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Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee Hears Second Testimony on SB 69, Sets Amendment Deadline
Summary
Senate Bill 69, proposing tracking and victim access for assault forensic exam kits, received public testimony from a domestic-violence advocate and brief remarks from the Department of Public Safety. The committee set an amendment deadline of 4 p.m. Feb. 13 and intends a final committee hearing Feb. 14.
The Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 12 heard public testimony on Senate Bill 69, titled “Assault Examination Kits Tracking,” the bill sponsored by the Senate Rules Committee at the governor's request. The committee, chaired by Senator Klayman, received remarks from Laurie Morton, deputy director of the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and from James Cockrell, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, and set an amendment deadline and a schedule for the bill's next hearing.
Morton, who identified herself as deputy director of the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, told the committee she supports SB 69 and has submitted a written letter of support. "I appreciate establishing the right to access and track the kit as a victim's right in statute," Morton said, adding that a tracking system could give survivors more agency and some comfort in the weeks and months after an assault. She also described technology such as TRACIT, named in testimony, as potentially providing survivors a way to follow a kit through the process.
Morton urged the committee to shorten processing time where possible while maintaining accuracy. "Anything we can do to shorten the time of this process while still ensuring accuracy is valuable," she said.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell offered brief remarks, thanking the committee for the hearing and expressing departmental support. "I see this as a step forward, and it brings us out of the, I think, the dark ages," Cockrell said, characterizing the proposal as important to victims and to the department.
Chair Klayman opened and closed public testimony and instructed parties seeking to offer amendments to submit them electronically. "If you would like to have amendments to Senate Bill 69, please let our office know, submit them electronically by 4PM on Thursday, February 13," the chair said, and stated the committee's intent to hear the bill for a final time on Feb. 14. The committee limited public testimony to two minutes per person during the hearing.
No formal motion or vote on the bill occurred at the Feb. 12 hearing. The committee scheduled consideration of amendments and signaled intent to take final committee action on Friday, Feb. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Background: Committee members present included Senators Myers, Stevens, Tobin, Vice Chair Kiel and Chair Klayman. Morton said she had previously provided comments in the other body and spoke in a personal capacity at this hearing. The bill remains under committee consideration; details of any statutory language changes were not discussed in depth during this session and were not specified in testimony.
The committee adjourned at 1:38 p.m. and will reconvene Friday, Feb. 14 at 1:30 p.m. for further consideration of SB 69.
