Many Alaskans have railed recently against rising crime and the 2016 criminal justice reform bill, SB91. I, too, am very concerned about the increase in crime—especially the violent variety, but also property violations—and I’ll be voting in this month’s special session to do something about it.
There has been a lot of discussion about rising crime rates and criminal justice reform as enacted in SB91. There is no arguing that crime rates are rising in Alaska- according to the Alaska Justice Center they have been rising since 2014. My heart goes out to those who have been hurt as a result—it’s terrible to have your home or property violated.
Anchorage – Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon (D-Dillingham) issued the following statement in response to Governor Walker’s proclamation calling the 30th Alaska State Legislature into a 4th Special Session next month. The Governor is asking lawmakers to consider criminal justice reform legislation and a bill to create new revenue for the State of Alaska.
Today, the Governor announced a special session that will begin on October 23rd. It will focus on revenue and criminal justice reform. Though seemingly unrelated, the recent rise of criminal activity in Alaska is a direct consequence of the fiscal crisis.
Anchorage – Members of the Alaska House Majority Coalition today reacted to Alaska Governor Bill Walker’s press conference announcing his intention to include criminal justice legislation on the call for the October special session (which had previously been dedicated to finding new revenue).
Alaska’s $2.7 billion annual budget deficit will shrink if legislators raise new revenues during a special session likely to begin in Juneau next month. Governor Walker and the House Majority want to close or substantially diminish our budget gap this year, so we expect an official proclamation any day now that will call the legislature into a fourth special session beginning October 23.
Juneau – Today, the Alaska Legislature continued ongoing criminal justice reform efforts by passing a bill containing vital improvements and clarifications to recent statutes. Senate Bill 55, carried in the House by Representative Matt Claman (D-Anchorage), is the next step in a process that began four years ago during the Parnell administration when Alaska began actively reevaluating the way we handle crime.
Juneau – Tonight, the Alaska House of Representatives rejected changes made by the State Senate to a key piece of pending legislation to reform Alaska’s flawed system of subsidizing the oil and gas industry with tax credits. The State Senate significantly weakened House Bill 111, which passed the House last month.
