Legislature(2003 - 2004)
04/27/2004 08:11 AM House CRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 461-EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCH/911 SURCHARGE CHAIR MORGAN announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 461, "An Act relating to enhanced 911 surcharges and to emergency services dispatch systems of municipalities, certain villages, and public corporations established by municipalities." Number 2830 REPRESENTATIVE WOLF moved that the committee bring out of subcommittee CSHB 461, Version 23-LS1633\W, Cook, 4/21/04. There being no objection, it was so ordered. CHAIR MORGAN remarked that Version W doesn't really fix the problem in the Bush, and therefore the committee packet includes an amendment that would provide a solution for the Bush. He indicated that he has spoken with Representative Kott on the matter as well as Bush constituents. REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON disclosed that he worked on contract with the Alaska Telephone Association last summer, and therefore he requested that he not have to vote on this matter. REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS objected, and therefore Representative Anderson was required to vote. CHAIR MORGAN explained that the amendment would result in the state providing a toll-free statewide default public safety answering point (PSAP) for areas in which there is no local or regional PSAP. The amendment [Amendment 1] read as follows: Page 5, line 2, following "enhanced,": Insert "for areas where there is no local or regional public safety answering point, the state shall provide a toll-free, statewide default public safety answering point to which" Page 5, lines 3 and 4: Delete "that provides wireline service to an area outside a municipality" Page 5, line 4, following "base": Insert "." Page 5, lines 5 and 6: Delete all material. Number 2942 REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked if this amendment would result in a fiscal impact. CHAIR MORGAN replied yes, and suggested that perhaps two people would be needed [to staff a statewide default PSAP]. REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS inquired as to whether the [staff for a statewide default PSAP] could be incorporated with the Alaska State Troopers. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA pointed out that the Alaska State Troopers are already stressed. CHAIR MORGAN informed the committee that in Aniak if one dials 911, the only response is for fire and life-threatening situations. However, a felony or a crime which necessitates the Alaska State Troopers results in a long-distance call to Bethel so that the sergeant approve [the dispatch to Aniak]. TAPE 04-14, SIDE B REPRESENTATIVE WOLF asked if anyone knew where a 911 call from Pilot Station would be directed. REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS assumed that it would go to the Alaska State Troopers headquarters in Anchorage. CHAIR MORGAN interjected that he wasn't sure a 911 call for Pilot Station would be directed to anyone, unless the local telephone company directed it to the local village public safety officer (VPSO). In response to Representative Kookesh, Chair Morgan specified that the amendment would fix the aforementioned. He related that the Bush telephone companies believe 911 is a good idea, but they also believe someone has to available to answer the call. REPRESENTATIVE WOLF related his assumption that a 911 call from Levelock would be routed to King Salmon or Naknek, which is a distance. He surmised that the amendment wouldn't require a short-time response. CHAIR MORGAN agreed, and clarified that the amendment merely provide a person [to answer the 911 call]. Number 2894 REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS opined that it makes sense for a 911 call to be routed to King Salmon or Naknek where there is a police department. He asked if the statewide default PSAP should be routed to the closest borough police department, where there is already a 24-hour dispatch person. Therefore, the language "the state shall provide" means that the closest police department is where the call will be directed. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked whether changing the language to refer to a regional public safety hub rather than "the state" would eliminate the need for a fiscal note, and therefore possibly have a chance of passing. She predicated that a referral to the House Finance Committee would kill the legislation. REPRESENTATIVE KOOKESH pointed out that there is a constitutional requirement for the state to provide public safety in this state. If VSPOs and Alaska State Troopers aren't going to be placed in every community, then there should at least be a way in which to contact Alaska State Troopers, which is what this amendment would achieve. Number 2776 REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON expressed concern that the members of the Alaska Telephone Association would have to fund this, although it's for public safety. Therefore, the telephone providers were nervous because they didn't feel that they could afford this. However, he agreed with Representative Kookesh that there has to be some sort of public safety. If this is the best means at this juncture, he announced that he would support the amendment. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA suggested changing the language of the amendment such that it refers to a "regional public safety point" rather than specifying that "the state shall provide". REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS pointed out that the language "the state shall provide" doesn't mean that the state has to man a PSAP. There may be some communities that would prefer 911 calls to be routed to a specific location rather than a regional PSAP. REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON interjected that such a language change would probably cause boroughs to feel that they are forced to pay for this system by employing staff. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA clarified that she isn't suggesting that it be the borough, but rather the regional state [PSAP]. CHAIR MORGAN said that's what the amendment does. Number 2622 REPRESENTATIVES CISSNA and WOLF moved that the committee adopt Amendment 1 [text provided previously]. REPRESENTATIVE WOLF objected for discussion purposes. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked if a conceptual amendment specifying that the language "the state" refers to the next highest local regional state entity" could be referred to the next committee of referral. REPRESENTATIVE KOOKESH opined that the amendment is worded fine. REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON explained that the amendment means that if there isn't a local or regional PSAP, the state would have to provide a toll-free PSAP. However, he noted that the toll-free PSAP may be a dispatch point. He related his presumption that it would be covered by the Department of Public Safety. Number 2543 REPRESENTATIVE WOLF asked if the amendment is allowing communities in rural Alaska to opt-out of the fee proposed in HB 461 for enhanced 911 services. CHAIR MORGAN related that the rural telephone operators to which he spoke aren't going to opt-out because they don't mind paying the $1.00 fee. REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS said that he read the amendment to specify that the phone call is free, but the $1.00 per line would still be paid. REPRESENTATIVE WOLF withdrew his objection. There being no further objections, Amendment 1 was adopted. The committee took a brief at-ease. Number 2428 REPRESENTATIVE WOLF moved to report CSHB 461, Version 23- LS1633\W, Cook, 4/21/04, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations, the accompanying fiscal note, and a forthcoming fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 461(CRA) was reported from the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.
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