HB 281-CIVIL LIABILITY FOR PROVIDING ALCOHOL  REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MEYERS, sponsor of HB 281, explained that under HB 281 an adult who knowingly furnishes alcohol to a person under age 21 may be held civilly liable for the results and damages. Under current statute, only those with a liquor license can be held civilly liable. This bill holds the general public to a standard similar to that for licensees. The key word in BHBHB 281 is "knowingly." The intent of this bill is to go after those adults who sit in parking lots of liquor stores on weekends to purchase alcohol for minors and get paid by the minors or the adult who willingly purchases alcohol for minors. HB 281 will do three things: it will deter adults from furnishing alcohol to minors; it will reduce underage access to alcohol; and it provides recourse to victims' families. He told members that the main reason he is going forward with this legislation is a tragedy that occurred last July in which three teenagers and a police officer died. He said the bill passed the House unanimously. He asked committee members to support the bill. SENATOR DONLEY pointed out the only fiscal note was prepared by the House Labor and Commerce Committee and asked if any of the departments have prepared a fiscal note for the bill. REPRESENTATIVE MEYER said there were no other fiscal notes and that he does not anticipate any costs to the state. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR commented that he has seen about four or five bills come out of the House Judiciary Committee that would provide immunity from negligent conduct and the damages resulting from that conduct for various groups. He asked Representative Meyer, "You realize that these are criminal acts that we're talking about?" REPRESENTATIVE MEYER answered affirmatively. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked if there is some reason why the same standards in the other bills, i.e. gross negligence, reckless, intentional, are not being used in HB 281. REPRESENTATIVE MEYER asked if Chairman Taylor was asking why the bill contains a knowingly standard versus criminal negligence. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR said HB 281 contains a knowingly standard but only applies to private persons, however when it comes to a business, the standard is strict liability. REPRESENTATIVE MEYER said that is correct and that the committee wanted the standard to be higher for the general public versus license holders. Committee members had a lot of discussion about the issue of whether an adult would be held liable if a minor got a glass of champagne at a wedding reception, for example. He said the key word is "knowingly," which is hard to prove so it would have to be obvious that the adult knew that the minor was underage. He said his intention is to target adults who wait in parking lots for the specific purpose of purchasing alcohol for minors for a fee so the standard is a little higher than it would be for a package store. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR said that requiring a knowingly standard will make it difficult to prove. He then took public testimony. MS. CINDY CASHEN, representing Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said there are three types of people who provide alcohol to minors: chronic alcoholics who purchase alcohol in exchange for money or alcohol of their own; friends or family; and sexual predators whose goal is to cause impaired judgment in a teenager. The last two are more common than many realize. These people need to be aggressively discouraged through laws such as HB 281. Contributing to a minor today results in a small fine with perhaps some jail time. HB 281 would make selling to minors a big deal. HB 281 sends the message to youth that they are cared for and that the state will pursue someone who was the root cause of a senseless tragedy. MS. CASHEN said it makes no sense for Alaska to prevent restorative justice for those who suffer severe and tragic consequences from the result of those persons who supply alcohol to minors. MADD believes Alaskans want this law and needs this law for our children if not for ourselves. MS. LINDY STOOPS, representing Youth in Action (a MADD-based program), said many people do not realize the consequences of providing alcohol to people under the age of 21. She believes it is very easy for minors to get alcohol in Juneau and that this bill will make people realize that the consequences of buying alcohol for minors are serious. MR. MICHAEL KEGGY, representing Youth in Action, said he has seen a lot of people who drink and drive in Juneau. He has experienced incidences with alcohol, some in his family, that have affected his life and the lives of those around him. There being no further testimony, SENATOR DONLEY moved CSHB 281(JUD) from committee with individual recommendations. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR announced that without objection, the motion carried. He then noted the committee would take up HB 405.