HB 233-ELECTRONIC DISPLAY OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTS   4:06:26 PM CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 233, "An Act relating to the display of documents on an electronic device." 4:06:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE presented HB 233 as prime sponsor by paraphrasing from the sponsor statement, which read: We as consumers enjoy the benefits of having access to information in the palm of our hand. The State of Alaska recognizes the demand for mobile device use and is currently in the process of allowing users to provide proof of state required documents such as licenses, permits and insurance to a peace officer via mobile device. We Alaskans also treasure our privacy and have enshrined that right in our state constitution under Article 1 sec. 22 Right to Privacy- The right of the people to privacy is recognized and shall not be infringed. HB 233 safeguards the privacy of individuals who display any state required document to peace officers by ensuring that displaying proof of a required document does not constitute consent for a peace officer to access other contents of the electronic device. In laymen's terms, if a Wildlife Trooper asks to see your fishing license, the Trooper does not automatically have a right to search other content on your device. You must give permission for the Trooper to view anything besides the license required by law. The two examples of this already specified in statute are in AS.28.22.019 (d) pertaining to the display of proof of motor vehicle liability insurance, and AS 03.05.078 (b) pertaining to display of proof of registration when transporting industrial hemp. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE relayed that as the state modernizes its practices allowing documents to be viewed on an electronic device, the proposed legislation would specify those documents allowed by law to be displayed on a device. 4:10:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked why the protections under "reasonable search and seizure" laws would not cover these instances. 4:11:07 PM JANET OGAN, Staff, Representative Sarah Vance, Alaska State Legislature, agreed that those protections exist; however, the proposed legislation is offered to proactively address future circumstances regarding documents displayed by electronic device. REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether the laws about warrants for search and seizure do not mention electronic devices. MS. OGAN answered, "Not that I'm aware of." CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS offered his support for the proposed legislation and added that knowing definitively where the line is in terms of the existing protections for civil liberties would be helpful for reference. He mentioned that there is currently a baseline level of civil liberty protection and asked what marginal new protection would be offered under HB 233. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE stated that a peace officer must have probable cause or come with a warrant. The proposed legislation would provide Alaska residents the assurance that they are in control of the information on their devices and must give consent, rather than the officer being in control. People often feel vulnerable when presenting information to a peace officer. With a paper license, only that information is available; with a mobile device, there is a much greater amount of personal information. She said, "It does provide that assurance to Alaskans that your privacy and your right to your information is in your hands." CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS remarked that beyond the "letter of the law," HB 233 would offer citizens confidence through reasserting and emphasizing their rights. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked for any other documents that can be displayed electronically, outside of hunting and fishing licenses. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE responded that the only other item allowed to be displayed electronically is [proof of] registration for transporting industrial hemp. Over the past few years, automobile insurance has moved to being online. She said that instead of specifying each instance of allowable electronic documents, the proposed legislation was drafted to encompass all allowable documents so that none would "fall into the cracks" as Alaska moves into the future. She mentioned that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) is attempting to put more licenses and permits online through an application (app). Many Alaskans are looking forward to using that means for presenting documents. [HB 233 was held over.]