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Crime bill strengthened in Senate

Top News

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May 13, 2019

The Alaska Senate is working through its version of House Bill 49, the roll-back of the much-maligned SB 91, which has been blamed for Alaska’s crime wave. The Senate has inserted stronger sanctions for drug offenses, sex offenses, and other crimes.

Senate Finance Committee passed a heavily amended version HB 49 on Sunday that included many pieces of the original legislation requested by Gov. Michael Dunleavy, provisions that had been stripped out by the House Democrat-led Majority.

Some of the changes to the bill that was heard on the Senate floor today:

Repeals the “marriage defense” for rape. This defense was left in law by the House last week. This makes it easier to prosecute sex crimes when victims are incapacitated or unaware.
Increases presumptive felony and misdemeanor sentencing ranges, many pretrial provisions, and probation lengths to levels that existed before SB 91 took effect.
For drug possession, the first offense would be a misdemeanor, with up to a one-year sentence; after that it would be a class C felony. The bill that came from the House allowed two misdemeanors.
Prohibits mandatory parole and good time for murder 1, murder 2, and manslaughter; and only allows discretionary parole for these crimes after 2/3rds of the sentence has been served.
Increases the penalties and seriousness of certain sex crimes including unlawful exploitation of a minor, indecent exposure near children, and child pornography.
Requires a presumption of “no contact orders” for cases of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Expands the “duty to report” abuse for people who work with children.
Increases the amount of notification and information available to crime victims.
Reinstates “Truth in Sentencing” language.
Reinstates stricter penalties for violating bail conditions and conduct.
Repeals the Pretrial Enforcement Division and moves its duties to the Department of Corrections.
Removes technical violations for parole and probation but allows administrative sanctions.
Allows, but does not require, the use of the risk assessment tool for setting bail and returns discretion to the court on bail.
Keeps the time between arrest and arraignment at 24 hours, barring compelling reasons to extend.
Limits treatment credit against a sentence to 180 days.
Removes mandatory electronic monitoring for DUIs.
Prohibits “good time” for treatment, time in a private residence, and electronic monitoring for certain serious crimes.
Makes it a crime of harassment to send repeated, unwanted pictures of genitals to someone.
Clarifies that Native organizations are eligible entities to run VPSO programs.
Requires Department of Law, in conjunction with Department of Public Safety, to track and gather data on felony sex offenses to be included in the Alaska Criminal Justice Commission’s annual report.
Removes provisions related to reentry plans. This has since been amended on the Senate floor.
Requires the court to transfer records regarding involuntary commitment going back to 2011 instead of 1981.
Allows drivers’ license cancellation for people who owe more than $1,000 for moving violations.
Requires use of headlights at certain times; prohibits any requirements to use headlights except as provided for in (a).
Changes who is eligible to have a permanently revoked drivers’ license restored after 10 years.

The bill was held until the Senate reconvenes on Tuesday.

‘Shameful narrative’ about Native students disputed by think tank

The 907

Suzanne Downing

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May 12, 2019

27

‘Shameful narrative’ about Native students disputed by think tank

NATIVE STUDENTS ARE NOT DRAGGING DOWN ALASKA’S TEST SCORES

The Alaska Policy Forum, a public policy group based in Anchorage, published a series of charts that the group says disproves an “offensive narrative has been circulating that Alaska Native children are to blame for our state’s low reading test scores.”

The narrative the group refers to has been pushed by opinion writer for the Left, Dermot Cole, in some of his recent columns.

“That narrative is not only extremely divisive and offensive – it is untrue,” the policy group wrote on its website.

Across the spectrum of demographics, almost all Alaska students are under-performing their peers in 4th and 8th grade reading scores, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress. It doesn’t matter if they are white or Native, they’re almost all doing worse than ever in 4th-grade reading.

The charts show where Alaska students rank, and note that economic status is more of an indicator for how a child will do.

