SB 244 - POLYGRAPHS FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS CHAIR JAMES announced the first order of business is SB 244, "An Act relating to polygraph or other lie-detecting testing for certain correctional officers," sponsored by Senator Ward. Number 0007 CRAIG JOHNSON, Legislative Administrative Assistant to Senator Ward, Alaska State Legislature, came before the committee. He said SB 244 is a very simple bill, basically it would allow that correctional officers are administered polygraph testing as a pre- employment screening device, investigations, etcetera. Currently the only people that the state allows to take polygraph tests are police officers and certain transportation officials. Those would be the security guards at the airport. This basically brings correctional officers who are armed and exhibit a great amount of power over their subjects to be brought under that same capability of having that test administered. He indicated it is supported by both the unions that represent their correctional officers and there has been no opposition as of yet to this piece of legislation. Number 0016 CHAIR JAMES asked what is the accuracy factor of lie detector examinations. MR. JOHNSON said he couldn't speak to that because he isn't an expert on lie detectors. He indicated he knows they are used in pre-employment screening for police officers. They are not the definitive answer but it might lead to a further investigation, it may not be the only thing that disqualifies an individual for employment, but it might lead to further research into the background of that individual. Generally they're accepted, by the police department and the employment, as acceptable - with acceptable measures, certainly not a 100 percent. Number 0024 REPRESENTATIVE IVAN IVAN noted there are cultural differences and backgrounds in some areas which this may cause confusion for some Alaska Natives. He used Bethel as an example, he asked where the tests are taken and who pays for them. MR. JOHNSON replied the cost would be absorbed by the state. He noted there is no fiscal note, so it would be very much like filling out the application, the application is provided by the state. In terms of the cultural differences, there's nothing in this bill that mandates the lie detector. Currently they can administer it to correctional officers - this gives them the ability to. CHAIR JAMES reiterated it's not mandatory, it's just an option. MR. JOHNSON replied yes. Number 0037 CHAIR JAMES indicated that there might be something else in the application that would make them determine that (indisc. - coughing) to do a lie detector test, some trigger, or would they just choose to do it all the time. Chair James indicated she had a problem with not everybody filling them out because if you don't you're discriminating against people. She said, "I have a little problem with giving a lie detector test to this person but not this person." MR. JOHNSON explained it's not mandatory. He stated he can't speak to how the department will administer it that would be a policy decision, they may choose to only do it in case of an investigation where they've got a problem inside an institution and then they chose to administer a lie detector test. They might use it as pre- employment screening. He reiterated that he can't speak to how they would use it, but this gives them the capability of using it. They might not use it for pre-employment. Number 0048 CHAIR JAMES clarified it's currently allowed for police officers but not for correctional officers. MR. JOHNSON replied, "Yes, and no one else in the state with the exception of those limited transportation officials who are police officers in terms of airport security. So, technically have all the rights of police officers - are armed. Those are the only two categories right now that can take the lie detector test, this just adds correctional officers into that." Number 0052 REPRESENTATIVE JOE RYAN made a motion to move SB 244, with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. There being no objections, SB 244 moved from the House State Affairs Standing Committee.