Committee reports bill to expand inmate access to tablets for reentry services

Senate Bill 19, sponsored by Senator Robert Myers, would open limited access to electronic devices — commonly discussed as tablets — for incarcerated people to support education, reentry planning, treatment and institutional programming.

Myers told the Senate State Affairs Committee the bill aims to “open up access to tablets, to be used as a tool for reentry, for education, potentially to realize some cost savings, to help improve security a little bit, within the prisons themselves.” The sponsor said the measure has been considered in multiple legislative sessions.

Testimony in support came from formerly incarcerated reentry advocates and social‑service providers. Robert Feder, a member of the Juneau Reentry Coalition who described himself as formerly incarcerated, said digital access at the moment of release could shorten the “crucial window” that often pushes people back into substance use and homelessness. Doreen Schenkenberger, CEO of Partners for Progress in Anchorage, told the committee digital resources are “a game changer” for access to treatment, education, housing and employment assistance.

The bill was discussed in the context of rising recidivism indicators and reduced federal program funding, according to testimony. Witnesses said digital literacy and device access can connect people leaving custody to benefits, court dates, education and employer applications and to tribal and peer support services.

Deputy Commissioner April Wilkerson of the Alaska Department of Corrections was available online to answer technical questions; committee members did not record objections after the motion to report the bill out.

Senator Gray Jackson moved that SB 19 (work draft 34 L s 0230 backslash n) be reported out of committee with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note. The chair announced the motion passed with no objections recorded and the bill was reported out of committee with an attached fiscal note. The committee did not record a roll‑call tally in the hearing transcript.

Supporters asked the Legislature to test the approach and said controlled device access could expand distance learning, remote counseling, visitation and reentry coordination while reducing barriers that contribute to recidivism. The committee instructed staff to attach fiscal analysis as the bill moves forward.