SB 62-BOARD OF PAROLE: MEMBERSHIP, REPORT  1:36:01 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration of SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 62 "An Act relating to the board of parole; and providing for an effective date." 1:36:23 PM SENATOR LOKI TOBIN, District I, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 62. She stated that SB 62 seeks to strengthen and modernize Alaska's Board of Parole by improving structure, accountability, and capacity to support both public safety and rehabilitation. SB 62 expands the board from five to seven members to ensure broader expertise and representation. SB 62 would reserve one new seat for a member of a federally recognized tribe, acknowledging that Alaska Native people make up 40 percent of the state's incarcerated population despite being only 20 percent of the general population. Another seat would go to an individual with professional experience in mental health or substance abuse treatment, such as a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, or rehabilitation specialist, recognizing that about 80 percent of incarcerated individuals have behavioral health challenges. SB 62 would designate a third new position for a crime victim, a family member of a victim, or a victims' rights advocate, ensuring that the perspective of those impacted by crime is represented in parole decisions. 1:38:45 PM SENATOR TOBIN stated that SB 62 also requires the Board of Parole to submit an annual public report detailing its activities, decision-making processes, and parole outcomes. She said this transparency measure responds to widespread concern that the operations of the Board of Parole are opaque. Since 2020 parole hearings and releases have dropped 75 and 79 percent respectively, without clear explanation. By requiring data and analysis, policymakers will be better equipped to understand and address why so few eligible individuals are being granted parole. She said a key goal of SB 62 is cost containment. Alaska currently spends approximately $74,000 per year per incarcerated person four times more than what it invests per student and ranks ninth nationally in prison costs. She said by improving parole opportunities and supporting successful reintegration, SB 62 aims to reduce unnecessary incarceration expenses while maintaining public safety. Through expanded representation, professional expertise, and greater transparency, the bill seeks to restore balance, accountability, and humanity to the state's parole system. 1:41:21 PM LOUIE FLORA, Staff, Senator Loki Tobin, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided the sectional analysis for SB 62: [Original punctuation provided.] Version N Sectional Analysis  Section 1 Amends AS. 33.16.020 (a) to expand the Alaska Board of Parole from five to seven members. As in current statute, these members are appointed by the Governor and subject to legislative confirmation. Section 2 Amends AS 33.16.020 (b) by applying term limits of two five-year terms to members, replacing current statute which states that members shall serve staggered five-year terms, until their successors are appointed. Section 3 - Modifies AS 33.16.030 selection criteria for board members. Section 3 creates specific seats on the board, requiring one member to be a licensed physician; one to be a victim of a crime, family member of a victim, or a member of a crime victim's advocacy group; one member to have experience in drug or alcohol addiction recovery support; and one member to be part of a federally recognized tribe in the state. 1:42:23 PM MR. FLORA continued with the sectional analysis for SB 62: Section 4 Amends AS 33.16.030 (c) by adding the requirement that not more than three of the board members may be current or former employees of a correctional institution. Section 5 Amends AS 33.16.030 by adding a definitions section to include definitions for designated seats on the Board of Parole. The definition of "federally recognized tribe" at AS 23.20.520 is as follows: "a tribe that is recognized by the United States Secretary of the Interior to exist as an Indian tribe under 25 U.S.C. 5131 (Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994); and includes any subdivision, subsidiary, or business enterprise wholly owned by a federally recognized tribe" Section 6 Adds a new section of statute at 33.16.280 to require an annual report on Board of Parole operations and parole decisions. Section 7 - Uncodified law specifying that a member of the board who has previously served two or more terms may finish their term but shall not be reappointed. Section 8 Establishes an effective date of January 2026. 1:43:28 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN announced invited testimony on SB 62 1:43:47 PM KAREN CANN, Former Deputy Secretary, Transitional Services, Department of Corrections (DOC), Eagle River, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 62 and read the following: [Original punctuation provided.] Discretionary Parole allows incarcerated individuals the opportunity to be released on supervision to follow an approved reentry plan that will help support them to be successful in their community. 1:44:24 PM MS. CANN continued with her testimony of SB 62: Many incarcerated individuals participate in programs, education and counseling looking forward to being a better citizen, friend, and family member when they are released on parole. This commitment to change makes communities and facilities safer. Unfortunately, many of the people I have talked with in Alaska prisons view the Parole Board as a group of people who deny their application without explanation. I had conversations with far too many incarcerated individuals in Alaska who refused to apply for discretionary parole because it was a "waste of time". They felt chastised during the hearing, were refused parole and did not know when they would eligible again. All too often I heard the statement, "who would put themselves through that"? Even people who are on a "waitlist" for programs often give up leading to depression and hopelessness or anger. How can people be held accountable if expectations are not communicated? The community must also see the Parole Board as a fair, deliberate institution focused on assessing an individual's risk to reoffend and community safety. This bill would add board members with a background in medicine, behavioral, or mental health, human development, substance abuse or similar fields of experience and knowledge necessary to accurately assess a person's risk to the community and approve a release plan that has the components for success. The change in the composition of the board would also more accurately reflect the incarcerated population in Alaska prisons. This bill would also provide transparency and accountability to the community and Legislature. Currently, the Parole Board does not collect or publish data on the reasons why parole was denied or granted, making it impossible to develop policy or reentry plans with steps that would lead to success on Parole and a reduction in recidivism. 