What the charts show is that nearly all students across demographic categories in Alaska are scoring below national norms. The exceptions are 4th and 8th grade Hispanic students, who scored above average in reading in the 4th and 8th grades, and black students, who scored higher in reading in the 4th grade, but lower than average by the 8th grade. White students who qualify for free or reduced lunch (lower income homes) scored slightly above the U.S. average.

Other than that, Alaska students are scoring dead last in 13 of 20 measurements for the 4th grade.

In 2003, Alaska students as a whole scored 10th from the bottom in 4th-grade reading. By 2017, they were the worst readers in the nation.

In 2003, Alaska low-income students were third from the bottom, but by 2017, they sank to the bottom.

Here’s the kicker: In 2003, students who were not from low-income families were 8th from the bottom in reading, and in 2017, they too were at the bottom of the heap.

White students in Alaska, which represent the largest number of students, had nothing to write home about in these scores. They were fourth from the bottom of the barrel in 4th-grade reading:

While Native students also dropped, they did not drop by as much as white students. Their comparison is only with states that have enough Native Americans that allow a comparison to be made, thus the smaller comparison:

“Test scores for Native Alaskan children are indeed disappointing relative to other AmericanIndian/Native students in the U.S. But as these bar charts show, early childhood literacy in Alaska is at crisis proportions across the entire economic and ethnic spectrum,” the organization wrote.

The bar charts compare the NAEP reading scores of all 50 states and the District of Columbia between 2003 and the most recent NAEP scores in 2017. Comparisons are made across a wide variety of data slices including economic status, students with disabilities and ethnicity. A 10-point difference in NAEP test scores indicates roughly a one-school-year difference in student achievement, the policy group wrote.

The group has highlighted Alaska in red, the U.S. average in green, Florida in orange, and Mississippi, which in 2017 scored above Alaska on the NEAP for children who qualify for free or reduced lunches.

Alaska students were almost a year behind Mississippi for 4th grade reading.

In all the charts, 2003 scores are on the left side, while 2017 score are on the right. The takeaway is that Native children are not the ones dragging down Alaska’s 4th-grade student performance. There is a greater correlation to socio-economic status in school performance than there is any other measurement.

[Visit the charts at this link.]

MRAK Almanac: Game of Thrones edition

Almanac

Suzanne Downing

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May 12, 2019

1

Monday is the 119th day of the legislative session. Winter is coming.

May 13-17: Infrastructure Week. Labor unions and public works agencies are hosting events in the nation’s capital and around the country to support investment in roads, rail, power, and water projects. In Juneau, some goings on with docks and harbors. They used to converge on Juneau for this event, but meh, there’s no capital budget so speak of so the heavy hitters of construction may take a pass on Juneau. Details

This seasonal event occurred on Sunday, the first day in Barrow-Utqiagvik this year with no night or twilight. Next sunset is Aug. 1:

May 13: House gavels in: 11 am, Senate gavels in: 1:30 pm

May 13: House Labor and Commerce will hear HB 81, An Act prohibiting disposable plastic shopping bags. The legislation has exempted newspaper plastic bags. 3:15 pm

May 13: Homer City Council Committee of the Whole, 5 pm

May 13: Seward City Council meeting, 7 pm

May 13: Juneau Assembly meeting, 7 pm

May 13: Wasilla City Council. 6 pm. Details, agenda

May 13: Sand Lake Community Council, Sand Lake Elementary School, 7 pm

May 13: Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer’s town hall meeting on crime, Loussac Library. Anchorage, 6 pm

May 14: The Bethel City Council will vote on an ordinance to pay itself $100 per regular council meeting and $25 for each special council meeting. A vote of the community would take place before it would take effect. Ordinance language is here.

May 14: Palmer City Council meeting; taking up an ordinance regarding penalties for dwellings where there are excessive police response needed in a given year, i.e. drug houses, trafficking. Details.

May 14: University of Alaska Fairbanks Staff Council meets to review the recent morale survey. 9:30-noon. Morale survey is here.

