04/06/2013 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

              HB 186-DEFINITION OF POLICE OFFICER                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:34:29 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DYSON  announced that the  next order of business  would be                                                               
HB 186.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CHARISSE MILLET,  sponsor of  HB 186,  introduced                                                               
the  bill. She  said the  bill defines  a police  officer so  all                                                               
police  officers are  covered under  the Alaska  Police Standards                                                               
Council  (APSC) and  would receive  minimal training  approved by                                                               
the APSC.  There are  a lot of  seasonal and  part-time employees                                                               
who don't have  to be trained under APSC and  are coming into the                                                               
police  force. This  provides difficulties  for communities  that                                                               
hire the wrong  person. The bill requires all  officers receive a                                                               
minimum level of training.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:36:15 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked if there  has been any  opposition to                                                               
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT  said there  is no opposition;  all police                                                               
departments  and  APSC  are very  supportive.  The  Sitka  Police                                                               
Department reported  that it has  had this problem  and suggested                                                               
the change. The Anchorage Police Department fully supports it.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked if  the bill has  a zero  fiscal note                                                               
even though more training is required.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MILLETT said  yes;  the  Alaska Police  Standards                                                               
Council covers those costs.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DYSON asked Senator Wielechowski  if he could support the                                                               
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR   WIELECHOWSKI   said   yes,  barring   negative   public                                                               
testimony.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:38:13 PM                                                                                                                    
MARK  MEW,   Chief  of   Police,  Anchorage   Police  Department,                                                               
testified in support of HB 186.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SHELDON SCHMITT,  Chair, Alaska  Police Standards  Council, spoke                                                               
in support of HB 186.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
AL   BARRETTE,  representing   himself,   testified  during   the                                                               
discussion  of  HB 186.  He  suggested  a friendly  amendment  to                                                               
include the Department of Fish and  Game officers in the bill and                                                               
change "a  police officer in the  state" to "a police  officer of                                                               
the state."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT explained that  Fish and Game officers are                                                               
covered in the bill.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BARRETTE wished  to prevent  federal agencies  from usurping                                                               
their authority over state officers.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT  thought Mr.  Barrette was trying  to give                                                               
authority to  Fish and Game  officers. She opined that  this bill                                                               
was not the place for that issue.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DYSON  explained that Fish  and Game officers are  a part                                                               
of  the state  troopers and  would be  covered under  HB 186.  He                                                               
noted that the sponsor will look at the federal issue.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:43:06 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  COGHILL  moved to  report  HB  186 from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations  and attached zero fiscal  note. There                                                               
being no objection, it was so ordered.