SB 41-NUMBER OF SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES  1:34:26 PM CHAIR HUGHES announced that the first order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 41, "An Act relating to the number of superior court judges in the third judicial district; and providing for an effective date." 1:35:25 PM SENATOR REINBOLD said she liked the bill. 1:35:36 PM CHAIR HUGHES said she had questions regarding video conferencing. 1:36:00 PM NANCY MEADE, General Counsel, Administrative Offices, Alaska Court System, Anchorage, stated she previously spoke about judges traveling to other locations to cover proceedings because the judges assigned to those locations did not have the jurisdiction for felonies. For example, a superior court judge from Kenai will travel to Homer to cover cases that are in a superior court judge's jurisdiction but beyond the jurisdiction of the local court. She said the ASC has tried to address this staffing in other ways. One way was to encourage video conferencing between the Kenai and Homer courthouse to reduce travel. A question arose how that relates to the videoconferencing being proposed in some of the criminal bills. She clarified that a judge's appearance at a proceeding by videoconference or "two-way contemporaneous television" is up to the judge. The judge can determine whether he/she needs to see the witnesses in person. Those decisions are based on the types of things such as the number of other cases, the gravity of a case, or whether it is a criminal matter. The judge has the option to appear by video for proceedings. This is different from defendants in criminal cases who need to be, may be, or shall be present in the courtroom for certain proceedings. She said that the videoconferencing she is speaking to has nothing to with those types of proceedings. In fact, court rules apply and address when defendants must be present or do not need to be present. 1:38:29 PM CHAIR HUGHES said since superior court judges can hear felony cases and district court judges cannot, that having superior court judges at these locations should reduce the need for some travel where videoconferencing is not appropriate. MS. MEADE answered that is correct and it will be more efficient and give flexibility in how to cover cases in outlying places such as Valdez, Glennallen, Cordova, Homer, Seward, and Kenai. The more video conferencing the less travel, which includes criminal defendants who need to be transported, she said. CHAIR HUGHES queried whether felony cases might be more apt to require the judge to be in person. MS. MEADE responded that that was generally true, but it might depend on whether the hearing was a short, routine scheduling type of hearing in a felony case. She acknowledged that judges generally try to be present for the more important cases. 1:40:49 PM MS. MEADE said this bill would authorize the court to fill two district court seats that are currently vacant, or soon will be, with superior court judges since they can handle all cases. She explained that district court judges have limited jurisdiction and can only handle misdemeanors. They cannot handle felonies, probate cases, including guardianships and mental cases, child- in-need-of-aid, or family law cases, such as child custody disputes and divorces. This would expand the breadth of cases the two judges in those two districts can cover. This will reduce travel for the Kenai judges traveling to cover the felony or other cases in Homer. It will prevent the Palmer judges from the necessity to travel to Valdez. Further, when judges travel, it means they cannot handle their day-to-day caseload or calendar in their own districts. 1:42:42 PM SENATOR MICCICHE joined the meeting. 1:42:53 PM CHAIR HUGHES said that for this enhanced service, the fiscal note is a modest $63,000. 1:43:00 PM CHAIR HUGHES stated that public testimony was previously closed on 2/11/19 for SB 41. 1:43:07 PM CHAIR HUGHES moved to report SB 41, work order 31-LS038\A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, SB 41 was reported from the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee. 1:43:45 PM At-ease.