Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy recently signed into law three bills which focus on increasing public safety for all Alaskans. The three pieces of legislation bolster the state’s public safety laws and hold culprits accountable for their actions.
The pieces of legislation includes House Bill 106, which aligns state law with federal requirements regarding missing persons under the age of 21; House Bill 325, which updates the state’s domestic violence statutes, the definition of consent, and better protecting victims of crime; and Senate Bill 7, which requires the Department of Public Safety to publish policies and procedures related to the conduct of peace officers.
With the enactment of HB 106, missing persons cases under 21 will be met with expediency as recent federal law changes require law enforcement agencies to transmit missing persons reports under the age of 21 into the National Crime Information Center no more than two hours after a person has been reported missing.
House Bill 325 modernizes domestic violence statutes with language relating to revenge porn, and defines consent as ‘a freely given, reversible agreement specific to the conduct at issue by a competent person.’ The bill also ensures timely testing of rape kits in six months as opposed to one year; requires individuals seeking a name change to notify the courts about criminal charges, and parole, probation, or sex offender status; and permanently revokes teaching certificates from individuals who possess or distribute child pornography.
Senate Bill 7 ensures transparency between peace officers. It also requires the Department of Public Safety to publish policies and procedures on the department’s website.
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