SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE May 6, 1998 1:45 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Robin Taylor, Chairman Senator Drue Pearce, Vice-Chairman Senator Mike Miller Senator Sean Parnell MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Johnny Ellis COMMITTEE CALENDAR HOUSE BILL NO. 272 "An Act to permit a court to order a defendant who receives a sentence of imprisonment for a misdemeanor to serve the sentence by electronic monitoring; and relating to the crime of unlawful evasion." - HEARD AND HELD CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 406(FIN) am(efd fld) "An Act authorizing the Board of Fisheries and the Board of Game to identify fish and game that are taken for subsistence and to identify subsistence and nonsubsistence areas; relating to the establishment of preferences for and to regulation of subsistence fishing and hunting; relating to advisory committees." - MOVED CSHB 406(FIN)am(efd fld) FROM COMMITTEE PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION HB 272 - No previous action to report. HB 406 - See Judiciary minutes dated 4/25/98, 5/1/98, 5/4/98 and 5/5/98. WITNESS REGISTER Mr. Jeffrey Feldman 500 L Street Anchorage, Ak 99501 POSITION STATEMENT: Candidate for Confirmation Mr. Jeff Logan Staff to Representative Joe Green State Capitol Juneau, Ak 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 272 ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 98-53, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN ROBIN TAYLOR called the Judiciary Committee meeting to order at 1:45 p.m. and called the confirmation hearing of MR. JEFFREY FELDMAN to the Alaska Judicial Conduct Board as the first order of business. MR. JEFFREY FELDMAN, candidate for confirmation to the Alaska Judicial Conduct Board, testified that he had served one term on the board and was honored to be considered for another. He stressed the importance of the board in maintaining the integrity of the judiciary. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked if it was possible to expand the scope of the board to include the conduct of the Attorney General's office. He indicated he would like to see this happen. MR. FELDMAN replied he thought that would require an amendment to the constitution. Number 35 CHAIRMAN TAYLOR mentioned that he personally knew MR. FELDMAN and was familiar with his background. He thanked him for his past service on the board. SENATOR MILLER moved that the committee forward MR. FELDMAN's name onto the entire body for confirmation. Without objection, it was so ordered. HB 272 - DO JAIL TIME BY ELECTRONIC MONITORING MR. JEFF LOGAN, staff to Representative Joe Green, presented HB 272, which allows electronic monitoring of prisoners and expands the term "escape" to include tampering with or disabling an electronic monitoring device. MR. LOGAN said the bill is supported by the Legislature and the Administration as well as the Judiciary. Number 75 SENATOR MILLER asked what type of offender would be eligible for this. MR. LOGAN replied it would be for white collar or environmental offenders or possibly for people who have already served some time. SENATOR MILLER said this would not be appropriate for some types of prisoners. HB 406 - SUBSISTENCE USES OF FISH AND GAME CHAIRMAN TAYLOR indicated the committee has had HB 406 before them for some time and had worked on several drafts. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR indicated that, considering the time constraint, it would be appropriate to move the bill on to resources and see if they would be willing to work on it. Number 110 SENATOR MILLER moved HB 406 out of committee with individual recommendations. Without objection, it was so ordered. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR said the committee was still awaiting the arrival of HB 375 from the House. With nothing else to come before the committee, CHAIRMAN TAYLOR adjourned at 1:55 p.m.