ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE  January 30, 2003 8:00 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Bruce Weyhrauch, Chair Representative Jim Holm, Vice Chair Representative Nancy Dahlstrom Representative Bob Lynn Representative Paul Seaton Representative Ethan Berkowitz Representative Max Gruenberg MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR CONFIRMATION HEARING Commissioner, Department of Corrections Marc Antrim - Juneau - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED PREVIOUS ACTION    No previous action to record WITNESS REGISTER    MARC ANTRIM, Commissioner Office of the Commissioner - Juneau Department of Corrections Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointed commissioner of the Department of Corrections. REPRESENTATIVE MARY KAPSNER Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the confirmation hearing for Commissioner Marc Antrim. ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 03-02, SIDE A  Number 0001 CHAIR BRUCE WEYHRAUCH called the House State Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Representatives Holm, Seaton, Dahlstrom, Lynn, Berkowitz, Gruenberg, and Weyhrauch were present at the call to order. CONFIRMATION HEARING Commissioner, Department of Corrections Number 0017 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH announced that the committee would consider the confirmation of Marc Antrim, Commissioner, Department of Corrections, and he explained the process of a confirmation hearing. Number 0100 MARC ANTRIM, Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner - Juneau, Department of Corrections, noted that the House State Affairs Standing Committee had received his resume [included in the committee packet]. He conveyed the honor he felt at being appointed by Governor Murkowski, having begun [his career] "on the floor as an officer." Number 0210 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM noted that in [the Department of Corrections] unique bonds are formed among employees; many of the men and women who work in the correctional facilities work week-on/week-off shifts - 12-hour days - and socialize as well as work together. He said, "We're asked to do things for the state in those capacities that most people just don't have to do." For example, he listed wrestling intoxicated people, [rehabilitating] people who are suicidal, and [controlling or restraining] aggressive people who suddenly "go crazy" in the booking areas, after appearing calm in the patrol car. He told the committee that that type of work has been a character- builder for those in it, including himself. He spoke of the attention to safety for the public, the prisoners, and the coworkers. He characterized the people who work in this field as being selfless. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM commented that the men and women who work for [the Department of Corrections] like to say that it's the toughest beat in the state, and he agrees. He said that he hopes he can meet the goals and expectations of those men and women, as well as his own. He said that he thinks his experience inside the department will allow him to offer [the legislature] "and other committees" some insights regarding how to [make] difficult decisions "without seriously impacting the operations of the department." Number 0529 REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM mentioned a concern regarding insurance billing and asked Commissioner Antrim to address the issue. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded that the issue is a concern, which Jerry Burnett, the Director of Administrative Services, is addressing. He stated that he thinks a new administration offers a new perspective. Given that there are a number of short-term prisoners who are gainfully employed and do [incur] injuries, he said, "I think this is something that we can certainly use to impact our budget positively." Number 0667 REPRESENTATIVE LYNN asked Commissioner Antrim for his comments regarding a possible prison site in Whittier, Alaska [proposed in 2002 during the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature, in HB 498]. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded that [Governor Murkowski] has made it clear that he does not support private prisons "in concept," which is basically the position of the [Department of Corrections]. He mentioned a proposal that is "on the table," and he said that he has not had adequate time to consider it; therefore, he would not make any in-depth comments regarding it. Notwithstanding that, he said that he would be ready to give an honest assessment of that project soon. Number 0775 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked if the administration will continue to oppose private prisons. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that he has not had any information to the contrary. In response to a follow-up question from Representative Berkowitz, he said that he thinks the administration will be open to all proposals brought forward; however, he reiterated that the governor's present position is that he opposes [private prisons], as does the department. REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ stated that he fully hopes that [Governor Murkowski] fulfills all his campaign promises. Number 0828 REPRESENTATIVE MARY KAPSNER, Alaska State Legislature, stated her understanding that the [Department of Corrections] would be reexamining social programs and asked Commissioner Antrim for the definition of a social program. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM replied that [the department] offers a variety of treatment programs to help [rehabilitate] prisoners, specific to [the problem that the prisoners face]. The department intends to examine the effectiveness of those programs. He mentioned seeing people repeatedly return to the programs, and he said that he would like to open discussion with the various treatment providers to come up with more effective [programs]. He mentioned sexual abuse and said that there are some recidivism issues that need to be addressed. