana,  and were not convicted  of any other crime  in the                                                               
same incident,  would be able  to request that the  Department of                                                               
Public  Safety  (DPS)  make  this  crime  confidential  on  their                                                               
record.    He  stated  that   Alaskans  are  facing  barriers  to                                                               
employment,  housing,  licensing,   and  volunteer  opportunities                                                               
making them less able to contribute fully to their community.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:03:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GRAY opined that people who  were convicted of a crime that                                                               
is not illegal today should not be held back.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:04:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KOPP   moved  to  report  CSHB   81(STA)  out  of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal  notes.    There  being  no  objection  CSHB  81(STA)  was                                                               
reported out of the House Judiciary Standing Committee.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  GRAY authorized  Legislative  Legal Services  to make  any                                                               
necessary technical and conforming changes.