Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/04/1994 01:15 PM House JUD
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 319 - ALASKA PEACE STANDARDS TRAINING FUND Number 017 REP. GAIL PHILLIPS, Prime Sponsor of HB 319, gave the following statement to the committee: "Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. For the record, my name is Gail Phillips, representing House District 7, and the prime sponsor of this legislation. During the past year I have served as chairman of the Governor's Task Force on the Contract Jails program. During our meetings, it was brought to the task force's attention that no standards for operational staffing existed within the contract jails program. It was learned that some contracts operate with full-time employees, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Other operators may have no correctional staff available and operate by utilizing dispatch staff for jail operations in addition to their regular dispatch duties. "It is commonly recognized that custodial care must be provided by `professionally' trained correctional staff. Presently, correctional personnel in these facilities are not receiving adequate training, and in some instances the majority of them are using what is called a `correspondence' course, which is less than adequate for the job that they are required to perform. "The Alaska Police Standards Council is mandated by statute to establish and maintain police training programs, probation and parole officer training programs, and correctional training program. With very few exceptions, funding has been insufficient to allow the Alaska Police Standards Council to provide statewide training for over 2,500 law enforcement and corrections officers annually. "I appointed a subcommittee, chaired by Representative Eileen MacLean, to look into this matter and report back with their recommendations to the full task force. The task force members adopted the subcommittee recommendations on officer training and staffing of contract jails. Included in their report is a recommendation, endorsed by the Alaska Police Standards Council, to establish a statewide training fund for law enforcement officials. Revenues would be generated by assessing a uniform surcharge against traffic violations and for the offense of driving while intoxicated. "The product of our efforts is the legislation we're considering in committee today. Mr. Chairman, this legislation will enable the Alaska Police Standards Council to function in a manner that will enhance performance and accountability within the law enforcement and corrections community. It is my belief that the law enforcement and corrections community will be greatly strengthened by having professionally trained staff. With the establishment of a training fund as a predictable funding base, statewide public safety will benefit overall. "Your bill packets contain a position paper prepared by the Alaska Police Standards Council, a recap of 1993 total vehicle and traffic offenses with projected revenues and a detailed list of vehicle and traffic offenses to be assessed by this legislation. "Mr. Chairman, I do have an amendment to offer to this legislation that is strictly a housekeeping matter; however, I know you have people who have signed up to testify via teleconference and possibly in the audience. I also note that the director of the Alaska Police Standards Council, Laddie Shaw, is also present. So, I will hold off on the amendment until their testimony is heard." Number 171 LADDIE SHAW, Executive Director, Alaska Police Standards Council, said he was available to answer questions as needed regarding HB 319, as Rep. Phillips has covered most of their needs. Number 180 REP. PORTER asked Mr. Shaw to stand by while the committee took testimony from the teleconference network. Number 187 RON OTTE, Palmer Police Chief, indicated he was representing all of the Alaska Chiefs of Police as president of the Alaska Chiefs Association and testified in favor of HB 319. He said the issue is the deficiency of law enforcement and corrections training around the state, and the loss of funds for these areas resulted in the loss of ability to provide training funds. Chief Otte indicated that over a period of time lack of training will be disastrous for both the correctional portion of law enforcement, as well as the actual on-line officers. He added that enactment of this legislation will relieve communities from constantly having to tap into their resources to provide this training support, of which much is mandated by federal, state and local laws. Number 263 REP. PORTER asked Chief Otte to explain the difference between the funds used for in-service training and the existing basic training that goes on in the state. Number 269 CHIEF OTTE explained that when a department hires an officer, there is a state requirement that the officer complete a minimum amount of entry level training; and for large departments like the Alaska State Troopers, they conduct their own academy, but virtually all the rest of the state rely on one or the other of some of those organizations and the Alaska Police Standards Council to conduct entry level training on their behalf. Number 301 REP. PORTER added that is what the funding from HB 319 is aimed at, the in-service training portion. Number 321 REP. PHILLIPS gave the following statement: "Mr. Chairman, I would like to move my amendment at this time. As I stated earlier, this is just a housekeeping matter. The amendment simply references the rest of the provisions in AS 28.15.181 that involve court suspensions, revocations and limitations, and makes them correspond to the original bill. The original bill referenced subsections 5 and 8 of 28.15.181, but omitted subsections 3, 6 and 9, and this amendment would correct that error. "Mr. Chairman, it has also been brought to my attention that there may be some aspects regarding the collection of fines that need to be ironed out before this bill moves on. Therefore, I am requesting that you consider placing this bill in a subcommittee so that we resolve the situation." Number 338 REP. PORTER asked if there was objection to the amendment. Seeing none, the amendment E1 dated January 27, 1994, by Luckhaupt was adopted. Rep. Porter asked Rep. Phillips to chair the subcommittee made up of herself and Reps. Nordlund and Kott, and asked Rep. Phillips to call the subcommittee together to iron out the difficulties in the acquisition of these funds through the various systems that exist. REP. PORTER then asked if JACK McDONALD, Kodiak Chief of Police, was on-line. Due to technical difficulties, his testimony was delayed. Number 469 JACK McDONALD, Kodiak Chief of Police, announced that Rep. Davidson was also present. Mr. McDonald testified in favor of HB 319 and shared some observations with the committee: that due to the nature of their jobs, citizens of Alaska expect their officers to be skilled, well-trained in the performance of their duties, and must be worthy of the trust they instill. He stated that the high level of professionalism we enjoy in the state of Alaska does not happen automatically, and long-term financial investments are required to ensure acceptable police officer service. CHAIRMAN PORTER said the next bill on the agenda was HJR 48.
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