SB 207-ACCESS TO MARIJUANA CONVICTION RECORDS  1:38:51 PM CHAIR HOLLAND announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 207 "An Act restricting the release of certain records of convictions; and providing for an effective date." [CSSB 207(STA) was before the committee.] 1:39:33 PM CLAIRE GROSS, Staff, Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that Representative Kreiss-Tomkins sponsored the companion bill. She said one portion of the bill pertains to the Alaska Court System relating to the publicly-available website CourtView for accessing records. The other provision in the bill relates to background checks conducted by the Department of Public Safety for potential employees. The goal is to address the two main ways that employers and members of the public access criminal justice information. 1:41:05 PM CHAIR HOLLAND noted that Senator Shower joined the meeting via teleconference. 1:41:34 PM SENATOR SHOWER stated the intent of SB 207 is to remove marijuana convictions from CourtView. He explained that people reentering society after being convicted for marijuana-related offenses often have difficulty obtaining employment. Alaska legalized possession of personal use marijuana, which he did not support. However, it is the law. He estimated approximately 700 people would benefit from SB 207 because CourtView would no longer reflect their marijuana convictions. He indicated the goal is to help those people become productive members of society by reducing their struggles to obtain good jobs. He noted that when the concept for the bill was first presented, the bill included convictions for other offenses, but the bill currently addresses only marijuana convictions. 1:43:25 PM SENATOR HUGHES acknowledged that personal use of marijuana is legal. However, when these individuals were convicted, they were breaking the law. She said she struggles with this based on principle because breaking the law shows something about the person. She acknowledged that these convictions might prevent someone from employment, but she wondered how this bill reconciles that these individual broke the law. 1:44:45 PM SENATOR SHOWER responded that during prohibition many people drank alcohol in speakeasys even though it was illegal. As times change and laws change, it is important to note the precedent and most of these convictions were low-level offenses. The legislature can decide if these offenders should be punished for the rest of their lives, erecting barriers to employment, or if the committee wants them to be reintegrated into society after serving their time. He said he did not support removing the conviction from CourtView if these offenders were arrested for other crimes besides possession of marijuana, such as domestic violence or selling drugs. 1:47:15 PM SENATOR HUGHES asked whether the court system could remove a single marijuana conviction from CourtView for those with multiple convictions in the same case. She clarified that the court system would not remove the conviction from the person's record; however, the conviction would not appear in CourtView. She further asked for what types of background checks marijuana convictions would appear; for example, would DPS have access to the information if the person applied to become a police officer. SENATOR SHOWER responded that the records would still exist and be available for those seeking a security clearance or employment. Although the court system would not show the criminal record in CourtView, it may prevent a person from getting a top-secret clearance. 1:49:34 PM CHAIR HOLLAND recalled the second question was whether a certain portion of the record could be stricken from CourtView if a person was convicted. MS. GROSS responded that CourtView requires either all convictions or no convictions be hidden from CourtView. People who had multiple convictions in the same case would not be eligible for hidden records. 1:50:30 PM SENATOR KIEHL stated he had a slightly different perception on the state of the law in Alaska prior to the 2014 voter initiative. He related his understanding that the Ravin decision found that possession and use of small amounts of marijuana was constitutionally protected under the right to privacy. 1:51:29 PM SENATOR SHOWER agreed that Senator Kiehl was correct about the Ravin v. State decision. He asked staff to describe how that ties together with the federal government's marijuana laws. MS. GROSS deferred to Kaci Schroeder to respond. CHAIR HOLLAND asked for the status of the laws regarding marijuana possession before 2014. 1:52:41 PM SENATOR KIEHL wondered specifically about the amount covered under AS 11.71.060. 1:52:53 PM KACI SCHROEDER, Assistant Attorney General, Legal Services Section, Criminal Division, Department of Law, Juneau, Alaska, agreed that the Ravin decision permitted small quantities of personal use under the privacy clause. However, the court deferred to the legislature to define a small amount for personal use. She stated that this amount had changed several times over the years. In 2014, the people approved by initiative up to an ounce of marijuana as an acceptable amount for personal use. 1:53:40 PM CHAIR HOLLAND asked whether an allowable quantity of marijuana was parts of an ounce. MS. SCHROEDER recalled a subsequent [US Court of Appeals] case, Noy v. State, also addressed marijuana, but she was unsure of the amount. She recalled since 1975, the allowable amount of marijuana in possession has fluctuated, but the legislature and the courts disagree on those amounts. 