"Demo Memo" - A weekly report from your Democratic legislators in Juneau working for an Alaska that is safer, healthier, smarter, and richer.

Please join Senator Johnny Ellis and special guest Senator Kim Elton this Friday, March 24th at 4:30 pm for the "Demo Memo" on KUDO radio 1080 AM. This is a weekly segment on The Aaron Selbig Show, KUDO 1080's local progressive voice, a chance for Senator Ellis and a special guest to do the week in review...what happened in Juneau, what's going on next week, what bills are moving and so on. The Demo Memo is only broadcast in Anchorage at this point, but we hope it will be available statewide soon.

Senator Elton publishes a widely read newsletter every week during session called Off the record. Find a subscription form and back issues at elton.akdemocrats.org

   French's Public Safety Bill Passes Senate

Senate Bill 249, sponsored by Senator Hollis French (D-Anchorage), will assist law enforcement officials in enforcing bail conditions.

Law enforcement in a state the size of Alaska presents numerous challenges. One way to overcome those challenges is to efficiently share public safety information that is available in agencies and departments that are not "talking" to one another.

One important piece of information that is not being shared now is bail conditions. Bail conditions set by a judge can prohibit a wide range of activities that are otherwise lawful. For example, a judge can issue bail conditions that prohibit the defendant from driving a car, consuming alcohol, or simply being near a certain person or physical location.

Unfortunately, there is no provision in Alaska law that requires bail conditions be listed in the Alaska Public Safety Information Network, or APSIN. Thus, our police officers and troopers have no practical way of knowing whether any person with whom they come into contact is or is not obeying their conditions of bail.

SB 249 is designed to close this gap and to provide another important tool to law enforcement.

Senate Bill 249 now goes to the House.

Gruenberg and Gardner Bill to Protect Motorists Passes House

House Bill 12, sponsored by Representatives Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage), Berta Gardner (D-Anchorage), Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage) and Bob Lynn (R-Anchorage), will make it illegal for operators of motor vehicles from watching television, video, and any other programming by making it a crime. It also makes it a crime to install a device capable of being viewed while the vehicle is in operation.

House Bill 12 now goes to the Senate.

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