May 15: Soldotna Chamber of Commerce topic is: Save Bristol Bay, Impacts of Pebble Mine on Bristol Bay’s Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Kenai Peninsula Economy. Speaker: Sam Snyder, (Save Our Salmon fame). Noon-1 pm

May 15: On-site cannabis use is the topic at Anchorage Federation of Community Councils, 1057 West Fireweed Lane, Suite 100, 6-8 pm. Details

May 16-19: We’re getting fired up for the Little Norway Festival in Petersburg. Details

* * * *

HISTORY NOTES

May 13, 1909: It was just 17 days until the opening of the Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exposition in what is now the University District, and the Seattle Times front-page headline writer was worried: “The Fair Will Be Ready, Will Seattle?” As the fair approached, the city raced to complete improvements for the exposition and the crowds of visitors that would show up. The upgrades included a new sewer line, graded roads with curbs and sidewalks, two new double-track streetcar lines, and street lighting.

May 16, 1801: William Seward’s Birthday in Florida, NY.

Bill Williams: May 21, 1943 – May 12, 2019

Politics

Suzanne Downing

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May 12, 2019

5

Former Rep. Bill Williams, who rose from being a council member in the City of Saxman to being the Co-Chair of House Finance, died on May 12, 2019 in Ketchikan. He was just shy of his 76th birthday.

Williams was born on May 21, 1943 in Ketchikan, where he lived all his days. He attended Ketchikan High School from 1958-62, and while still in his 20s, he was elected to the City Council of Saxman. He became mayor of Saxman in 1976 and served until 1983. In 1993, he was elected to the Alaska state House, and he became Finance co-chair in 2001 with former Rep. Eldon Mulder.

“I was fortunate to serve as Co-Chair of House Finance with Bill. He was a man of few words, but intense passion. He cared deeply about his hometown and his State. Today I lost a friend and Alaska lost a quiet statesman,” Mulder said.

Williams also chaired the House Transportation Committee, from 1997-1998; and House Resources Committee, 1993-1996;

Williams was a Republican. Speakers during his era in the Legislature included Ramona Barnes, Gail Phillips, Brian Porter, and Pete Kott.

James Armstrong worked for Williams over the years and remembers him as an “old soul, a gentle soul.” The two had a running joke about Armstrong being the “Nod Man,” who would wisely nod the affirmative to anything Williams would say. Armstrong said he could always get Williams to “crack up” when he started nodding. The two became lifelong friends.

Williams was a member of Alaska Native Brotherhood and Saxman Tlingit & Haida.

Williams was elected in 1998 as a Democrat Representative and in 2000 as unopposed Republican Representative from District #1. He served in the House until 2004.

Married to Caryl, he was the father to Steve, Mike, Krissy, David, Adam.

Sen. Bert Stedman offered a statement today:

“Representative Bill Williams was a strong voice for Southeast and Rural Alaska. He understood that political differences don’t need to divide Alaskans and took the lead on both subsistence and development issues. Bill was known for working with our federal delegation and governors to keep jobs in the Tongass. He was also a strong voice on subsistence and other Alaska Native issues. In the Capitol, Bill was known for keeping his word and putting Alaska’s interests above politics. My wife Lureen and I, and my current staff who worked for Representative Williams, are saddened by his loss.”

Editor’s note: Check back. This story will be updated with details about services and when the Alaska flag will be flown at half staff.

Couldn’t make the Valdez air show? Watch it here

The Social

Suzanne Downing

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May 12, 2019

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Now is the time to limit state spending

Columns

Suzanne Downing

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May 11, 2019

3

By KATI CAPOZZI, PRESIDENT
ALASKA STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

As Alaskans, we face these fiscally uncertain times together.

With the private sector’s success inextricably linked to how the rest of the economy fares, we must ensure that we continue to grow our businesses. After all, investment and job creation are mandatory to the state’s future success.

Yet as long as significant state budget deficits remain, economic growth is in jeopardy.

The Alaska State Chamber of Commerce represents 100,000 Alaska employees and businesses large and small. Smart spending habits and pro-business policies that grow our economy are the cornerstones of the chamber’s advocacy efforts.