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM, in response to a follow-up question from Representative Kapsner, said that [the department] would begin with a cost analysis and then observe how many people go through [the programs] versus how many of those people return. He mentioned Mr. Topou [with the department], who would be examining the programs from a "philosophical approach." REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked if the department intended to conduct both a fiscal audit and program audit. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that the department would attempt to "tie them in together" to get a cohesive picture. He said, "I understand what your concern is ... and I would like to put that at ease." He said that [the department] would not look at a program that's not working and automatically cut it. He added that [the department] obviously needs to provide a large amount of treatment in substance abuse. He reiterated that this was not a matter of eliminating a program, but rather of making it better. Number 1286 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked Commissioner Antrim to clarify that he was talking about working for the most effective treatment options, instead of [going back to] the "warehousing" model. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said that the warehousing approach has been in the business as long as he has. He said he knows that 90 percent of [Alaska's] prisoners are "going to come back out." He stated that "doing nothing in the interim" would be a total disservice to the citizens of Alaska. Commissioner Antrim said he is not going back to the warehousing model. He clarified that [the department] has no intention of ending any existing program, but instead will make those [programs] more effective. Number 1360 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he found that many corrections officers were concerned that some of the actions initiated by the legislature last year regarding [amenities] were "directed at the wrong point." He stated his own concern that the system should not withhold amenities from the long-term prisoners, whose rehabilitation might be aided by having them, but should instead deny amenities to those in the early stages [of incarceration] to impress upon them that "this is some place they don't want to be." He asked Commissioner Antrim for his views on that issue. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded that a wide variety of amenities are offered to prisoners, which he said is "all part of the design." He described the booking area as very spartan and said that the pre-trial area offers a little more property. The long-term area, he said, is the place where prisoners are in double-bunk cells and are able to purchase televisions. Commissioner Antrim noted that it is the long-term amenities to which Representative Seaton referred that "sometimes raise the hackles on a number of legislators' necks." The reason that [the department] allows [prisoners] to provide amenities for themselves is because those amenities serve as a management tool; it's a way to control negative behavior in a correctional center. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM commented that long-term prisoners like things to be predictable and despise being around short-term prisoners, because "their focus is so far off" that of the short-term prisoners. Number 1687 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked Commissioner Antrim to share his general philosophy regarding corrections. Number 1695 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that his general philosophy is to treat [prisoners] fairly and firmly, rehabilitate them to the best of [the staff's] availability, and send them back out better than they were when they came in. Number 1823 REPRESENTATIVE LYNN asked how large a problem homosexual rape between prisoners is and what measures "we'd be taking" to protect prisoners from each other. He stated that he is in strong favor of strong sentencing, but no prisoner should have to suffer sexual abuse within the system. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded that the incidence of homosexual rape in [the Alaska correctional] system is relatively low, largely because of existing staffing patterns and the relatively small size of the facilities. Those incidents which do occur are prosecuted to the fullest extent. He indicated that there is greater risk "to our personal population" in larger facilities. Number 1936 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM, in response to questions from Representative Berkowitz, said that he is familiar with the Chaney criteria and concurs that it is adequate guidance. Number 1945 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ, at the request of Chair Weyhrauch, noted that there are the five goals [of the Chaney criteria] and listed the following: isolation, prisoners' deterrence of others, rehabilitation of the prisoner, and an expression of the community. Number 1980 REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER mentioned an article in the Anchorage Chronicle prior to Deputy Commissioner Stalworthy's [current] appointment. In that article, Mr. Stalworthy reported that assaults were up 50 percent in Alaska's correctional system. She said that she has been "keeping a sharp eye" on corrections. Representative Kapsner said that [Commissioner Margaret Pugh, in office at the time the article was released, approximately fall 2002] did not know the source of that report. Commissioner [Pugh] had offered the following statistics to Representative Kapsner, which she shared with the House State Affairs Standing Committee as follows: Nationally, there are 29.2 [assaults] per 1,000 assaults, and in Alaska there are 1.3 [per 1,000]. She asked Commissioner Antrim to comment. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM noted that "the deputy commissioner got that statistic from information supplied by our department" in a publication Commissioner Antrim said he believed is called the "Corrections Yearbook." He stated that he thinks the point [that was] made [by reporting that statistic] is that even though the statistics are very good, offenses in the state's system are "up." REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER stated that a 50 percent increase in [a very low number of assaults] still equals [a low number]. She stated her concern that the reports should show [Alaska's low number of assaults]. