HB 339-MOTOR VEHICLE ARSON                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:06:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL NO.  339,  "An Act  relating to  arson  in the  third                                                               
degree."                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:06:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KALYSSA  MAILE, Staff,  Representative  Gabrielle LeDoux,  Alaska                                                               
State Legislature,  explained that the  intent of the bill  is to                                                               
make arson  crimes consistent.   Currently, under state  law, she                                                               
offered, if a  person lights a car on fire  on state or municipal                                                               
land  it is  considered  third  degree arson,  but  if  it is  on                                                               
private  land it  is third  degree criminal  mischief.   They are                                                               
both class C  felonies so the punishment  is consistent; however,                                                               
she  pointed   out  that   for  the  sake   of  arson   and  fire                                                               
investigators,  it is  helpful that  they  are able  to review  a                                                               
person's  criminal record  to  determine who  may  be a  suspect.                                                               
Therefore, HB  339 expands  third degree  arson to  include fires                                                               
set on  private land  so these  cases can  be charged  with third                                                               
degree arson.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:08:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CLAMAN  noted  that  this bill  only  applies  to                                                               
vehicles, and a shed that exploded would be something different.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:08:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. MAILE  responded that  third degree arson  is a  bit narrower                                                               
than first  and second  degree arson which  are broader  and more                                                               
serious crimes.   The  bill was  drafted specifically  to address                                                               
cars being lit on fire on public land, she said.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX  opened public testimony.   After  ascertaining that                                                               
no one wished to testify, closed public testimony.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:10:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX commented  that the fire chiefs  requested this bill                                                               
and Representative  Max Gruenberg  was working  on it  because it                                                               
was  important to  him.    She advised  that  she is  considering                                                               
naming the bill after Representative Gruenberg.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:11:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER  moved  to  report  HB  339,  labeled  29-                                                               
LS1517\W  out of  committee with  individual recommendations  and                                                               
the accompanying fiscal notes.   There being no objection, HB 339                                                               
passed from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.