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& Lock up Worst Offenders, & Requires Polygraph Exams; By Sen Bunde, SEN Guess, and Rep Mark Neuman
Alaska has the highest rate of sexual assault in the nation. A landmark bill working its way through the legislature this session will protect victims and possibly reduce the number of assaults in the years ahead.
On Wednesday, April 5 at 1:00 pm, a news conference will be held on the front steps of the Capitol Building to rally support for SB 218. Local Representatives Mark Neuman and Bill Stoltze will be present along with Attorney General David Marquez, Public Safety Commissioner Bill Tandeske, Dept. of Corrections Deputy Commissioner Portia Parker, and Peggy Brown, Executive Director, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
Representative Mark Neuman (R-Mat-Su) and Senator Con Bunde (R-Anchorage) worked on combined legislation to ensure stricter sentencing for sex offenders in Alaska. The legislation, comprised of HB 353, sponsored by Representative Neuman, and SB 218, sponsored by Senator Bunde, increases the sentences for first-time offenders of children under 13 to 25-30 years and for victims over 13 to 20-30 years minimum. Mandatory probation is also included, and the legislation changes the requirements of probation and parole to include polygraph testing.
"We need sentencing laws in this state that make it perfectly clear to sex offenders in Alaska that their behavior will not be taken lightly and will not be tolerated. This legislation goes a long way to protect our citizens and ensure that criminals in Alaska receive a sentence commensurate to their crime," said Representative Neuman.
SB 218, sponsored by Senator Bunde passed the Senate 19-0 last week. SB 218 is similar legislation to HB 353 and passed the House Finance Committee on Tuesday morning, April 4, 2006.
Senator Bunde and Representative Neuman have combined their bills, deciding that SB 218 will be the vehicle for the legislation. Representative Neuman is now a cross sponsor of the bill and will work with the other cross sponsor.
Notes from the Education Committee
– Raising the Compulsory Age for School Attendance.
This bill was to be heard by the House Special Committee on Education at its meeting today, however, the sponsor has pulled the bill and the meeting has been canceled.
: Use of Force to Protect Self/Home.
SB 200 passed the Senate with a vote of 17-2. Allows force, or deadly force, as a legal option under certain circumstances where life, property, and the welfare of others is at high risk. Broadens existing statute, which allows a person to use force to defend property that a person owns or leases, to include ''specific places a person has a right to be.” Allows the use of force to protect children threatened with death or serious injury, kidnapping, sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, or robbery. Permits use of force by a victim remaining inside an automobile being car-jacked, or by a person outside a vehicle being stolen if there is a victim inside that vehicle.
is the House version of this bill. The bill is currently in Judiciary.
And, last but not least, for those of you (like many of us) that are slowly adjusting to the time change, here’s an article from the Anchorage Daily News:
Group looks to eliminate daylight-saving time
Monday, April 3, 2006 - by Aniela Whah-Wills
Anchorage, Alaska - The "Land of the Midnight Sun" could be the land of no daylight-saving time if one group has its way.
The Citizens to End the Use of Daylight-Saving Time in Alaska has filed an initiative to do just that. The group, formed by Lynn Willis of Eagle River, Joann Jackinsky of Ninilchik and Robert Hall of Wasilla, submitted the petition to the Division of Elections today.
If approved, the group must gather 35,000 signatures to get the issue on the 2008 general ballot. # # # |
