Bill would move Alaska's controlled substance advisory committee out of Department of Law; committee hears staffing concerns

Senate Bill 233, presented Feb. 23 by Sen. Matt Klayman, seeks to move the Controlled Substance Advisory Committee (CSAC) from the Department of Law to the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. Klayman told the committee CSAC evaluates when to add, delete, or reschedule substances under Alaska law, and he said the Department of Law requested reassignment because it cannot prioritize committee staffing alongside its trial and prosecution work.

"The Department of Law has requested that the committee be reassigned because they are unable to prioritize it," Klayman said, describing CSAC as a public‑safety service that needs regular staffing. Klayman also said CSAC recently recommended that the active ingredients in kratom be scheduled as a Class 2A controlled substance.

Deputy Attorney General Angie Kemp, Criminal Division, told the committee that the attorney assigned to staff CSAC carries a full caseload in the Office of Special Prosecutions and that the division lacks dedicated resources to staff the committee. Kemp said Law is "more reactive" in its work and may not be best positioned to staff CSAC; she offered to follow up on whether a dedicated line item or other funding exists and could transfer if the committee approves reassignment.

Sen. Grama Jackson asked specifically whether the Department of Law has a line item funding this committee; Kemp said she would get that information and report back. No formal action was taken; SB 233 was set aside for future consideration.