1:54:17 PM SENATOR KIEHL agreed it was unclear. 1:54:52 PM MS. GROSS stated that the Alaska Court System and Department of Public Safety (DPS) disagreed on the number of offenders affected by the bill, as reflected in their fiscal notes. The Alaska Court System estimated approximately 700 Alaskans would be affected. DPS believes the figures would be closer to 8,000. She explained that the discrepancy was due to how each agency stores information and which statutes would apply. DPS uses the Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN), which the public cannot access. MS. GROSS explained that the first half of the bill addresses individuals convicted of minor marijuana would make confidential the records of individuals who have been convicted of minor marijuana crimes and were not charged with any other crimes in the same incident. These records would automatically be removed from CourtView retroactively. Further, these records could also be removed from some background checks administered by the Department of Public Safety at the request of the convicted individual. MS. GROSS explained that the court system would automatically remove the conviction for possession of personal use marijuana from CourtView retroactively. 1:57:21 PM MS. GROSS stated that DPS would require a petition process to shield their personal use marijuana conviction from CourtView. The fiscal note reflects that one or two temporary positions would review all marijuana convictions. Still, the department would process any petitions to shield conviction records from CourtView on an ongoing basis. She stated that most people seeking background checks, including potential employers, obtain their information from CourtView by using a kiosk at the courthouse. MS. GROSS noted that anyone requiring state licensure would not benefit from the bill as their criminal history would remain on CourtView. Further, people can request a full criminal history report or background check from the Department of Public Safety. 2:01:42 PM SENATOR HUGHES asked if she referred to professional occupational licensure. MS. GROSS answered yes. She noted that law enforcement's statute is lengthy and includes professionals such as massage therapists. SENATOR HUGHES related her understanding that even janitors working in facilities with vulnerable people are subject to more scrutiny. She asked whether the marijuana convictions would be available for those positions. MS. GROSS answered yes. 2:03:17 PM SENATOR HUGHES asked whether an employer could go into the courthouse to obtain information. MS. GROSS answered yes; the person would need to physically go to the courthouse in person to obtain information and use the kiosk. 2:03:45 PM CHAIR HOLLAND asked her to review the sectional analysis for SB 207. 2:03:58 PM MS. GROSS reviewed the sectional analysis for SB 207. She noted that half of the legislative intent was removed from the companion bill since it was somewhat vague and dealt with low- level crimes. [Original punctuation provided.] 2:04:01 PM Section 1: Adds a new section stating the legislative intent behind this bill. Section 2: Amends subsection (b)(8) of AS 12.62.160 by adding criminal justice information, for marijuana possession that meet the requirements laid out in (f) of this section, to the list of exceptions for the release of criminal justice information. Section 3: Adds a new subsection (f) to AS 12.62.160, which adds new criteria for criminal justice information that an agency cannot release. This new section prohibits release of criminal justice information for convictions under AS 11.71.060 for less than one ounce of a "schedule VIA" controlled substance, where the defendant was 21 years or older at the time of the offense, was not convicted of any other criminal charges in that same case and has formally requested that the agency not release these records. 2:06:02 PM Section 4: Adds a new section to AS 22.35, stating that records of criminal charges or convictions that meet the requirements stated in this section, may not be published by the court system on a publicly available website. This applies to criminal justice information for convictions under AS 11.71.060 for less than one ounce of a "schedule VIA" controlled substance, where the defendant was 21 years or older at the time of the offense and was not convicted of any other criminal charges in that same case. Section 5: Adds a new section to uncodified law of the State of Alaska saying that the Alaska Court System shall remove court records that meet the requirements of this bill, retroactively going back from the effective date of the bill. It also uses the language "to the extent practicable" to clarify that the court system will not be legally required to expend excessive resources or funds to ensure every single record that meets the requirements of this bill for removal from court view, is removed. 2:06:59 PM Section 6: Provides an effective date of January 1, 2023. 