CHAIRMAN ROBIN TAYLOR called the Judiciary Committee meeting to order at 4:15 p.m. He introduced CSHB 319(FIN) (ALASKA POLICE STNDS TRAINING FUND) as the first order of business. REPRESENTATIVE GAIL PHILLIPS, prime sponsor of HB 319, explained the legislation will do three basic things: (1) it will create an Alaska Standards Training Fund within the general fund; (2) it will provide a source of receipts for the training fund paid for by the violators of certain traffic offenses (moving violations and driving while intoxicated); and (3) it will allow the Legislature to appropriate each year for the training of law enforcement and corrections officers statewide through the Alaska Police Standards Council. She commented that training for law enforcement is sorely needed, and, in too many instances, is nonexistent. Representative Phillips said the $10 and $25 increase to traffic fines shouldn't be construed as a tax, surcharge, user fee, etc., since the Legislature does not set fine schedules. The Supreme Court and municipalities raise and adjust bail forfeiture schedules and could do so without giving the Legislature the opportunity to direct where the increase could be used and for what purpose. The anticipated receipts on only the collectable amounts of the fines would be approximately $700,000 annually. The delayed effective dates would allow the court system to implement their new accounting and to amend their bail forfeiture schedules to reflect this proposed increase, as well as allowing municipalities adequate time to prepare in-house accounting systems. Representative Phillips noted that there was a proposed Judiciary SCS before the committee, and that she has no objections to the proposed changes. Number 075 SENATOR LITTLE asked what violations the $10 and $25 fees apply to. LADDIE SHAW, Executive Director of the Alaska Police Standards Council, answered that the $10 fee will be from uniform traffic citations and the $25 fee will be from driving with a revoked license or driving while intoxicated. Number 128 SENATOR DONLEY asked how much Anchorage will benefit from this training that will be provided. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER C.E. SWACKHAMMER, Department of Public Safety, responded that every municipal police department will benefit from the proceeds that go into this training fund, and it will appropriated through the Alaska Police Standards Council. He pointed out that the new committee substitute provides that part of the proceeds will go to the Public Safety Training Academy, which also does training. SENATOR DONLEY expressed concern that because there are so many people in Anchorage, they end up paying most of the new fees and taxes, but the receipts tend to go out everywhere else at a disproportionate amount. He added he would rather see these things paid for through the communities for what services they receive. LADDIE SHAW said Anchorage supplements more of the assessment fee, but that is because of the population base. The dollars will still be equitably shared by all police officers throughout the state. Number 200 SENATOR TAYLOR moved that SCS CSHB 319(JUD) be adopted. Hearing no objection, the motion carried. SENATOR LITTLE moved that SCS CSHB 319(JUD) be passed out of committee with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.