SB 54-CRIME AND SENTENCING  2:47:21 PM CHAIR COGHILL announced the consideration of SB 54. He asked for a motion to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) and expressed disappointment that his office had yet to receive a fiscal note for the CS. 2:48:40 PM SENATOR COSTELLO moved to adopt the CS for SB 54, labeled 30- LS0461\R, as the working document. CHAIR COGHILL objected for an explanation of the changes. 2:49:06 PM JORDAN SHILLING, Staff, Senator John Coghill, Alaska State Legislature, described the following changes between version O and version R of SB 54: Section 6  AS 12.55.125(e) - Sentences of imprisonment for felonies. Increases the presumptive range for C-felonies that are a first conviction from 0 to 120 days to 0 to 1 year. CHAIR COGHILL asked about suspended time. MR. SHILLING replied the zero to one-year term can be comprised of any portion of suspended or active time. Section 10  AS 12.55.135(l) - Sentences of imprisonment for misdemeanors. Provides for up to 5 days of active imprisonment for a second conviction of Theft in the Fourth Degree (or similar offenses), rather than no active time for a second conviction. Up to 5 days of suspended time may be imposed for a first conviction. MR. SHILLING explained that the previous version only provided active imprisonment upon a third and subsequent conviction of theft in the fourth degree or similar offenses. Version R provides up to five days of active imprisonment and a term of probation of up to six months upon a second conviction. A change was also made for a first conviction; version R provides up to five days of suspended time for the first conviction of theft in the fourth degree. CHAIR COGHILL added that the Department of Law supported increasing the level of the crime to a class A misdemeanor. "We thought the active jail time and suspended time would probably suffice." 2:52:26 PM SENATOR MEYER expressed appreciation for the changes in Sections 6 and 10. They address the concerns and frustrations that both the police and public have articulated. CHAIR COGHILL said his hope is that this will not only give judges flexibility but also provide the opportunity for more people to receive risk assessments and diversionary programing. MR. SHILLING continued to review the changes between version O and version R. Section 18  AS 33.07.030(a) - Duties of pretrial services officers. Former section 18 is deleted. It required the Department of Corrections to provide the result of the pretrial risk assessment to the defendant and prosecutor. MR. SHILLING advised that internal work groups are working on how and when the defendant and the prosecutor receive the results of the risk assessment so subsequent committees will need to address that issue. CHAIR COGHILL added that cross-agency work is ongoing to devise a solution and it seemed best to wait and see the result of that work. SENATOR COSTELLO voiced support for increasing the presumptive sentence to zero to one year for a class C felony. She said she likes that it gives discretion to the judges. She noted that John Skidmore [from DOL] also emphasized the importance of flexibility. CHAIR COGHILL removed his objection. Finding no further objection, version R was adopted, and SB 54 was held in committee.