Alaska Bills

in committee · Alaska · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 42: An Act relating to the duties of the Alaska Police Standards Council; relating to municipal correctional officers and municipal correctional employees; making municipal police officers subject to police standards; relating to the duties of the Department of Public Safety; relating to reports of incidents of use of force by state and municipal police, probation, parole, pretrial services, and correctional officers and municipal correctional facility employees; and providing for an effective date.

SB 42 requires state and municipal police officers, probation officers, parole officers, pretrial services officers, and correctional officers (both state and municipal) to report use-of-force incidents to supervisors immediately. It creates a central database tracking officers with denied or revoked certifications, including the reasons for denial/revocation, and mandates annual reports to the legislature about this data. The bill also expands standards to cover municipal correctional employees and updates definitions for terms like "use of force" (including firearm discharges or injuries causing fatality/serious harm). These changes directly affect all law enforcement and correctional personnel in Alaska who interact with the public. The bill aims to improve transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Alaska · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 3: An Act requiring school districts to grant qualified persons an assigned duty to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds under certain conditions; relating to standards, training, and continuing education in firearms training for qualified persons granted an assigned duty to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds; relating to communication of school districts with state and local law enforcement; and relating to school crisis response plans.

SB 3 requires Alaska school districts to grant qualified staff or volunteers an assigned duty to carry concealed handguns on school grounds under specific conditions. To qualify, individuals must hold a concealed carry permit, complete approved firearms training (equivalent to police standards), meet physical/mental requirements matching police officer standards, and commit to continuing education. School districts must pay for training costs for employees and offer reimbursement for volunteers, and develop written policies covering these requirements and crisis response planning. The bill directly affects school districts (as implementers), qualified school personnel, and law enforcement communication protocols, without altering existing concealed carry laws for the general public.

in committee · Alaska · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 7: An Act prohibiting the use of chokeholds by peace officers; and relating to justification of use of force by peace officers.

SB 7 prohibits Alaska peace officers from using any restraint that blocks breathing or blood circulation (like carotid restraints or tracheal chokes) unless deadly force is legally authorized. It directly affects police officers by restricting specific chokehold techniques during arrests. The bill adds this restriction to existing use-of-force laws, clarifying that such restraints are only permitted when deadly force is already justified under the law. This change aims to prevent injuries or deaths caused by breathing-impaired restraints during police encounters.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Alaska · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 27: An Act relating to restoration of tenure for certain disabled individuals; relating to the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska and the teachers' retirement system; providing certain employees an opportunity to choose between the defined benefit and defined contribution plans of the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska and the teachers' retirement system; and providing for an effective date.

SB 27 restores teaching positions for Alaska teachers who retired due to disability but later recover, as certified by a physician or vocational rehabilitation program. It also gives public employees in Alaska's retirement systems (including teachers) the option to choose between traditional pension plans (defined benefit) and investment-based retirement accounts (defined contribution). The bill amends retirement laws to allow this choice, with specific contribution rates adjusted for new participants. These changes directly affect disabled teachers seeking reinstatement and public employees managing retirement benefits.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Alaska · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 38: An Act establishing the office of information technology; relating to information technology projects undertaken by state agencies; and providing for an effective date.

SB 38 establishes a new Office of Information Technology (OIT) within the Department of Administration, led by a Chief Information Officer (CIO). The OIT will oversee all state agency IT projects, requiring agencies to obtain CIO approval before starting projects to ensure they follow security standards, avoid duplication, and have adequate funding. The bill mandates that agencies document IT project needs in biennial plans and report new projects to the Office of Management and Budget for review. This creates a centralized system for managing state IT resources and security across all executive branch agencies.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Alaska · House Nov 6, 2024

HB 228: An Act establishing the Alaska task force for the regulation of psychedelic medicines approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration; and providing for an effective date.

This bill establishes the Alaska Mental Health and Psychedelic Medicine Task Force within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to study the potential use of FDA-approved psychedelic medicines for treating mental health issues. The task force will evaluate barriers to equitable access, recommend licensing and insurance rules for practitioners, and explore legal pathways for state-level legalization if federal reclassification occurs. Its diverse membership includes representatives from health agencies, mental health organizations, Alaska Native communities, survivors of domestic violence, and the psychiatric profession. The group is required to meet at least four times and submit a final report with its recommendations to the governor and legislature by December 31, 2024, after which the task force will dissolve.

signed · Alaska · House Oct 30, 2024

HB 273: An Act relating to commercial fishing loans; relating to subsidiary corporations of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation; relating to the power of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to make or purchase mortgage loans; and providing for an effective date.

