As part of Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson’s Turning Pain Into Progress bill packet, Governor Mike Dunleavy recently signed into law one of those bills, which requires the Department of Public Safety to publish certain policies and procedures online.
Earlier this year, Sen. Gray-Jackson spoke on Senate Bill 7:
“Although the Department is currently publishing the information on the website, new leadership could determine that this information would no longer be provided. Having a requirement in state statute provides perpetuity and is simply good public policy. SB 7 also restricts publication of confidential techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecution and any guidelines that could risk circumvention of the law.”
Sen. Gray-Jackson said this is the first bill of her public safety packet to make it to the Senate floor for a vote:
“My TPIP packet, Turning Pain Into Progress, was drafted to provide public safety changes that would benefit the citizens of Alaska and also our law enforcement officers. I look forward to movement on the remaining five bills at the end of this session and I thank all of you for your support of Senate Bill 7.”
SB 7 had stakeholder input from public safety agencies throughout the state, including the Anchorage Police Department, Anchorage Police Employees Association, Public Safety Employees Association, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. Her TPIP reform package is derived from the National 8 Can’t Wait campaign.
Transcribed audio courtesy of KTOO 360TV.