HB 153:  REDUCTION OF PRESUMPTIVE SENTENCES                                  
                                                                               
  Number 039                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY read the title of HB 153 and called for                       
  testimony.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 048                                                                   
                                                                               
  KAREN HUNT, STATE SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE, testified via                        
  teleconference from Anchorage.  She listed her                               
  qualifications to testify on HB 153 as the deputy presiding                  
  judge in charge of criminal affairs in the Third Judicial                    
  District, and also as the chair of the statewide three-judge                 
  panel.  She outlined the history of the legislative intent                   
  of AS 33.19.010(b), which HB 153 addressed.  She stated that                 
  a previous revision of the statue was an obstruction to the                  
  intent of the law, and that HB 153 was needed to make the                    
  three-judge panel on presumptive sentences as effective as                   
  possible.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Number 222                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked Judge Hunt to clarify her position, and                 
  then asked if she could state how HB 153 might affect the                    
  prison system.                                                               
                                                                               
  Number 251                                                                   
                                                                               
  JUDGE HUNT said HB 153 would likely reduce the number of                     
  people in prison, because the statute now required many                      
  people to stay in jail longer than necessary.  She also said                 
  this should help in lowering costs, but reminded the chair                   
  the statute involved affected a limited number of cases.                     
                                                                               
  Number 298                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY called for other testimony.  Seeing none, he                  
  closed testimony.                                                            
                                                                               
  Number 302                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE BETTYE DAVIS MOVED to pass HB 153 from                        
  committee.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 310                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS SECONDED the motion.                               
                                                                               
  Number 316                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY called for a vote and HB 153 was unanimously                  
  PASSED from committee.