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM noted that although there is a good record, there have been a number of serious incidents. He said he is charged to keep people safe while they serve their sentences. Number 2148 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked Commissioner Antrim if he is concerned that budget cuts could have the impact of increasing danger to prisoners and guards. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that a certain amount of staff is necessary at each facility to adequately observe prisoners. Those staffing points or "posts" are depended upon to mutually support each other in the advent of an emergency or some type of disturbance in the facility. Any budget cut does translate into staff reductions at those posts. Many changes have been made in staffing to adjust to various budget cuts that have been made. He opined, "I think we're teetering on the edge of some potential additional incidents." Number 2246 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said that he had noticed that the food service at the Spring Creek [Correctional Center] was quite different from that which is seen on national television, where a hall with up to two hundred people is depicted. At Spring Creek, prisoners pick up their food in twos and return to their cell to eat, thereby seemingly cutting down much of the "tension interaction." He asked if that model of food service delivery is helpful and if it is [practiced] throughout the system. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that that system of delivering food is not consistent throughout all the facilities. He named three facilities where large dining halls are used: the Fairbanks, Lemon Creek, and Wildwood Correctional Centers. In the newer facilities, food service is actually brought to the living units, he said. He mentioned choices of cost-effectiveness that are made, but said that the [food service method used in the newer facilities] is much safer for the prisoners and the staff. Number 2382 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said, "During the state of the state [address], the governor indicated he was going to have a large anti-crime package." He stated that those crime packages usually translate to large fiscal notes for corrections. He asked Commissioner Antrim if he had had a chance to peruse any of those "proposals in the package," and he asked what kind of fiscal note would be anticipated. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that [the department] is currently studying those fiscal notes. He said, "I can certainly communicate to your office what those individual fiscal notes are, and they will be attached, of course, to those aspects of the bill." REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ reminded committee members that if there is a fiscal note, it has to be paid for, one way or another. Number 2447 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked Commissioner Antrim if he was aware of Administrative Order 207, which was published on the 23rd [of January, 2003], but was actually issued the day before. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said he had been aware of it, but until the order was released he was not certain he could comment in depth on it. He said that [the department] is currently working on it in regard to personnel rules and to contracts with various bargaining units. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM, in response to a question by Chair Weyhrauch, concurred that he did not have control over the release date. Number 2526 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted a provision [in paragraph five of Administrative Order 207, included in the committee packet], which he read as follows: "The inmate health care unit is transferred from the division of institutions to the division of administrative services. The director of administrative services is responsible for undertaking cost containment measures for the delivery of inmate health care." REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG quoted a section of the accompanying press release [included in the committee packet] as follows: "The inmate care unit has been moved to the Division of Administrative Services, where the director can work closely with the medical director and other state agencies to maintain quality health care for Alaska's inmate population, while undertaking a variety of cost-containment measures." REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG also recollected having read an article - in either an Anchorage or a Juneau newspaper - that reported that 30 percent of hepatitis B cases and a large number of tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases have emanated from recently released prisoners. He stated that there is some concern nationally as to the level of health care that prisoners are receiving, and the effect that that lack of health care is having on the spread of these very serious communicable diseases. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked Commissioner Antrim what steps the department would take under the current administration to ensure that the desire to contain costs does not outweigh inmate safety and the public safety in this area. Number 2633 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded that all of [Alaska's] prisoners undergo a cursory medical exam. He explained that this is a means of controlling the aforementioned diseases. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked, "Are they all given tests for tuberculosis?" COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said yes. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG also asked about hepatitis B and HIV. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded as follows: "All blood is drawn. Everybody has to get a TB test. If they refuse the TB test, for example, we put them in what's called administrative segregation." Number 2680 REPRESENTATIVE HOLM mentioned the guard-to-prisoner ratio. He asked if his recollection was true that there are a significant amount of guard and probation officer staff positions open. