Legislature(1993 - 1994)
05/01/1994 01:10 PM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SCSCSHB 319(JUD): An Act relating to the training of law enforcement and corrections officers; to the establishment of surcharges to be assessed for violations of certain traffic offenses; allowing defendants who are unable to pay the surcharge to perform community work; creating the Alaska police standards training fund; and providing for an effective date. Representative Gail Phillips, sponsor of HB 319, testified in support of the bill. SCSCSHB 319(JUD) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass," and with zero fiscal notes for the Department of Law, the Department of Public Safety, and the Alaska Court System. SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 319(JUD): An Act relating to the training of law enforcement and corrections officers; to the establishment of surcharges to be assessed for violations of certain traffic offenses; allowing defendants who are unable to pay the surcharge to perform community work; creating the Alaska police standards training fund; and providing for an effective date. CO-CHAIR DRUE PEARCE announced that HB 319 was before the committee and invited Representative Gail Phillips, sponsor of the bill, to speak to the committee. REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS said that HB 319 would do three things. It would establish a police standards training fund within the general fund, provide a source of receipts for the training fund paid for by the violations of certain traffic offenses such as moving violations and driving while intoxicated, and allow those unable to pay to perform community work. It allowed the legislature to appropriate each year for the training of law enforcement and correction officers statewide through the Alaska Police Training Council. Training for law enforcement was sorely needed and in too many instances was non-existent. The phrase, surcharge, was used to avoid the appearance of a dedicated fund and a way for municipalities and the court system to account for the amount to be transferred from the state treasury for training. She asked that ten and twelve dollar increase in fines not be misconstrued as a tax, surcharge, user fee, etc. since the legislature did not set the fine schedules. The Supreme Court and municipalities raised or adjusted bail forfeiture schedules and could do so without giving the legislature the opportunity to direct where the increase would be used and for what purpose. Anticipated receipts on only the collectable fines would amount to approximately $700,000 annually. Delayed effective dates would allow the Court System to implement their new accounting system and to amend their bail forfeiture schedules to reflect the proposed increase and would allow municipalities adequate time to prepare in-house accounting systems. Representative Phillips went on to say that the Senate Judiciary Committee substitute made one change on page 3, lines 11-13, where new language was added that said "the legislature may appropriate equal amounts from the fund to the Department of Public Safety for the Public Safety Training Academy and to the Alaska Police Standards Council." In answer to Senator Kelly, Representative Phillips said she had no problem with the added language. SENATOR KERTTULA said that a fee is a fee is a fee and a tax is a tax is a tax. Senator Kelly said "and this is a surcharge" to everyone's amusement. SENATOR JACKO MOVED for passage of SCSCSHB 319(JUD) from committee with individual recommendations. No objection being heard, SCSCSHB 319(JUD) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass," and with zero fiscal notes for the Alaska Court System, the Departments of Law, and Public Safety. Co-chairs Pearce and Frank, Senators Sharp, Kerttula, Jacko, Kelly, and Rieger signed a "do pass."
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