As the voice of Alaska business, our membership votes every year to determine our public policy positions.

The positions naturally change with time, but one key issue has consistently remained a priority for more than 20 years, both when the state was flush with cash from high oil prices, and when it was struggling through economic recession: the need for a sustainable fiscal plan focused on Alaska’s future.

Every year, we also look outside our diverse membership to better understand Alaskans’ attitudes about the state’s much-discussed fiscal situation.

Recently, the chamber conducted its annual statewide poll — and the 2019 numbers are in. Unsurprisingly, state spending and the Permanent Fund Dividend remain the overwhelmingly dominant issues on Alaskans’ minds.

Alaskans have spoken. They want reasonable restraints on government spending and a final say in big budget decisions. Based on the data, without a doubt Alaska’s fiscal dilemma remains residents’ top concern.

Interestingly, 47 percent of Alaskans rate the state economy as good, an improvement of nine points from last year. That said, when asked in a separate question if they felt Alaska was on the “right track” or “wrong track” economically, 64 percent of Alaskans still think the state is on the wrong track.

That number is virtually unchanged from last year, indicating that Alaskans want closure on the public policy debate that has been raging in our state for nearly five years now. The good news is opportunities exist now for state leaders to stabilize and improve the health and direction of the Alaska economy.

It is clear Alaskans have paid close attention as the new governor and Legislature tackle tough issues related to budgets. We asked Alaskans where they stand on current proposals meant to fix Alaska’s budget dilemma.

The proposals of particular importance to chamber members who enjoy majority support:

• 75 percent support requiring the Legislature to obtain voter approval before a statewide tax could take effect.

• 61 percent support a constitutionally mandated state spending cap.

Other policy issues that saw majority support:

• 69 percent support a work requirement for Medicaid recipients.

• 65 percent support exploration and production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Over the remaining days of the legislative session and interim, we will share insights and meaningful trends from the 2019 polling data with partners and communities across Alaska. The data we present is pulled from one of the largest surveys conducted in the state and representative of Alaska’s unique electorate.

While Alaska continues to climb out from under a record-breaking recession, the good news is that we may have turned a corner. Especially encouraging is the revelation that many issues still unite Alaskans, even in challenging times.

While the voices that seek to divide us are loud, we look forward to people and businesses uniting around public policy that Alaskans from across the state can support. Clearly, civil conversations on the merits of the proposals on the table are a good place to start.

Kati Capozzi is president and CEO of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce.

All watered down

Anchorage Daily Planet

Suzanne Downing

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May 11, 2019

3

By THE ANCHORAGE DAILY PLANET

You have to wonder sometimes what lawmakers in Juneau possibly could be thinking.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy in February offered a tough criminal justice bill. Instead of using the opportunity to make Alaskans safer, the House Majority watered down the measure, and then rushed to pack it with amendments and other bills over a few days, before calling it good and sending it to the Senate.

Almost unbelievably, there were page upon page of amendments at the last moment and Republican testimony was limited and no time was allowed for the minority to read the majority’s changes. To its credit, the House GOP minority did not buy in and voted no.

Apparently the ‘yays’ were not paying attention during the last election when Alaskans sick of crime and the state’s revolving door criminal justice system said they wanted changes, real changes in Senate Bill 91, a measure blamed for much of the crime surge in Alaska.

Despite the problems, there are some in the Legislature who cling to SB91, now law, and are trying to salvage it because its aim was to save the state money.

House Bill 49 may or may not save money, but it does Alaskans little good.

It is just something else to remember for the next election.

http://www.anchoragedailyplanet.com

Alaskans still guarded about economy, survey shows

The 907

Suzanne Downing

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May 11, 2019

1

A Dittman Research survey done for the Alaska Chamber of Commerce shows that Alaskans are somewhat split down the middle on their views of the current state of Alaska’s economy.

Although the sentiment still falls slightly toward pessimism, there is a marked improvement in optimism over last year.

