00 HOUSE BILL NO. 16 01 "An Act relating to training regarding disabilities for police officers, probation officers, 02 parole officers, correctional officers, and village public safety officers; relating to 03 guidelines for drivers when encountering or being stopped by a peace officer; relating to 04 driver's license examinations; and relating to a voluntary disability designation on a 05 state identification card and a driver's license." 06 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 07  * Section 1. AS 18.65.220 is amended to read: 08 Sec. 18.65.220. Powers. The council has the power to  09 (1) adopt regulations for the administration of AS 18.65.130 - 10 18.65.290; 11 (2) establish minimum standards for employment as a police officer, 12 probation officer, parole officer, municipal correctional officer, and correctional 13 officer in a permanent or probationary position and certify persons to be qualified as 01 police officers, probation officers, parole officers, municipal correctional officers, and 02 correctional officers under AS 18.65.130 - 18.65.290; 03 (3) establish minimum criminal justice curriculum requirements for 04 basic, specialized, and in-service courses and programs for schools operated by or for 05 the state or a political subdivision of the state for the specific purpose of training 06 police recruits, police officers, probation officers, parole officers, municipal 07 correctional officers, and correctional officers; the curriculum requirements  08 established under this paragraph must include training in  09 (A) recognizing people with disabilities;  10 (B) appropriate interactions with persons with disabilities;  11 (C) resources available to persons with disabilities and to  12 those interacting with persons with disabilities; and  13 (D) the requirements of Title II of the Americans with  14 Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. 12131 - 12165; 15 (4) consult and cooperate with municipalities, agencies of the state, 16 other governmental agencies, universities, colleges, and other institutions concerning 17 the development of police officer, probation officer, parole officer, municipal 18 correctional officer, and correctional officer training schools and programs of criminal 19 justice instruction; 20 (5) employ an administrator and other persons necessary to carry out 21 its duties under AS 18.65.130 - 18.65.290; 22 (6) investigate when there is reason to believe that a police officer, 23 probation officer, parole officer, municipal correctional officer, or correctional officer 24 does not meet the minimum standards for employment; in connection with the 25 investigation the council may subpoena persons, books, records, or documents related 26 to the investigation and require answers in writing under oath to questions asked by 27 the council or the administrator; 28 (7) charge and collect a fee of $50 for processing applications for 29 certification of police, probation, parole, municipal correctional, and correctional 30 officers. 31  * Sec. 2. AS 18.65.310 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 01 (m) The department shall provide a method for a person to designate 02 voluntarily on an identification card that the person has a disability, including a 03 cognitive, mental, neurological, or physical disability, or a combination of them. The 04 department shall create a discreet symbol to place on the identification card of a 05 person requesting the designation. The method must provide a means by which the 06 person may cancel the designation. The department may not charge a fee solely for the 07 designation. To receive the designation, the person shall provide proof of the disability 08 from a person licensed as a physician or physician assistant under AS 08.64, as an 09 advanced nurse practitioner under AS 08.68, or as a licensed psychologist under 10 AS 08.86. Notwithstanding (a) of this section, the department may charge a fee of $5 11 for replacement of a valid identification card with a new identification card with a 12 disability designation and may charge a fee of $5 for replacement of an identification 13 card with a disability designation with a new identification card without a disability 14 designation. 15  * Sec. 3. AS 18.65.670(c) is amended to read: 16 (c) The commissioner of public safety may adopt regulations related to village 17 public safety officers, including minimum standards and training, criteria for 18 community, municipality, or corporation participation, and the interaction between the 19 Department of Public Safety and village public safety officers. Regulations adopted by 20 the commissioner of public safety under this subsection may not prohibit village 21 public safety officers who otherwise meet minimum standards and training from 22 carrying firearms. If the commissioner of public safety adopts regulations  23 regarding training for village public safety officers, at a minimum, that training  24 must include disability training that provides training in the subjects set out in  25 AS 18.65.220(3). The commissioner of corrections may adopt regulations related to 26 the functions of village public safety officers providing probation and parole 27 supervision. 28  * Sec. 4. AS 28.05.011 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 29 (c) If the department publishes a manual related to the safe and lawful 30 operation of a motor vehicle, the manual must include the duties and responsibilities 31 of drivers when encountering or being stopped by a peace officer. 01  * Sec. 5. AS 28.15.081(a) is amended to read: 02 (a) The department shall examine every applicant for a driver's license. The 03 examination must include a test of the applicant's (1) eyesight, (2) ability to read and 04 understand official traffic control devices, (3) knowledge of safe driving practices, (4) 05 knowledge of the effects of alcohol and drugs on drivers and the dangers of driving 06 under the influence of alcohol or drugs, (5) knowledge of the laws on driving while 07 under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, inhalant, or controlled substance, (6) 08 knowledge of the laws on financial responsibility and mandatory motor vehicle 09 liability insurance, [AND] (7) knowledge of the traffic laws and regulations of the 10 state, and (8) knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of drivers when  11 encountering or being stopped by a peace officer. The examination may include a 12 demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the driving of a 13 motor vehicle of the type and general class of vehicles for which the applicant seeks a 14 license. However, an applicant who has not been previously issued a driver's license 15 by this or another jurisdiction shall demonstrate ability and shall present medical 16 information that the department reasonably requires to determine fitness to safely 17 drive a motor vehicle of the type and general class of vehicles for which the applicant 18 seeks a license. 19  * Sec. 6. AS 28.15.111 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 20 (d) The department shall provide a method, at the time that a driver's license is 21 issued, by which the owner of a license may voluntarily designate on the license that 22 the owner has a disability, including a cognitive, mental, neurological, or physical 23 disability, or a combination of them. The department shall create a discreet symbol to 24 place on the driver's license of a person requesting the designation. The method must 25 provide a means by which the owner may cancel the designation. The department may 26 not charge a fee solely for the designation. To receive the designation, the person shall 27 provide proof of the disability from a person licensed as a physician or physician 28 assistant under AS 08.64, as an advanced nurse practitioner under AS 08.68, or as a 29 licensed psychologist under AS 08.86. The department may charge a fee of $5 for 30 replacement of a valid driver's license with a new driver's license with a disability 31 designation and may charge a fee of $5 for replacement of a driver's license with a 01 disability designation with a new driver's license without a disability designation.