House Bill 312 Gives Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and Judges Necessary Tools
Juneau – Today, Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed legislation sponsored by Representative Matt Claman (D-Anchorage) to improve public safety, provide safer neighborhoods for Alaska’s families, and protect the state’s medical professionals.
“House Bill 312 passed by near-unanimous votes: 19-0 in the Senate and 31-1 in the House. The vote shows the Legislature’s recognition that justice reform is working. We rejected arguments to repeal and replace past legislation and favored balanced monitoring and review focused on improving public safety,” said Rep. Claman.
House Bill 312 accomplishes the following:
- Ensures consideration of a defendant’s out-of-state criminal history in pre-trial release decisions;
- Strengthens the pre-trial release assessment for those charged with vehicle theft and other felonies;
- Gives Alaska’s Attorney General the authority to criminalize dangerous new controlled substances;
- Increases surcharges imposed for felonies, misdemeanors, and violations and puts the increased revenue into public safety funding; and
- Provides much-needed tools to help police and prosecutors reduce crimes against our medical professionals.
“Taking positive steps and working to improve public safety for Alaska remains a top priority. Listening to the public, practitioners, and the Departments of Law and Public Safety, I sponsored House Bill 312 to give practitioners, judges, and law enforcement the tools they need to address the greatest public safety needs in Governor Walker’s Public Safety Action Plan,” said Rep. Claman.
For more information, please contact Lizzie Kubitz in Rep. Claman’s office at (907) 465-4904.
For more information, please contact Lizzie Kubitz in Rep. Claman’s office at (907) 465-4904.
Mike Mason
Press Secretary, Alaska House Majority Coalition
Phone: (907) 444-0889
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