Senate judiciary panel reports bill to change number of superior court judges out of committee

The Alaska State Senate Judiciary Committee reported Senate Bill 212 out of committee by unanimous consent on Wednesday, Sen. Klayman said.

Senate Bill 212, which would change the number of superior court judges, was the only item on the committee’s Feb. 18 agenda. Senator Kiel moved that the committee report the measure "Senate Bill 212, which is work order 34-LS131-3/a, out of committee with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal notes." Senator Klayman said, "Hearing no objections, Senate Bill 212 has moved from committee." The motion carried without a recorded roll-call vote.

The bill was before the panel for a second hearing. Senator Klayman told members that an amendment deadline of Feb. 2 had been set during the first hearing and that no amendments were received by that deadline. The motion to report the bill included attached fiscal notes; committee staff were asked to remain after adjournment to complete paperwork.

The committee adjourned at 1:31 p.m. and scheduled its next meeting for Friday, Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m., when it will hear a presentation on recommendations to reduce the overrepresentation of Alaska Native people in the criminal justice system, a product of House Bill 66 (2024).