HB 66 Summary

• Establishes new crimes and penalties including assault in the presence of a child (class A misdemeanor), patron of a victim of sex trafficking (class B-C felony), and homicide from controlled substance delivery with affirmative defense options for good faith medical assistance.

• Changes terminology from "child pornography" to "child sexual abuse material" throughout statutes and enhances sentencing guidelines for sexual offenses, distribution of child sexual abuse material, and sex trafficking crimes.

• Expands sex offender registration requirements to include employment information, temporary lodging notices for absences of 7+ days, and advance notice (21 days) for international travel.

• Creates new procedures for involuntary civil commitment of defendants found incompetent to stand trial, including 180-day and up to two-year commitment periods with victim notification rights in dismissed criminal cases.

• Modifies grand jury evidence rules to allow hearsay evidence in certain circumstances and mandates a study on reasons Alaska Natives comprise 40% of the prison population despite being 14% of the general population.