This bill restricts the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation from issuing or purchasing certain types of mortgage loans to ensure responsible lending practices. Specifically, it sets limits on loan amounts and values for multi-unit homes, requires that construction work be done by registered contractors for new or improved housing, and prohibits loans for rental properties that do not include non-discrimination clauses. Additionally, the legislation bars loans for borrowers who already have existing housing debt under state programs or who have unpaid court-ordered child support obligations. These changes directly affect the corporation's lending decisions and the eligibility criteria for individuals seeking housing finance assistance in Alaska.

in committee · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 208: An Act relating to the registration and titling of vehicles; relating to electronic registration and titling; relating to the powers of the commissioner of administration with respect to motor vehicles; relating to the transfer of vehicles; relating to motor vehicle liability insurance; relating to non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses and non-domiciled commercial learner's permits; and providing for an effective date.

This bill updates Alaska's motor vehicle laws to allow for electronic registration and titling of vehicles while giving the commissioner of administration authority to create related regulations. It also expands the department's ability to share driver data with law enforcement and other agencies to verify driving records and license status. Additionally, the legislation requires driver's license offices to inform applicants about voter registration options and allows drivers to show a legible photocopy or electronic version of their registration certificate to police instead of the original document. These changes aim to modernize vehicle administration, improve data sharing for safety checks, and integrate voter registration services into routine DMV visits.

signed · Alaska · House Oct 16, 2024

HB 148: An Act relating to the head start program; relating to the Alaska performance scholarship program; relating to the insurance tax education credit, the income tax education credit, the oil or gas producer education credit, the property tax education credit, the mining business education credit, the fisheries business education credit, and the fisheries resource landing tax education credit; relating to allocations of funding for the Alaska Workforce Investment Board; relating to grants for technical and vocational education; providing for an effective date by amending the effective date of secs. 1, 2, and 21, ch. 61, SLA 2014; and providing for an effective date.

HB 148 updates several education and workforce programs in Alaska, including the Head Start initiative, the Alaska Performance Scholarship, and various tax education credits. The bill requires early education programs for four- and five-year-olds to meet specific federal standards, employ certified teachers with early childhood training, and use developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive objectives. It also establishes new grant funding for eligible Head Start agencies based on their nonfederal contributions and adjusts scholarship eligibility requirements for high school graduates. Additionally, the legislation modifies funding allocations for the Alaska Workforce Investment Board and grants for technical and vocational education. These changes aim to standardize early childhood education quality and streamline financial support for students and workforce development programs.

signed · Alaska · House Oct 16, 2024

HB 66: An Act relating to criminal law and procedure; relating to homicide resulting from conduct involving controlled substances; establishing the crime of assault in the presence of a child; relating to the crime of stalking; relating to human trafficking; relating to prostitution; relating to sex trafficking; changing the term 'child pornography' to 'child sexual abuse material'; relating to misconduct involving a controlled substance; relating to sentencing; relating to competency to stand trial; relating to the duty to register as a sex offender; amending the definition of 'sex offense'; relating to multidisciplinary child protection teams; relating to involuntary civil commitments; relating to victims' rights during certain civil commitment proceedings; relating to the duties of the Department of Corrections; amending Rules 4 and 5, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure; amending Rule 6(s), Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure; and providing for an effective date.

HB 66 updates Alaska's criminal laws by introducing new offenses such as assault in the presence of a child and expanding the definition of homicide to include deaths caused by drug distribution or negligence involving children. The bill also changes the terminology for child pornography to child sexual abuse material, clarifies rules for sex offender registration, and adjusts sentencing guidelines for various crimes. Additionally, it modifies civil procedure rules to allow prosecutors to present hearsay evidence in grand jury proceedings and includes provisions aimed at reducing employment barriers for individuals with certain low-level marijuana convictions.

signed · Alaska · House Oct 16, 2024

HB 193: An Act relating to funding for Internet services for school districts; and providing for an effective date.

This bill directs state funding to school districts in Alaska that qualify for discounted federal Internet rates. It ensures each eligible school receives money to cover the cost of achieving a download speed of 100 megabits per second. The funds are calculated based on the difference between the discounted rate and the cost required to reach that specific speed. The legislation takes effect immediately upon passage.

passed both · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SCR 10: Establishing the Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaska's Seafood Industry.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution creates a joint legislative task force to study challenges facing Alaska's seafood industry, which supports tens of thousands of jobs and generates billions in economic activity. The seven-member panel includes four legislators, two representatives from major industry associations, and the commissioner of fish and game, with appointments designed to reflect the statewide nature of the industry. The group is tasked with developing a long-term strategic plan and recommending policy changes to improve coordination, marketing, product quality, and government assistance for fishermen and processors.

Bill results