OVERALL ECONOMY

Overall, 52 percent of those asked say Alaska’s economy is not too good or pretty bad, while 47 percent think its good or very good. This is an improvement of nine points over the same survey conducted last year.

Republicans have a more positive view than Democrats have for Alaska’s economic situation, with 61 percent of GOP likely voters rating the economy as good, while just 44 percent of Democrats rate it as good.

DIRECTION THE STATE IS HEADING

Overall, 64 percent of respondents — about the same as last year — think things are still headed in the wrong direction.

On this question, Republicans are also more optimistic than Democrats. Only 16 percent of Democrats think Alaska is headed n the right direction, while 51 percent of Republicans think it is.

STATEWIDE TAX – VOTE OF THE PEOPLE

75 percent of those asked said they support a requirement that any statewide tax be approved by a vote of the people. This is one of Gov. Michael Dunleavy’s constitutional amendment proposals and it has strong support, according to this survey.

CONSTITUTIONAL SPENDING CAP

61 percent support a constitutional spending cap. That proposal is the third one Dunleavy has asked the Legislature to send to the voters for their decision.

CHAMBER PRIORITIES – SOLID FISCALS

*Kati Capozzi, President, Alaska Chamber of Commerce*

Alaska Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kati Capozzi said Alaskans have spoken: “They want reasonable restraints on government spending and a final say in big budget decisions. Based on the data, without a doubt Alaska’s fiscal dilemma remains residents’ top concern.”

[Read: Chamber President says it’s time to rein in spending.]

Advocating for a sustainable fiscal plan has been a priority of the Chamber for more than 20 years, she added.

PFD ENSHRINED IN CONSTITUTION

54 percent say they think the Permanent Fund Dividend payment should be guaranteed by the Alaska Constitution.

This, too, is one of Dunleavy’s proposed constitutional amendments and voters support it by close to the same percentage as swept him into office. Dunleavy won by 51.4 percent in November over Mark Begich, the Democrat.

PFD TO PAY FOR GOVERNMENT

When asked if they support using some of their Permanent Fund dividend to pay for government, 46 percent support it and 53 percent oppose it.

MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS

On the question of Medicaid work requirements for some who receive health insurance through the federal-state program, 69 percent say they support requiring low-income, able-bodies adults without young children to get a job in order to qualify. That is down from 77 percent just a year ago.

Republicans support that proposal more than Democrats: 83 percent of the Republicans queried responded that they somewhat or strongly support a Medicaid work mandate for those who are able.

NATURAL GAS PIPELINE

Alaskans are less optimistic about a natural gas pipeline, with 57 percent saying the gasline won’t be built in the foreseeable future. Those who were most skeptical of the gasline identified as nonpartisans or undeclared voters, with over 60 percent of those saying it’s not likely to be built anytime soon.

ANWR EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION

65 percent of respondents somewhat support or strongly support exploration and production of oil and gas in a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This is a drop from the highest support for ANWR drilling, 75 percent in 2002. It is also the lowest number tracked by the group since 1990, when 72 percent of Alaskans supported drilling in ANWR.

METHODOLOGY

The survey sampled 705 likely voters, 60 percent landline and 40 percent cell phone. The margin of error is considered 3.69 percent.

Dittman Research has correctly predicted the outcome of every election for governor and U.S. Senate in Alaska for the last 50 years. The firm is ranked in the top 10 nationally out of 300+ polling firms for “Races Called Correctly” by Nate Silver’s 538 Pollster Ratings, scoring 100% ‘Correct Calls’ with nine elections evaluated.

The entire slide deck of the survey can be studied at the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce.

REAL ID Alaska: Here’s how to do it like a pro

Suzanne Downing

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May 11, 2019

22

REAL ID Alaska: Here’s how to do it like a pro

TALES FROM THE DMV

500 days. That’s how many days are left before all Americans boarding a commercial aircraft, or accessing a federal facility such as a military base, will need to show a form of REAL ID. If you’re leaving Alaska in September of 2020, and intending to come back after Oct. 1, you’ll need a REAL ID of some sort to get on a jet.

