SB 7-FELONS' RIGHT TO VOTE  3:49:25 PM CHAIR FRENCH announced the consideration of SB 7 and solicited a motion to adopt Version \L committee substitute (CS). SENATOR HUGGINS motioned to adopt Version \L CS for SB 7, labeled, 25-LS0100\L as the working document. CHAIR FRENCH explained that the CS distinguishes among felons according to the category of crime for which they were incarcerated. The categories are broken out on page 1, lines 8- 13. The idea is to continue under the existing system, which is to not restore the rights of released felons if they have been convicted of an unclassified felony or a class A felony. Also, voting rights would not be restored to repeat felons who are released from prison. In summary the policy call is that someone is able to vote upon release from incarceration after having served time for a lower level felony. Someone who has been convicted of rape, robbery, or murder would have to complete the requirements for unconditional discharge before regaining the right to vote. The other sections are conforming amendments to make the changes work for the Division of Elections. Under the current draft there would be two classes of felons: one group that is restricted and another that is able to vote upon release. CHAIR FRENCH drew attention to page 2, line 15 and said the director of the Division of Elections has asked the committee to consider amending subsection (a) so that the onus for obtaining the names of persons convicted of a felony is placed on the Department of Corrections (DOC) rather than on the director of elections. The argument is that DOC officials already have access to that information. CHAIR FRENCH motioned to adopt Amendment 1. On page 2, line 15, delete "The director shall make reasonable efforts to obtain" and insert "The commissioner of corrections shall notify the director of". 3:53:39 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI objected to ask if the intention is to say that "the commissioner of corrections shall notify the director and the director shall make reasonable efforts to obtain the names". CHAIR FRENCH said the Division of Elections suggested the language. 3:54:08 PM CINDY SMITH, Aide to Senator French, explained that both aren't needed; the Department of Corrections already electronically transmits names and other identifiers to the Division of Elections. The change is consistent with subsection (d) above. DWAYNE PEEPLES, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Corrections stated that the department has the ability to provide the Division of Elections with names and identifiers of persons who were convicted and released. DOC provides similar information to the Permanent Fund Dividend Corporation for the purpose of seizing dividend checks from felons. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI referenced page 2, line 17, and asked if everything else in subsection (a) remains the same. MS. SMITH replied nothing else is changed. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked to see the provision incorporated in the bill before making a final determination. CHAIR FRENCH found that to be fair and asked if he maintained his objection. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI removed his objection. CHAIR FRENCH announced that Amendment 1 is adopted. 3:56:31 PM MICHAEL MACLEOD-BALL, Executive Director, ACLU of Alaska, identified himself. CHAIR FRENCH asked if he foresees any constitutional problems associated with stratifying and changing the rights of felons according to the seriousness of the offense for which they were convicted. MR. MACLEOD-BALL said he did not. There isn't a lot of guiding case law, but generally the legislature and the courts have some authority to define terminology that is used in interpreting constitutional provisions. The intent in SB 7 is essentially no different than what is already in statute. To the extent that the current statute is constitutionally permissible, this should be as well. CHAIR FRENCH asked if he has any other observations about the bill. MR. MACLEOD-BALL articulated the view that the original version of the bill was preferable from a policy perspective because it would have allowed more felons onto the voting rolls. Nonetheless, this is a step in the right direction, he stated. SENATOR HUGGINS asked where Alaska would stand in terms of voting rights relative to other states. MR. MACLEOD-BALL summarized the statistical information that was given during the previous hearing and said this would place Alaska in the middle. SENATOR HUGGINS asked if Alaska is currently in a group with 21 other states. MR. MACLEOD-BALL said, "I believe that large number in the middle brings felons back onto the voting rolls at some time and there are a variety of distinctions in the states as to when they're brought back on the rolls or for what crimes they lose the voting rights in the first place. And so I viewed the change that's being proposed here as being just a variation within that group." 4:00:55 PM CHAIR FRENCH announced he would hold SB 7 to prepare the amended language and for consideration by the full committee.