CSHB 102(STA)-CONCEALED DEADLY WEAPONS  MR. MARK ENOFT, staff to Representative Croft, sponsor of HB 102, informed members that their packets contain a side-by-side chart that compares HB 102 to Alaska's current concealed carry law. HB 102 eliminates the distinction between a concealed weapon and an open carry weapon. Under current Alaska law, no permit is required for open carry weapons. HB 102 removes the permit requirement to carry a concealed weapon but does not change any other substantive requirements of the current law, such as who can possess a concealed weapon and where a concealed weapon can be carried. HB 102 eliminates some confusion about who must tell a police officer when and where a concealed weapon is carried. Under current law, a permit holder must notify a peace officer that he or she is carrying a concealed weapon when contacted by a peace officer. However, a person carrying a concealed weapon on his or her own property, or for the purpose of hunting, personal protection or another lawful activity, is not required to notify a peace officer. HB 102 will require everyone who is carrying a concealed weapon to notify a peace officer. That change will make the law easier for the public to understand and will provide a certain amount of confidence to peace officers. CHAIR SEEKINS clarified that CSHB 102(STA) will not repeal or eliminate Alaska's concealed carry weapon program because to get reciprocity in another state, a person would need an Alaska permit. MR. ENOFT agreed and said that having a permit makes it easier to purchase a weapon because the permit holder has already undergone a criminal background check. CHAIR SEEKINS noted the buyer can bypass the required waiting period because the background check was already completed. [SENATOR FRENCH arrived.] CHAIR SEEKINS noted that Mr. Judy of the NRA was available to answer questions and that no one else had signed up to testify. SENATOR THERRIAULT asked which version the committee was discussing. MR. ENOFT informed members that \Q was the most updated version of HB 102. SENATOR THERRIAULT moved CSHB 102(STA), version Q, from committee with its accompanying fiscal notes. SENATOR FRENCH objected to the motion and expressed concern that the committee spent only five minutes discussing this legislation and the subject deserves more time. CHAIR SEEKINS said he read and likes the bill and assumes other members have read the bill. He noted that no one signed up to testify. He believes it would be an honor for Alaska to be the second state that trusts its law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons. He asked Senator French if he has specific questions. SENATOR THERRIAULT asked if this is the first hearing on CSHB 102(STA). CHAIR SEEKINS said it is the first hearing in the Senate. SENATOR THERRIAULT withdrew his motion to move CSHB 102(STA) from committee to accommodate Senator French's concern. SENATOR FRENCH said he asked his staff to contact various members of the peace officers association to find out where the law enforcement community stands on this legislation. SENATOR OGAN commented that he has ridden with both Anchorage Police Department officers and the Alaska State Troopers and both told him, "the bad guys are all packing, you know, give the good guys a chance to pack." He said he has not talked to them about this particular bill, but they have acknowledged that, "all of the bad guys have got guns and they have the good guys outgunned in the field." He said for that reason he supports the legislation. CHAIR SEEKINS said CSHB 102(STA) has been properly noticed and that the police groups across the state have been watching both concealed carry weapons bills before the Legislature. He said since no one signed up to testify against the bill today, he is assuming no one opposes it. SENATOR THERRIAULT asked Mr. Enoft if he received feedback from law enforcement agencies in the state. MR. ENOFT told members that Representative Croft submitted the bill to Commissioner Tandeske of the Department of Public Safety and to Chief Monegan of the Anchorage Police Department. Commissioner Tandeske said he had not formulated an opinion on the legislation and that this issue was not one he was willing to fight. The Anchorage Police Department has not responded. SENATOR FRENCH asked that CSHB 102(STA) be held in committee until the next day to await responses from the Anchorage Police Department. CHAIR SEEKINS announced that CSHB 102(STA) would be held in committee.