HB 77: "An Act relating to training regarding disabilities for police officers, probation officers, parole officers, correctional officers, and village public safety officers; relating to guidelines for drivers when encountering or being stopped by a peace officer; relating to driver's license examinations; and relating to a voluntary disability designation on a state identification card and a driver's license."
00 HOUSE BILL NO. 77 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 and 12 (C) resources available to persons with disabilities and to 13 those interacting with persons with disabilities; 14 (4) consult and cooperate with municipalities, agencies of the state, 15 other governmental agencies, universities, colleges, and other institutions concerning 16 the development of police officer, probation officer, parole officer, municipal 17 correctional officer, and correctional officer training schools and programs of criminal 18 justice instruction; 19 (5) employ an administrator and other persons necessary to carry out 20 its duties under AS 18.65.130 - 18.65.290; 21 (6) investigate when there is reason to believe that a police officer, 22 probation officer, parole officer, municipal correctional officer, or correctional officer 23 does not meet the minimum standards for employment; in connection with the 24 investigation the council may subpoena persons, books, records, or documents related 25 to the investigation and require answers in writing under oath to questions asked by 26 the council or the administrator; 27 (7) charge and collect a fee of $50 for processing applications for 28 certification of police, probation, parole, municipal correctional, and correctional 29 officers. 30 * Sec. 2. AS 18.65.310 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 31 (m) The department shall provide a method for a person to designate
01 voluntarily on an identification card that the person has a disability, including a 02 cognitive, mental, neurological, or physical disability, or a combination of them. The 03 department shall create a discreet symbol to place on the identification card of a 04 person requesting the designation. The method must provide a means by which the 05 person may cancel the designation. The department may not charge a fee solely for the 06 designation. To receive the designation, the person shall provide proof of the disability 07 from a person licensed as a physician or physician assistant under AS 08.64, as an 08 advanced nurse practitioner under AS 08.68, or as a licensed psychologist under 09 AS 08.86. Notwithstanding (a) of this section, the department may charge a fee of $5 10 for replacement of a valid identification card with a new identification card with a 11 disability designation and may charge a fee of $5 for replacement of an identification 12 card with a disability designation with a new identification card without a disability 13 designation. 14 * Sec. 3. AS 18.65.670(c) is amended to read: 15 (c) The commissioner of public safety may adopt regulations related to village 16 public safety officers, including minimum standards and training, criteria for 17 community, municipality, or corporation participation, and the interaction between the 18 Department of Public Safety and village public safety officers. Regulations adopted by 19 the commissioner of public safety under this subsection may not prohibit village 20 public safety officers who otherwise meet minimum standards and training from 21 carrying firearms. If the commissioner of public safety adopts regulations 22 regarding training for village public safety officers, at a minimum, that training 23 must include disability training that provides training in the subjects set out in 24 AS 18.65.220(3). The commissioner of corrections may adopt regulations related to 25 the functions of village public safety officers providing probation and parole 26 supervision. 27 * Sec. 4. AS 28.05.011 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 28 (c) If the department publishes a manual related to the safe and lawful 29 operation of a motor vehicle, the manual must include the duties and responsibilities 30 of drivers when encountering or being stopped by a peace officer. 31 * Sec. 5. AS 28.15.081(a) is amended to read:
01 (a) The department shall examine every applicant for a driver's license. The 02 examination must include a test of the applicant's (1) eyesight, (2) ability to read and 03 understand official traffic control devices, (3) knowledge of safe driving practices, (4) 04 knowledge of the effects of alcohol and drugs on drivers and the dangers of driving 05 under the influence of alcohol or drugs, (5) knowledge of the laws on driving while 06 under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, inhalant, or controlled substance, (6) 07 knowledge of the laws on financial responsibility and mandatory motor vehicle 08 liability insurance, [AND] (7) knowledge of the traffic laws and regulations of the 09 state, and (8) knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of drivers when 10 encountering or being stopped by a peace officer. The examination may include a 11 demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the driving of a 12 motor vehicle of the type and general class of vehicles for which the applicant seeks a 13 license. However, an applicant who has not been previously issued a driver's license 14 by this or another jurisdiction shall demonstrate ability and shall present medical 15 information that the department reasonably requires to determine fitness to safely 16 drive a motor vehicle of the type and general class of vehicles for which the applicant 17 seeks a license. 18 * Sec. 6. AS 28.15.111 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 19 (d) The department shall provide a method, at the time that a driver's license is 20 issued, by which the owner of a license may voluntarily designate on the license that 21 the owner has a disability, including a cognitive, mental, neurological, or physical 22 disability, or a combination of them. The department shall create a discreet symbol to 23 place on the driver's license of a person requesting the designation. The method must 24 provide a means by which the owner may cancel the designation. The department may 25 not charge a fee solely for the designation. To receive the designation, the person shall 26 provide proof of the disability from a person licensed as a physician or physician 27 assistant under AS 08.64, as an advanced nurse practitioner under AS 08.68, or as a 28 licensed psychologist under AS 08.86. The department may charge a fee of $5 for 29 replacement of a valid driver's license with a new driver's license with a disability 30 designation and may charge a fee of $5 for replacement of a driver's license with a 31 disability designation with a new driver's license without a disability designation.