Alaska State Legislature Resolution

Alaska State Resolution
Passed Unanimously in the Senate on May 20, 2003
Passed in the House 37-1 on May 21, 2003

HJR022D  -1-  SCS CSHJR 22(JUD)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]  
 
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 22(JUD)
 
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
 
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION
 
BY THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
 
Offered:  5/17/03
Referred:  Rules 
 
Sponsor(s):  REPRESENTATIVES GUTTENBERG, Coghill, Crawford, Kerttula, Holm, McGuire, Ogg,
Samuels, Gara, Gruenberg
 
SENATORS Ellis, Elton, French, Lincoln, Wagoner, Gary Stevens, Dyson, Seekins, Taylor, Guess, Therriault,
Ogan, Davis, Cowdery 
A RESOLUTION
 
Relating to the USA PATRIOT Act, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution of the State of  Alaska, and the civil liberties, peace, and security of the citizens of our country. 
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 
WHEREAS  the  State  of  Alaska  recognizes  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  as  our charter of liberty, and that the Bill of Rights enshrines the fundamental and inalienable rights of Americans, including the freedoms of religion, speech, assembly, and privacy; and  

WHEREAS each of Alaska's duly elected public servants has sworn to  defend  and  uphold the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Alaska; and 

WHEREAS the State of Alaska denounces  and condemns all acts of terrorism,  wherever occurring; and 

WHEREAS attacks against Americans such as those that occurred on September 11,  2001, have necessitated the crafting of effective laws to protect the public from terrorist attacks; and 

WHEREAS any new security measures of federal, state, and local  governments  should be carefully designed and employed to enhance public safety without infringing on the civil liberties and rights of innocent citizens of the State of Alaska and the nation; and 

WHEREAS  certain  provisions  of  the  "Uniting  and  Strengthening  America  by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001", also known as the USA PATRIOT Act, allow the federal government more liberally to detain and investigate citizens and engage in surveillance activities that may violate or offend the rights and liberties guaranteed by our state and federal constitutions;  

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the government of the United States of America in its campaign against terrorism, and affirms its commitment that the campaign not be waged at the expense of essential civil rights and liberties of citizens of this country contained in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights; and be it 

FURTHER RESOLVED that it is the policy  of the State of Alaska to  oppose any portion of the USA  PATRIOT Act that would  violate the rights and liberties guaranteed equally under the state and federal constitutions; and be it 

FURTHER RESOLVED that, in accordance with Alaska state policy, an agency or instrumentality  of  the  State  of  Alaska,  in  the  absence  of  reasonable  suspicion  of  criminal  activity under Alaska State law, may not 

(1)  initiate, participate in, or assist or cooperate with an inquiry, investigation,  surveillance, or detention; 

(2)    record,  file,  or  share  intelligence  information  concerning  a  person  or  organization, including library lending and research records, book and video store sales and rental records, medical records, financial records, student records,  and other personal data,  even if authorized under the USA PATRIOT Act; 

(3)    retain  such  intelligence  information;  the  state  Attorney  General  shall  review  the  intelligence  information  currently  held  by  the  state  for  its  legality  and  appropriateness under the United States and Alaska Constitutions and permanently dispose of  it if there is no reasonable suspicion of criminal activity; and be it 

FURTHER RESOLVED that an agency or instrumentality of the state may not, 

(1)    use  state  resources  or  institutions  for  the  enforcement  of  federal 
immigration matters, which are the responsibility of the federal government; 

(2)  collect or maintain information about the  political, religious, or social views, associations, or activities of any individual, group,  association, organization,  corporation, business,  or partnership, unless the information directly relates to an investigation of criminal activities and there are reasonable grounds to suspect the subject of the information is or may be involved in criminal conduct; 

(3)  engage in racial profiling; law enforcement agencies may not use race, religion, ethnicity, or  national origin as factors in selecting individuals to subject to  investigatory  activities  except  when  seeking  to  apprehend  a  specific  suspect  whose  race,  religion, ethnicity, or national origin is part of the description of the suspect; and be it; 

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature implores the United States Congress to correct provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act and other measures that infringe on civil liberties, and opposes any  pending  and future federal legislation to the  extent that it infringes on Americans' civil rights and liberties. 

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable John Ashcroft, Attorney General of the United States; the Honorable Frank Murkowski, Governor of Alaska; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable  Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.