The Alaska House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved a bill relaxing the requirements for assault arrests in hospitals and clinics.
If signed into law, House Bill 312 allows police to arrest perpetrators of fourth-degree assault without a warrant if the assault takes place in a hospital or other health care facility. The bill also has a section that allows prosecutors to pursue tougher penalties for felony assault if the victim of the assault was a health care worker.
HB 312 passed the House 31-1 on Friday and now advances to the Senate. The sole “no” vote came from Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla.
Its lead sponsor is Rep. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, and it had support from minority members of the House as well.
Ivory support
In a 16-0 vote Friday morning, members of the Alaska Senate approved a resolution calling on the U.S. Congress to pass a bill exempting walrus, mastodon and mammoth ivory from federal restrictions on the possession and use of ivory.
Those restrictions are intended to target elephant ivory and elephant poaching but would have a detrimental impact on Alaska-made goods that incorporate ivory from animals that are not endangered or threatened.
Senate Joint Resolution 4 now advances to the House for consideration.
• Contact reporter James Brooks at james.k.brooks@juneauempire.com or call 523-2258.
