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Alaska State Legislature House and Senate Democrats |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE · May 20, 2003 |
Davis Protects Children from Records Tampering
Putting Alaskans First, Moving Alaska Forward 2003
JUNEAU – The House of Representatives today unanimously passed Senate Bill 8, an act that amends the laws that prohibit tampering with public records to include protections for children in state care. Sponsored by Senator Bettye Davis (D-Anchorage), SB8 is designed as a disincentive to those who would falsify these records. “Accurate and honest record keeping are of paramount importance to the state in the decisions that must be made for our most vulnerable citizens,” said Senator Davis. “The fact that these individuals are already in the care or custody of the state suggests that they must be handled with extra care. This bill ensures all records dealing with their care are maintained with the highest standard of integrity.” This issue took on national meaning in light of the case of 5-year-old Rilya Wilson, the Miami girl who disappeared while in the care of the state of Florida. In that tragic case, people tampered with records with the intent to conceal a fact material to an investigation. SB8 corrects that type of problem. The tampering of public records at any time is illegal and can create problems and set in motion a series of unintended consequences. However when the tampering involves the records of a child under the age of 18 or vulnerable adults in the care or custody of the state those consequences can be grave. SB8 had already passed the Senate and so now heads to the Governor for signature.
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 http://www.akdemocrats.org/Documents/052003_Davis_Protects_Children_from_Records_Tampering.pdf · Additional information: SB8 Senator Bettye Davis |
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