April 12, 2008
Saturday

(SitNews) - Friday the Alaska House of Representatives uinanimously passed the 2008 Omnibus Crime Bill (SB 265). This year's sweeping package of public safety measures makes a number of sound changes to the state's criminal code. It is sponsored by Sen. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage.

"This omnibus bill was a really efficient way to bring together all the good public safety bills that legislators were working on this session," said Senator McGuire. "I appreciate that my bill was selected to bring them together into one package. This legislation goes a long way to helping law enforcement and the judicial systems make our neighborhoods and families even safer."

The Omnibus Crime Bill was created when the House Finance Committee rolled several crime bills into Senator McGuire's bill that prevents convicted sex offenders from getting a Permanent Fund Dividend if they fail to keep their information current on the state Sex Offender Registry.

Here are some highlights:

Bars convicted sex offenders from receiving a PFD if they are out of compliance with the state Sex Offender Registry

• Makes a third offense for bootlegging in 15 years a class C felony
• Requires pawnshops located in cities with a population above 5,000 to keep electronic records of all transactions to help law enforcement track down stolen property
• Allows the state to pursue court ordered restitution from anyone convicted of unlawfully taking game
• Requires computer technicians to report any child pornography found on a computer to law enforcement

SB 265 also includes funding for a special investigator, prosecutor, and computer technician to address the growing problem of internet sex crimes in Alaska. Over 1400 computers have been identified in the state as containing child pornography and in 2007 there was over 10,000 internet transactions in Alaska involving images of child pornography.

SB 265 moves back to the Senate for concurrence where approval of changes made by the House is expected.

Source of News:

Alaska Senate Bipartisan Working Group

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