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that [the department] is diligently working to "whittle that down as we can with our budget constraints." He said that part of [the department's] goal is to "free up some dollars" in middle management and [to use] that money to fill [those positions]. REPRESENTATIVE HOLM asked Commissioner Antrim if he thought he would be able to find efficiencies in administration to do that. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered yes. Number 2729 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH referred to an earlier statement by Commissioner Antrim regarding inmate deaths that were arguably avoidable. He asked the commissioner to confirm for the record that "that wasn't any position by the department, that's just a concern that you raised." COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said yes. In response to a follow-up question by Chair Weyhrauch, he confirmed that [his previous statement] was in no way an admission of liability. Number 2760 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG requested that Commissioner Antrim continue with his previous response regarding [health screening of prisoners]. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said that if any of the prisoners screened are found to have any of the aforementioned diseases, treatment is initiated immediately. He stated that he was not familiar with the article Representative Gruenberg had previously referred to, but said that the statistics were very alarming. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if anyone else had seen that article. AN UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER said he had seen it. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said he would like the chance to read the article before he comments on it. Number 2805 REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked, before the administrative order came out, whether there was any discussion with the unions or with the superintendent at the correctional facility about this issue. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered no. REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked if Commissioner Antrim foresees any layoffs of superintendents because of the administrative order. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded no. He said that the administrative order affects a limited number of superintendent positions; it doesn't affect the superintendents as a group. He explained, "This is really round two of some economizing that was done several years ago." He estimated that 10 or 12 years ago, all of the facilities had assistant superintendent positions when management determined to consolidate some of the duties and eliminate some of those [positions] in the smaller facilities. Number 2878 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said [the department] is continuing that process of consolidation. He noted that there have been some changes in [the department's] job classes. He told the House State Affairs Standing Committee that some of the current assistant superintendent duties will be moved "in some of the facilities that are affected" to an "SU" position that has been introduced. He added, "In many cases, the affected assistant superintendents will move into those positions that are vacant." Number 2891 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the vacancies in correctional officer positions are a result of not being able to find staff for those positions, or because of insufficient funding. Number 2934 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that there were approximately 88 correctional officer positions and 16 probation officer positions open "at the time of transition." TAPE 03-02, SIDE B  Number 2972 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said that [the department] is experiencing recruiting difficulties. He added, "It's just tough to find decent people." A large number of people apply; however, the background checks eliminate a lot of people. He stated that [the department] is responsible for placing people in control of people's lives in a way that could have some very serious consequences; therefore, he rationalized that he believes that [the department] is correct in making certain that only the best and most trustworthy people are placed in those positions. Number 2876 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said that he is filling the vacancies as the budget allows. [The department] is examining its hiring process, he said. He noted that there has been difficulty in attracting Alaska Natives and females to fill the job vacancies. Number 2849 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said that he and Representative Kapsner have discussed a proposal that has existed for "quite some time," which would expand the responsibilities of VPSOs [Village Public Safety Officers] to include some probation or parole activities. He said it would help with "the rehabilitation" and the VPSOs' compensation packages. He asked Commissioner Antrim if he would be willing to assist in that pursuit. Number 2825 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM replied that he agreed that it is important to "get people back to ... where they live, particularly in our remote locations around the state." Currently, a staff person is working with the VPSOs regarding monitoring and meeting probation and parole conditions, he said. In response to a comment by Representative Berkowitz, he agreed that it is cost- effective to "monitor them in place." Number 2778 REPRESENTATIVE HOLM mentioned an inmates-to-staff ratio found in the Corrections Yearbook, dated January 1, 2001, which he said is the second best ratio in the country. He suggested that perhaps there shouldn't be a big hurry to change those ratios at this point; therefore, he commended Commissioner Antrim for his care in [choosing] officers. Number 2720 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM commented that the officer safety statistics are as impressive as the statistics