Criminal Justice (Policing)

HB 250 makes it a class B misdemeanor for peace officers in Alaska to wear masks covering their face during public interactions while performing official duties, unless specific exceptions apply. These exceptions include undercover assignments, wearing face shields designed for protection, medical masks with a physician's certification, or masks for smoke exposure. The law directly affects police officers, sheriffs, and other peace officers who interact with the public in their official roles. It takes effect immediately upon enactment and does not apply to the exceptions listed in the bill text.

HB 64 in Alaska creates a legal process for parents to safely surrender newborns without facing criminal charges or future parental obligations. It allows parents to hand infants to authorized personnel (like hospital staff, police, or emergency medical workers) or place them in designated infant safety devices at approved locations (such as hospitals, fire stations, or clinics). Facilities receiving surrendered infants must immediately notify child welfare services, and parents lose all legal duty to support the child after a safe surrender. The bill also protects facilities from liability if they follow these procedures, and requires safety devices to be visible, climate-controlled, and clearly marked.

SB 42 requires state and municipal police officers, probation officers, parole officers, pretrial services officers, and correctional officers (both state and municipal) to report use-of-force incidents to supervisors immediately. It creates a central database tracking officers with denied or revoked certifications, including the reasons for denial/revocation, and mandates annual reports to the legislature about this data. The bill also expands standards to cover municipal correctional employees and updates definitions for terms like "use of force" (including firearm discharges or injuries causing fatality/serious harm). These changes directly affect all law enforcement and correctional personnel in Alaska who interact with the public. The bill aims to improve transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices.

SB 7 prohibits Alaska peace officers from using any restraint that blocks breathing or blood circulation (like carotid restraints or tracheal chokes) unless deadly force is legally authorized. It directly affects police officers by restricting specific chokehold techniques during arrests. The bill adds this restriction to existing use-of-force laws, clarifying that such restraints are only permitted when deadly force is already justified under the law. This change aims to prevent injuries or deaths caused by breathing-impaired restraints during police encounters.