SENATE BILL NO. 219 "An Act relating to establishing an office of crime victims' advocacy; and amending Rule 16, Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 9, Alaska Delinquency Rules, and Rule 501, Alaska Rules of Evidence." CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 219(JUD) "An Act relating to establishing an office of crime victims' rights; and amending Rule 16, Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 9, Alaska Delinquency Rules, and Rule 501, Alaska Rules of Evidence." Co-chair Sharp called SB 219 and noted that there had been a previous hearing. He said at that meeting it was noted that some members might be bringing forth some amendments and they also wanted a chance to discuss the matter with the sponsor of the bill. BRETT HUBER, staff to Senator Rick Halford was invited to join the committee. He said there was one technical correction to the amendment marked "F.2", on line 16. It was to delete the word "crime". He said even though the title of the bill was the Office of Crime Victims Rights, the actual implementing statute in the bill describes the Office of Victims Rights. Co-chair Sharp advised the committee that was marked as amendment #3. Senator Donley MOVED amendment #1 and WITHOUT OBJECTION it was ADOPTED. Senator Donley MOVED amendment #2 and WITHOUT OBJECTION it was ADOPTED. Senator Donley MOVED amendment #3 and WITHOUT OBJECTION it was ADOPTED. Senator Adams said he felt it was a great piece of legislation however it needed backbone behind it, and that was the fiscal note. He said he hoped they would support this fiscal note. Co-chair Sharp said they would request a new fiscal note to represent the amendments. However, Senator Adams said that the way the bill read today and when the Office of Crime Victims Rights was established there was a cost to doing that. He felt support was needed. Senator Donley said there was a funding source available in the approximate amount of $4 million. Senator Adams said the committee should pass along the fiscal notes in case something happens. He said it was a big if pending the passage of other legislation. Co-chair Sharp said it was his intention that the accompanying fiscal note would not be built into the budget unless Senator Ward's other bill passes. Senator Donley said they could also put the second year PFD provision into the bill and then it would be totally self-contained. Everything is in the bill at present except for that one provision. He offered a technical amendment to have a new CS drawn up for SB 274 containing the same language. Co-chair Sharp indicated that was the only fail-safe way to accomplish that. Senator Donley concurred and said it would then be a total package. Senator Donley MOVED conceptual amendment #4 to add the provisions in SB 274 which extends the eligibility time for convicted felons and multiple misdemeanants from one to two years in a new Finance CS for SB 219. The intent would be to then get new fiscal notes based on that CS. Mr. Huber said the sponsor would have no objection to amendment #4. He noted that SB 274 was on the Senate Floor today. The only concern was to move SB 219 along as quickly as possible. Senator Pearce advised the committee that if the bill passed both bodies they would be dealing with the fiscal notes in conference committee anyway. She wanted it clear for the record that it was not the intention of the sponsor of the bill that the entire four million that would be raised would go to an office of victims' advocates. Instead, they were just talking about just the half-million dollar fiscal note, which realistically would be an increase of that amount to the Legislature's budget. Senator Donley explained that if the second year of PFD eligibility was taken away and the conference committee was presented with a positive four million dollar fiscal note it would then be up to the conference committee to figure out what to do with the money. There would be an accompanying fiscal note with this bill that half a million dollars of it would be going to the office of victims' advocacy and it would also be a GF increase of three and a half million dollars beyond that which could then be used for other purposes. Co-chair Sharp asked if those purposes were as stated in SB 274? Senator Donley indicated that was correct. He said this would give the conference committee some flexibility with the GF. Senator Pearce indicated that would be fine. Senator Phillips asked if that was half a million dollars to the Legislature's budget? Senator Pearce explained the office was in the Legislature. It would increase the Legislature's budget by half a million dollars; $508,600. Co-chair Sharp said he and Senator Donley would work with his staff to get this rolled into the bill properly and then get it back before the committee in the afternoon if possible. He said it would remain at the top of the list before all other bills. Co-chair Sharp said it was his intention to move the bill from committee today if possible. Senator Adams said he agreed with the conceptual amendment the members. Senator Donley indicated that it was going to be incorporated into a new CS and then brought back before the committee. Co-chair Sharp said with that understanding then he would HOLD the bill in committee until the afternoon. The next bill Co-chair Sharp called before the committee was HB 334.