showing low prisoner violence. He stated that that is "another mechanism of adequate staffing and just good training on the part of our employees." Number 2700 REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER stated her understanding that [the department] is embarking on a chaplaincy program. She asked if the chaplains will be on the state payroll and if [the department] would be sensitive to recruiting chaplains of other faiths besides Christianity. Number 2666 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that [the department] has had a chaplaincy program for a long time, and he said that certain statistics indicate that faith-based programs are probably some of the most effective. He explained that the chaplain serves as a coordinator who makes certain that the space available for chaplaincy services is shared equally among all the different faiths. There are currently several paid chaplains; Chaplain Mike Ensch, based in Anchorage, Alaska, is the statewide coordinator. He noted that Chaplain Ensch has submitted a proposal to the commissioner's office that would expand the program and introduce a number of paid chaplains throughout the system. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said that he supports the concept [of the proposal], but pointed out that it is a matter of finding the money to do it. He stated that the cost of placing moderately paid chaplains in all [the correctional] facilities would be approximately $500,000. He stated that the intent of the department is to consider a variety of funding sources - including the "faith-based initiatives that are very big right now," as well as individual church groups - and to attempt to match those funds somehow with state funds. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM, responding to Representative Kapsner's question regarding individual faiths, stated that the Jewish and Muslim faiths are well represented in the prison population. He said that part of Chaplain Ensch's proposal is to provide chapels in each of the facilities, many of which don't currently have dedicated chapels. Number 2489 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG referred to Commissioner Antrim's statement during the [Department of Corrections] overview [House State Affairs Standing Committee, January 23, 2003], regarding employing "best correctional practices throughout the operations of the department." He said that he believes three of the [correctional] institutions have met the accreditation standards set by the American Correctional Association (ACA). He asked Commissioner Antrim if he was planning to continue working to bring the other institutions towards accreditation, as well. Number 2454 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM replied that that's a program that [the department] must take a look at. He said that the superintendents of the facilities [that underwent the accreditation] will [attest] that that was a very intensive and expensive process. The value of [the accreditation] is that it establishes a set of standards and conditions for the prisoners, and guarantees that the staff will review the policy procedures and demonstrate "knowledge." COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said that [the department] must determine whether the certification process is "worth it," or whether it can come close to something like that on its own for less money. He offered the example of the Ketchikan facility spending a great amount of money to provide a cell with handicap access. In response to a question from Representative Gruenberg, Commissioner Antrim explained that there was no one who required a handicap cell at the prison at that time; the remodeling was part of the certification process. He noted that the Lemon Creek facility has several massive dormitory areas, none of which will meet ACA accreditation. He said he thinks the approach that [the department] will end up taking is to try to get as close to [ACA standards] as it can. Commissioner Antrim characterized ACA standards as "widely available." Number 2353 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if most [correctional] institutions in the United States meet [the ACA] standards. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered no. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if there is any penalty for not meeting the standards, for example, being ineligible [to receive] federal funds. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded no. He said that he guesses the bigger question is what the benefit is. Whether [being accredited] would help avoid lawsuits is debatable, although it is something to point to in the case of a lawsuit, he noted. He concluded, "It basically is ... a set of best practices conditions." Number 2261 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH referred to Commissioner Antrim's aforementioned statement that he had no intention of ending any existing program. He stated his concern that Commissioner Antrim not box himself into some position. If the facts don't warrant continuing a program, he said, and there is no public policy base for it and no benefit [from it], then perhaps that program should be ended. He said that he did not want that statement to come back and haunt Commissioner Antrim. Number 2242 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM clarified that what he had meant to say is that individual programs may be examined, but "broad areas, like substance abuse, we are going to offer always, whether the individual delivery method stays the same." Number 2201 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ stated that he had a question regarding "the program." He asked, "I was wondering if they were going to go through the same auditing that all the other programs are going through." He asked if those audits would be made available. Number 2190 COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered yes. He said, "The governor, in general concept, has ordered top-to-bottom audits of all the departments." He asked Representative Berkowitz if his question referred to faith-based programs. REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said that he wants to ensure that if one program is audited, they all will be audited. