The Consolidated Crime Bill

Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

May 8, 2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

There is one week to go in the Legislative session. Last week, The Senate Judiciary Committee moved the consolidated crime bill, HB 66. The bill includes important pieces of legislation addressing public safety, victim's rights, and criminal justice.

And please remember to vote in the municipal runoff election by Tuesday, May 14!

Consolidated Crime Legislation

Watch this week's video update

Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee moved out the consolidated crime bill, House Bill 66. With one week left in session, we’re working to get the important crime measures across the finish line. The crime bill takes important steps:

It increases the penalty for distributing fentanyl or methamphetamine that directly results in death. It will increase the crime from manslaughter to second degree murder. This provision was part of the original bill that the governor's office introduced.
It makes the records of individuals who were convicted of minor marijuana offenses confidential, so long as they were 21 or older at the time of the offense. (HB 28 by Rep. Stanley Wright)
It closes a gap between our criminal justice system and our behavioral health system when a person is incompetent to stand trial and should be committed to the Alaska Psychiatric Institute. Our office originally introduced this legislation as SB 53.
It ensures that out-of-state sex offenders who move to Alaska must register in Alaska (SB 65 by the governor)
It changes the term "child pornography" to "child sexual abuse material." (HB 265 by Rep. Sarah Vance)
It strengthens the restitution statute to better protect victims of crime. (HB 286 by Rep. Julie Coulombe)
And it establishes the crime of assault in the presence of a child as a class A misdemeanor (HB 11 by Rep. Andy Josephson)
And it allows grand juries to consider hearsay evidence just like grand juries in federal court and thirty-seven other states. (SB 65 by the governor)

House Bill 66 contains bipartisan legislation by different legislators in the House and Senate. The bill makes important progress to improve public safety and make wise use of our public safety resources.

Anchorage Mayoral Runoff Election

Please remember to vote in the Anchorage Mayoral Runoff! Candidates Suzanne LaFrance and Dave Bronson advanced from the general election. If you voted by mail in the Anchorage Municipal General Election, you should receive your runoff ballot at the same address. Ballots are due by Tuesday, May 14th.

If you will be traveling during the election, you can also vote by email. All three Anchorage vote centers will also be open for in-person voting starting May 7th: City Hall, Loussac Library, and Eagle River Town Center.

For a map of ballot dropboxes and in-person vote centers, please visit this page.

For questions about the Anchorage runoff election, please visit the Anchorage Municipal Elections page.

Workplace Violence Protection Order Legislation Passes the Senate

Last week, legislation to establish workplace violence protection orders, Senate Bill 28, passed the Senate. When individuals make credible threats of violence against an employer’s worksite or an employee, the employer would need to file a civil lawsuit and ask for a temporary restraining order to protect the business. It can take several days and costs thousands of dollars to complete and obtain a temporary restraining order. In contrast, people seeking a domestic violence restraining order can usually get the court order within one day. Senate Bill 28, modeled after Alaska’s domestic violence protective order process, allows an employer to file a petition for a workplace violence protective order against an individual that a judge determines could commit an act of violence at the employer’s workplace.

Community Events:

Food for Thought Work Session

When: May 10, 11 a.m. to 2:15 p.m

Where: 632 W 6th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501

Alcohol Tax Strategic Plan Update and Planning Session with Agnew Beck, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. After it was approved by voters in 2020, investments from the Alcohol Tax are making a difference in Anchorage. Going forward, the Municipality is creating a plan for how to intentionally spend revenue from the tax. The plan will serve as guiding document for each year’s Alcohol Tax funding allocations; ensure community input, transparency, and efficient use of the funds; and guide current and future policymakers to achieve longer-term goals and shift more funding upstream as immediate issues are addressed. This worksession will dig into the details of the draft strategic plan. Assembly Member Sponsors: Brawley, Bronga, and Volland.

Anchorage Child Care and Early Education (ACCEE) Fund, 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. With the passage of Proposition 14 in April 2023, Anchorage made a significant and lasting commitment to investing in child care and early education through a new dedicated marijuana tax. For the past year, a team has been hard at work to implement the Anchorage Child Care and Early Education (ACCEE) Fund, aiming to develop a system that meets immediate child care and early education needs in our community while also building a more sustainable system for years to come. Friday’s worksession will provide an update on the work of the ACCEE Fund Implementation Team and highlight next steps in the process. Assembly Member Sponsors: Brawley and Perez-Verdia.

Spenardagain Neighborhood Cleanup

When: May 11, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Where: RMG Real Estate, 1900 West Benson Boulevard Anchorage, AK 99517

Welcome to the Spenardagain Neighborhood Clean Up! Join RMG Real Estate for a day of community service and fun. Let's work together to keep our neighborhood clean and beautiful. There will be dumpsters for trash drop off, recycling bins, and more!

Whether you're a long-time resident or new to the area, everyone is welcome to participate. Bring your friends, family, or even your furry companions to help out. Let's show our neighborhood some love! Together, we can make a positive impact and create a cleaner environment for all. For more information, visit the event page.

Sand Lake Community Council

When: Monday, May 13th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Where: In person at the Sand Lake Elementary School Library (7500 Jewel Lake Rd). Click here for details.