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Senator Hollis French's Bill to Increase Penalties for Repeat Sex Offenders Passes State Affairs

Senator Hollis French's Senate Bill 85 to on repeat sex offenders passed out of the Senate State Affairs Committee yesterday with unanimous bipartisan support. Senate Bill 85 has two purposes: first, to increase the penalties for repeat sex offenders and, second, to reduce the rate at which repeat sex offenders earn “good time” while incarcerated.

Alaska has long had one of the highest rates of reported rapes per capita in the nation, ranking first among all states for 19 of the last 26 years, including 2001. It is time to do something about this and to provide additional protection for Alaska’s women and children, the most frequent victims of sexual crimes. SB 85 addresses this issue by focusing on the worst of the worst - repeat sexual offenders, those who have been convicted of a sex offense and subsequently commit another sexual crime. SB 85 aims to increase the penalties for repeat sex offenders. It also would make repeat sex offenders ineligible for the one-third “good time” reduction in prison sentences that most offenders can earn.

Senate Bill 85 now moves to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Upcoming:

Operating Budget in Senate Finance-
The Senate Finance Committee will begin hearing the operating budget next week. Testimony will be allowed on Tuesday and Wednesday. A complete schedule and talking points will be in the e-news on Monday, April 14.

Gara and Kapsner's Pro-Education Bills in House Education Committee-
Representative Gara's House Bill 220 to increase education funding is scheduled next Wednesday, April 16 at 7:00 am.

Representative Kapsner's House Bill 222 to adjust the foundation formula for inflation is scheduled next Wednesday, April 16 at 7:00 am.