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said yes. He clarified, "At this point the chaplaincy program is simply a proposal, so once it's in play, you bet it will be." Number 2154 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH asked Commissioner Antrim if his department had any involvement in any homeland security issue affecting Alaska. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that although [the department] has not yet been part of any discussion [concerning homeland security], he believes that it has a "place at the table." In response to a follow-up question by Chair Weyhrauch, he opined that his department should be [involved] in any upcoming homeland security overviews. Number 2115 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG stated his understanding that, at one time, the department was involved in seeking a federal grant for sex offender treatment. He asked Commissioner Antrim to describe that grant and explain why the new administration decided not to continue it. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM clarified that that grant was part of a larger federal grant called the "going home project." He said, "We've not made a decision yet whether to end either one of those two grants." He explained that [the department's] concern is regarding the amount of work that would be required of the staff to administer those grants. He said that initial indications were that some of the senior probation staff would be consumed in managing the program. He mentioned the new administration and an initial [reaction] to "cut our losses" by cutting the program. He told the committee that [the department] had engaged in an in-depth conversation with "the main administrator in the field for that grant, yesterday afternoon," and it appears that [the department] may be able to shift some of the workload to "some of his people" and make the changes in the operation of the grants through addendums that will meet "our very point of concerns." Commissioner Antrim said that, if that proves possible, [the department] will continue [with the grant]. Number 1920 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked Commissioner Antrim if he thinks he may have the ability to change some of the conditions of the grant. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM said yes. In response to an offer of assistance from Representative Gruenberg, he said, "I think we're OK." Number 1877 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked if the administration had any thoughts regarding changing the missions and measures set out by the legislature. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM replied that it was clear during conversations with OMB [Office of Management & Budget] that some of the missions and measures are "out of sync." He said, "So, I've tasked the director of [the Division of] Institutions and the director of what we're going to call the new Division of Probation and Parole to examine those and tighten them up a little bit, so they have more meaning for the legislature." Number 1824 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH asked Commissioner Antrim why the legislature should accept his confirmation. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM responded that he has given his "entire adult life" to the department. He stated that he feels strongly about leaving the department better than when he [began working for it]. He said that he believes his approach thus far has been a cautious and safe one. He has assembled a team that he said he thinks offers "a very good, strong, balanced approach to get the job done." CHAIR WEYHRAUCH asked Commissioner Antrim to describe his strengths and weaknesses. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM answered that his strength is being "extremely dogged," and his weakness is that he sometimes doesn't know when to quit when he should. He stated his hope that that would not be a detriment in committee hearings, for example. COMMISSIONER ANTRIM, in response to a question by Representative Weyhrauch regarding favorite reading, noted that he had read Man In Full: A Novel, by Tom Wolfe; however, he noted that most of the prison literature that he has read over the years has consisted of professional publications. Number 1699 REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked Commissioner Antrim to confirm that he might be changing the focus of treatments from "treating all the inmates who may have a problem in one area, whether they admit it or not, to just treating the inmates that admit that they have a problem, say, with alcohol addiction." COMMISSIONER ANTRIM clarified that his focus is getting people to understand that they have a problem that needs to be treated. In response to a comment by Representative Kapsner, he agreed that [many of those with alcohol abuse problems] won't freely admit to their problem. He stated that once people realize that they need help, there are a number of treatment models that are effective, and he reemphasized his intent to help those people with problems [in taking that first step]. Number 1502 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH reviewed the steps involved in a confirmation and thanked Commissioner Antrim. [Although there was no formal motion, the confirmation of Commissioner Marc Antrim was treated as advanced from committee.] Number 1401 [Representative Gruenberg handed out the previously mentioned article regarding the health issues of prison inmates.] REPRESENTATIVE LYNN mentioned that he had read an article from an Anchorage newspaper about someone in Anchorage who started his/her car with a remote starter, left it unattended, and was given a ticket. He noted that he has a remote starter, and he guessed that between 5 to 15 percent of people [in Alaska] use remote starters. He confessed that his vehicle was one of four left unattended [in Juneau] on a recent night. He stated that he thinks the issue needs to be addressed. ADJOURNMENT  Number 1290 There being no further business before the committee, the House State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:21 a.m.