SENATE BILL NO. 12 "An Act relating to confidentiality of information; relating to the duties of the Department of Administration; creating an address confidentiality program; and providing for an effective date." 9:11:54 AM SENATOR JESSE KIEHL, SPONSOR, introduced the legislation. He stated the bill created an address protection program. He remarked that Alaska was the only state that did not have an address protection program. 9:15:40 AM ELLA ADKINSON, STAFF, SENATOR JESSE KIEHL, discussed the Sectional Analysis (copy on file): Sec. 1: Puts the program in the Department of Administration. Sec. 2: Creates the program. (b) requires a Post Office Box as a substitute mailing address for enrollees and instructs the department to forward mail to participants. It charges the department with protecting confidentiality and requires regulations to govern enrollment and withdrawal. (c) describes eligible participants as people sheltered by a protective order or qualifies by other department standards, along with their parents, guardians, children, and household members. It also admits peace officers and correctional officers. (d)requires state and municipal agencies to accept the P.O. Box. (e) describes the eligibility period. (f) forbids the department from charging a fee. (g) allows access to confidential addresses subject to a search warrant. (h) establishes penalties for unlawfully revealing a protected individual's address. (i) defines certain terms. Sec. 3: Establishes a transition period for the department to adopt regulations to implement the program. Sec. 4: Lets the department begin its regulation process immediately. Sec. 5: Sets an effective date of Jan. 1, 2024 for the rest of the bill. Senator Wilson wondered about the five year requirement before renewing the program. Senator Kiehl replied that it was a standard provision that provided an extensive period of protection, at the end of which an enrollee can decide whether to remain in the program. Senator Wilson asked whether the enrollee would then remain in the program indefinitely. Senator Kiehl replied in the affirmative. Senator Wilson wondered why there was not a fee assigned for the peace officers on active duty. Senator Kiehl replied that it followed standard practice, and was not aware of any state that charged a fee for the service. Co-Chair Olson queried the process to remove oneself from the list. Senator Kiehl replied that the department would provide the process by regulation. Co-Chair Olson wondered how successful the program had been in getting to the end goal in other states. Senator Kiehl replied that generally, participants in other states were satisfied with their involvement in the program. Senator Merrick wondered who might unlawfully reveal a protected individual's address. Senator Kiehl stated that the bill was written to cover most areas where it might happen. 9:21:23 AM LAUREE MORTON, ADVOCACY INITIATIVES DIRECTOR, ALASKA NETWORK ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, spoke in support of the bill. She shared some history of the program. Co-Chair Olson wondered how the bill would protect the children. Ms. Morton replied that the victim's children would also be enrolled in the program. Senator Kiehl agreed that the household members would be included in the program. 9:25:46 AM Co-Chair Olson wondered what would happen if the parent died, and the child wanted to reconnect. Senator Kiehl replied that it would probably fall under a child custody issue. 9:26:53 AM KIRT STAGE-HARVEY, ALASKA PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, JUNEAU (via teleconference), spoke in support of the legislation. 9:29:28 AM ALI PEDERSHOARE, ACTING DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF SHARED SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, introduced herself. She explained the fiscal note. Co-Chair Olson queried the number of anticipated participants. Ms. Pedershoare replied that the model in the bill following Arizona's modeling. Co-Chair Olson wondered how many participants were in Arizona's program. Ms. Pedershoare replied that Arizona currently had 2072 participants. 9:31:39 AM AT EASE 9:32:09 AM RECONVENED 9:32:19 AM Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony. 9:33:01 AM AT EASE 9:33:30 AM RECONVENED 9:33:49 AM PAMELA SAMASH, ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING, NENANA (via teleconference), testified in support of the legislation. She shared a story about stalking within her family. 9:36:35 AM Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony. Senator Wilson wondered how the municipal property searches would work within the legislation. Senator Kiehl replied that the public records request would return with the state address. Senator Wilson stressed that an internet search would show the property owner. Senator Kiehl responded that many municipalities would remove a person's name from a property owner search. He agreed that it would be a good idea to work with municipalities. He remarked that the person might need to create a trust to own their property. Senator Wilson looked at Section 2. He wondered what department was referenced, and whether it referred to a long-term or short-term protective order. Senator Kiehl replied that either protective order could be applied, and the department was the Department of Administration (DOA). 9:40:42 AM Senator Wilson wondered whether there could be an examination of long-term versus short-term protective orders. He also asked whether there could be involvement with the Department of Public Safety (DPS). Senator Kiehl replied that he had worked with DPS, and settled on DOA because of the Central Mail Services. Ms. Adkison furthered that expanding the regulation aside from protective orders, such as referrals, but only whether the department could take on more victims. Senator Wilson stressed that DOA did not seem the appropriate department to set the standards for the legislation. SB 12 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. 9:43:10 AM AT EASE 9:45:25 AM RECONVENED