HB 397 - DEFENSE CONTACTS WITH VICTIMS & WITNESSES                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Number 0270                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR McGUIRE announced that the  next order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 397,  "An Act relating  to defense  contacts with                                                               
and  recordings  of  statements  of  victims  or  witnesses;  and                                                               
amending Rule 16, Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Number 0246                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SAMUELS moved  to  adopt  the proposed  committee                                                               
substitute  (CS)  for  HB 397,  Version  23-LS1510\I,  Luckhaupt,                                                               
2/9/04, as the  work draft.  There being no  objection, Version I                                                               
was before the committee.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR McGUIRE, as the sponsor of  HB 397, remarked that Version I                                                               
has engendered  new fiscal  notes that  will be  accompanying the                                                               
bill  as it  continues through  the  process.   She relayed  that                                                               
through  Version I,  the bill  has been  narrowed down  to ensure                                                               
that parental consent  is obtained before minors  who are victims                                                               
or  witnesses   provide  recorded  statements   regarding  sexual                                                               
offenses, and no longer contains an indirect court rule change.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 2:40 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS  moved to  report the  proposed CS  for HB                                                               
397,  Version 23-LS1510\I,  Luckhaupt, 2/9/04,  out of  committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There  being no  objection, CSHB  397(JUD) was  reported                                                               
from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.