2:07:08 PM SENATOR KIEHL referred to AS 11.71.060, possession of less than one ounce. He noted that AS 11.71.050 covers things that a person can do with cannabis, including giving someone less than an ounce of cannabis or baking them brownies. He asked why gifts and edibles were not covered in the bill. 2:08:09 PM MS. GROSS said she was unsure. She reviewed AS 11.71.050, which read: (a) Except as authorized in AS 17.30 and AS 17.38, a person commits the crime of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the fifth degree if the person (1) manufactures or delivers, or possesses with the intent to manufacture or deliver, one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances of an aggregate weight of less than one ounce containing a schedule VIA controlled substance; MS. GROSS read a portion of the personal use of marijuana statute: Sec. 17.38.020. Personal use of marijuana.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the following acts, by persons 21 years of age or older, are lawful and are not criminal or civil offenses under state law or the law of any political subdivision of the state or a basis for seizure or forfeiture of assets under state law; (1) possessing, using, displaying, purchasing, or transporting marijuana accessories or one ounce or less of marijuana; 2:09:22 PM MS. GROSS stated that she was unaware of any language related to manufacturing or delivering marijuana. She offered to research the nuances and report to the committee. 2:10:44 PM SENATOR HUGHES referred to Sections 3 and 4. She asked how the bill would affect those 18-20 years of age. MS. GROSS stated that the sponsor of the companion bill, HB 246, amended the bill to include 1820 year-old offenders and reduce the penalty from a class B misdemeanor to a violation and remove the records from CourtView. 2:11:55 PM SENATOR HUGHES asked whether marijuana was only legal for those 21 years or older. MS. GROSS agreed that it mirrored alcohol laws. 2:12:42 PM SENATOR HUGHES asked if it was a crime for youths 1820 years old to possess marijuana before the voters passed the initiative. MS. GROSS said she was unsure. 2:13:33 PM MS. SCHROEDER answered that it was a class B misdemeanor, and there was no change in the penalty when the initiative passed. SENATOR HUGHES pointed out that these people were now adults. She was unsure whether this provision would create an equal protection concern. She wondered if the committee should consider including youths 1820-years old in the bill. MS. SCHROEDER explained that the difference is that it is still a crime for anyone under the age of 21 to possess marijuana under current law. 2:14:54 PM SENATOR KIEHL asked whether there were any challenges under Ravin v. State or Noy v. State that keeps it a crime for 18-20 year olds. MS. SCHROEDER answered no. She said she was unaware of any court challenges. She stated that this bill does not impact the criminal division. 2:15:46 PM KELLY HOWELL, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Public Safety, Anchorage, Alaska, responded that the department was supportive of the changes proposed in SB 207. Ms. Purinton oversees the Alaska Public Safety Information Network used for criminal history background checks. 2:16:22 PM SENATOR MYERS noted that DPS conducts background checks on a case-by-case basis. MS. HOWELL agreed. SENATOR MYERS asked if some personal information already needed to be scrubbed. MS. HOWELL responded that the reports were already formatted and no additional scrubbing would need to occur. 2:17:33 PM SENATOR MYERS said he was unsure why the Department of Public Safety needed additional staff since the department would be issuing background checks on a case-by-case basis. MS. HOWELL agreed that it was possible to do so upon request, but it could create a backlog depending on the number of individuals coming forward. She indicated that the department was unsure how many individuals would request this. As Ms. Gross noted, the court system records and DPS records diverged significantly. The department identified 8,500 criminal history records that the bill could impact. Since the department is unsure how many records may need to be shielded from release, DPS suggests hiring a temporary person to research the records. She stated that it might not be simple to identify the record as applicable to the bill. She highlighted that the legislature made numerous changes to the law. For example, the department would need to verify whether someone's conviction under AS 11.71.060 was for less than one ounce of marijuana. Thus, the department preferred to take a more proactive measure to examine the records and flag them, so if a person requested to have their record shielded, it would be a much quicker process. 2:20:08 PM SENATOR MYERS said he was having a tough time believing the department needed a person to review 8,500 records spanning several years. He offered his view that it would be much simpler to update the records as people requested their conviction not be posted to CourtView. This will not affect new cases but ones generated prior to 2014, so as cases were removed from CourtView, it would result in fewer and fewer over time. 2:21:33 PM LISA PURINTON, Criminal Records and ID Bureau Chief, Department of Public Safety, Anchorage, Alaska, agreed that DPS estimates 8,500 records. She stated that before 2006, the state's criminal history repository lacked statutes. Instead, it used a four- digit numeric code to reference the criminal history. She predicted that those cases would take considerable time to research. The fiscal note reflects the department's plan to speed up the process for that research. As Ms. Howell mentioned, the law periodically changed, and the record may not reflect the amount of marijuana in possession, but it is listed in the police report. 2:22:52 PM CHAIR HOLLAND held SB 207 in committee.