HB 153 BONDS FOR JUDGES                                   
                                                                              
 MR. CHRISTENSEN explained HB 153 proposes to repeal AS 22.15.260,             
 enacted at the time of Statehood.  That statute requires that each            
 district judge and magistrate shall execute and file a surety bond            
 in the form and amount to be determined by rule of the court. The             
 bond provides protection when a public official commits intentional           
 misconduct, such as embezzlement.  The court system discontinued              
 the practice of providing such bonds about 20 years ago when the              
 Division of Risk Management began purchasing a blanket bond to                
 cover all state employees.                                                    
 SENATOR GREEN moved HB 153 out of committee with individual                   
 recommendations.  There being no objections, the motion carried.