1:46:48 PM MS. CANN continued with her testimony of SB 62: We do not know why the Alaska Board of Parole has granted parole in only 27 percent of discretionary parole cases over the last four years - far lower than historical trends, or why the Board has reviewed only 2 applications for geriatric parole over the past 7 years; denying them both. During the last ten years, the number of incarcerated people 55 years old and older has increased by 50 percent. Many of these people need specialized medical care and treatment for illnesses ranging from cognitive disease such as Alzheimer's, to end stage kidney disease and advanced cancer. Their housing unit looks more like a hospital than a prison and the cost of their care is far beyond the average $202 per day housing cost. A physician, psychologist or psychiatrist has the knowledge to accurately assess risk and approve a safe community placement. Too often people are spending the last days of their life in a prison cell unable to care for their own basic needs while there is a family member willing to care for them in the community. The low rate of parole approvals has not improved public safety and has contributed to overcrowding in facilities and ballooning budget costs for the DOC diverting resources away from things that make us safe and vibrant, including healthcare and education. According to 2023 data from the Parole Board's webpage, only 5 percent of people released on discretionary parole had their parole revoked. This reminds me of an individual I worked with who was granted parole after taking advantage of educational and vocational programs while incarcerated. He obtained an advanced degree, a trade and is supporting other parolees to do the same. Individuals who are not granted discretionary parole, or give up until they are released on mandatory parole at the end of their sentence have a 95 percent revocation rate. 1:49:14 PM MS. CANN continued with her testimony for SB 62: The longer an individual is incarcerated the greater the financial burden on the people of Alaska. It costs about $202 dollars per day to incarcerate an individual NOT including medical care for chronic diseases, specific geriatric care, end-of-life, or emergency care. Paroling just one person saves Alaska a minimum of over $73,000 a year. The paroled individual not only contributes to Alaska's economy in purchases and taxes verses draining the economy at $202 per day but reenters their community and family. Please make the Parole system fair and accountable, keep communities and facilities safe and pass SB 62 to make Alaska's criminal legal system more just. 1:50:21 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN raised public concerns that SB 62 would allow the release of individuals who may still pose a danger and asked what safeguards would ensure parolees are safe and unlikely to reoffend. 1:51:02 PM MS. CANN replied that the new process enhances community safety by creating individualized parole plans tailored to each person's specific risks developed by trained professionals to help parolees successfully reintegrate and become productive citizens. 1:52:07 PM SENATOR TOBIN explained that SB 62 does not change existing criminal justice laws or the parole review process but allows for a more specialized and knowledgeable board. With increased expertise and transparency, the Board of Parole would make more informed and affirmative decisions that strengthen public trust and safety. 1:53:04 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN asked for an explanation of how the Board of Parole's leadership operates, including how the chair is selected and whether an executive director or administrator oversees the board. 1:53:30 PM MR. FLORA answered that an executive director manages the Board of Parole's administrative functions and staff support, though he deferred to Ms. Cann for details on how the board chair is selected. 1:54:13 PM MS. CANN replied that the board chair is appointed and supported by administrative staff who manage applications from incarcerated individuals and schedule their hearings before the parole board. 1:54:46 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN asked how incarcerated individuals are notified of their parole eligibility and what resources are available to help them apply for discretionary parole. 1:55:11 PM MS. CANN answered that incarcerated individuals work with an internal parole officer who ensures they meet eligibility timelines and assists with preparing and submitting the required paperwork to the parole board. 1:55:36 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN asked if there was a clear matrix outlining what prisoners must do to qualify for discretionary parole and the specific goals they need to meet to qualify. 1:56:00 PM MS. CANN replied that a lack of clear expectations for parole eligibility has caused frustration, as inmates may complete programs but still be denied parole without understanding why. SB 62 aims to increase transparency, set clear requirements, and reduce confusion and anger by helping inmates know what they must achieve to be considered for parole. 1:57:22 PM SENATOR TOBIN referenced SB 62, page 3, line 3, and explained that the annual report will include a summary of the statutory and regulatory criteria most frequently used by the board, helping incarcerated individuals understand parole expectations and which programs to complete, addressing the current lack of transparency that discourages participation in rehabilitation. 1:58:10 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN expressed his concern that victims and their families want assurance that serious crimes are punished appropriately. He noted that short sentences, time served on pretrial release, and early parole eligibility may contribute to perceptions of injustice, especially as higher evidentiary standards make violent crime convictions harder. While supporting rehabilitation, he emphasized the need to balance it with equitable and meaningful justice for victims. 2:01:17 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN held SB 62 in committee.