HB 188-ANIMAL ADOPTION RECORDS  3:17:43 PM CHAIR SHAW announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 188, "An Act relating to animal adoption and foster care records." 3:18:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE DIBERT, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, presented HB 188. She provided a sponsor statement [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: When an animal is impounded in Alaska by animal control or shelters, it may become available for adoption or fostering following the appropriate holding period. The records related to animal adoption and foster care often include personal details such as names, phone numbers, or physical addresses of individuals involved in the process. While several local governments have exemptions for animal adoption records outlined in their municipal codes, not all municipalities offer the same level of public record exemptions for animal adoption or foster care. There has been a recent push to establish statewide privacy protections for individuals adopting or fostering animals from shelters. HB 188 aims to achieve this by exempting the personal identifying information of adopters or foster caregivers from public record requests under Alaska's Public Records Act. REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT informed the committee that Senator Myers is carrying the Senate's version of the bill. She described issues that arise when the original pet owner comes to a shelter after their found pet has been adopted to another home. Public records requests to find new owners have been made by previous owners for the purpose of harassment. Standard procedure mandates that information be withheld from public records requests only when a safety threat is evident, which requires a thorough analysis of each request to ascertain safety concerns. Municipalities are not permitted to inquire about the specific purpose behind a public records request. REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT explained that HB 188 seeks to exempt the names and personal information of individuals adopting or fostering animals from public records requests. Implementing this measure at the state level provides blanket protection for all municipalities striving to safeguard animal adopters. 3:22:16 PM KIMBERLEE IMBERT, Operations Supervisor, Animal Control, Fairbanks North Star Borough, described her background working at Animal Control. She told stories of people who felt their safety was at stake because of public records availability after an animal adoption. She mentioned that people are frequently hesitant to adopt out of a fear of harassment. 3:23:57 PM CHRISTOPHER LOSCAR, Animal Care Director, Animal Care and Regulation Shelter, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, explained that HB 188 would directly apply to his work. He said that HB 188 is reasonable and necessary legislation that will safeguard members of the community. He discussed safety concerns that are experienced when personal identification information is released related to cases where adopted animals had previously experienced cruelty and are forfeited. Safeguarding personal information will encourage people to adopt and foster animals. He said that increased adoptions will ultimately reduce shelter stay times. 3:25:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked about hold time requirements throughout the state. SARAH EVANS, Staff, Representative Maxine Dibert, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Dibert, prime sponsor, answered that hold times vary throughout the state. She offered to provide a list of hold times for different municipalities throughout the state. She said that the shortest hold time is 72 hours and said that the hold times are usually between three to five days. She noted the efforts put forth by shelter workers who attempt to find original pet owners expediently. CHAIR SHAW announced that HB 188 was held over.