But because of State of Alaska working days, you only have about 352 days until you must have your paperwork in order.

REAL ID is generally a U.S. passport or a state-issued driver’s license or identity card that has a few more bells and whistles. Military ID and some Native IDs are REAL ID compliant.

The State of Alaska began in January issuing these souped-up drivers licenses with a star in the top righthand corner.

This author went through the process last week and can report that it’s not that bad. Here are the Pro-tips:

At the Benson Blvd Department of Motor Vehicles, Tuesday morning seemed safe enough. I arrived when the offices opened at 9 am only to find a line trailed out the door.

Once inside, a helpful DMV employee asked me what I needed, and then handed me the form to fill out for a REAL ID. I pulled a number from the take-a-number machine and found a seat. The helpful DMV lady brought me a clipboard.

The worst part of the experience was gathering all my documents. Go through the online checklist here to be sure you have the right docs.

The best part was the workforce at DMV — they are amazingly customer friendly and considerate. This has been my experience every time I’ve dealt with them.

I had brought with me all the documents: A Social Security Card, a valid passport, and two recent pieces of mail to my home address that had an actual cancellation stamp on it to show it was less than 90 days old. I suggest a power bill, if you are getting them at your home address. I brought a few more items of mail just to be safe — official mail from the federal government and a letter from my mom seemed a safe bet. I brought a Voter ID card with my address. My birth certificate. My membership at the state-owned Rabbit Creek Shooting Park. My Acai Alaska punch card.

OK, I overdid it on the document front, but that’s what I recommend. There’s no sense in waiting for 20 minutes and then having to return another day because you don’t have the required proof of who you are.

The toughest part was the wait. It is 20 minutes of your life you’ll never get back, but as time passes, that Oct. 1 deadline is going to make the lines just longer, and ratchet up the urgency of getting it done. And, the people watching is epic. Check the waiting times and web cams here before you go.

They’ll take your photo again, so run a comb through your hair. And no smiling with your teeth showing. That’s not allowed anymore. The no-grin rule messes with the facial recognition software in use around the country.

They’ll also check your eyesight, but you don’t have to take another driving test.

That was it. It took about an hour altogether.

I left with … a photocopy of my new license, and a punch through my old license. The new license is supposed to arrive by mail from Fort Wayne, Indiana. This central issuance of REAL ID feels a lot like a federal ID program, which makes some strict constitutionalists very uncomfortable. But, as with a passport, they are not handing these things out over the counter. They’re mailed from a secure facility and arrive about two weeks after you’ve gone through the process.

The temporary paper license is valid for 60 days and has a barcode on it and the pertinent information. You’ll want to keep your punched license with you. But if you travel a lot, like I do, this is an extra consideration; you’ll want to keep your passport handy until your license arrives. You can check the status of the whereabouts of your REAL ID here.

What if you live in a community that doesn’t have a DMV? You’re up a creek without a paddle. Go to the DMV website for help for rural areas of the state, or be smart and plan your trips to town around this task.

Oct. 1, 2020 is the drop-dead date for getting your REAL ID house in order. As the date gets closer, you’ll hear TSA agents say things like, “Oh look, how quaint, an Alaska driver’s license with no REAL ID star. That is so cute.” Don’t wait until Oct. 1 for “cute” to become “no flying for you today.”

The Alaska REAL ID is not mandatory if you don’t fly or need to get into a nuclear power plant or military base, but if you want one it will cost your $40, double what a standard driver’s license costs. It’s $120 for a commercial license REAL ID. If you’re just getting a State ID with no driver’s license, it’s $35.

Crime bill strengthened in Senate

‘Shameful narrative’ about Native students disputed by think tank

MRAK Almanac: Game of Thrones edition

Bill Williams: May 21, 1943 – May 12, 2019

Now is the time to limit state spending

All watered down

Alaskans still guarded about economy, survey shows

REAL ID Alaska: Here’s how to do it like a pro

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