Legislature(1993 - 1994)
04/16/1993 08:47 AM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 16, 1993
8:47 A.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Larson called the House Finance Committee to order
at 8:47 a.m.
PRESENT
Co-Chair Larson
Co-Chair MacLean
Vice-Chair Hanley Representative Martin
Representative Brown Representative Parnell
Representative Foster Representative Therriault
Representative Grussendorf
Representatives Hoffman and Navarre were absent from the
meeting.
ALSO PRESENT
Ken Erickson, Staff, Senator Pearce; Larry Fanning, City and
Borough Juneau; Philip Reeves, Attorney, Kenai Peninsula
Borough; Lieutenant Tandeske, Anchorage Police Force; C. E.
Swackhammer, Deputy Director, Department of Public Safety;
Kevin O'Leary, Chief, Anchorage Police Department.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
HB 93 "An Act relating to the village public safety
officers program."
CSHB 93 (CRA) was reported out of Committee with a
"do pass" recommendation and with a zero fiscal
note by the Department of Public Safety, dated
3/26/93.
SB 97 "An Act relating to enhanced 911 emergency
reporting systems; and providing for an effective
date."
SB 97 was HELD in a subcommittee consisting of
Chair Parnell with Representatives Foster and
Brown.
HOUSE BILL NO. 93
"An Act relating to the village public safety officers
program."
Representative Foster noted that CSHB 93 (CRA) would place
the Village Public Safety Officer Program (VPSO) into Alaska
Statutes. Representative Foster MOVED to report CSHB 93
(CRA) out of Committee with individual recommendations and
with the accompanying fiscal note.
Co-Chair Larson asked if CSHB 93 (CRA) would affect the
trooper retirement program.
C. E. SWACKHAMMER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY clarified that CSHB 93 (CRA) would not affect the
trooper retirement system. He added that VPSO officers are
not on the state retirement system.
Representative Parnell noted that CSHB 93 (CRA) will
"formally institute the VPSO program in Alaska statutes, and
formally institute the program in the Department of Public
Safety." He asked if the Department of Public Safety can
achieve this goal through the administration of contracts.
Mr. Swackhammer replied that the regulation process is a
more efficient and public way to manage the program. He
noted that the program was begun as a pilot program, 12
years ago, and has grown to 121 officers. He asserted that
it is time to recognize the program by statute.
Representative Parnell expressed support for the VPSO
program. He asked if it is the Department's intention to
bring the VPSO program into the state's retirement system.
Mr. Swackhammer stated that VPSO officer's are not included
in the state's retirement system. He added that it is not
the intention of the Department to make VPSO officers state
employees. He stressed that the Department's primary
concern is to raise the level of pay for VPSO officers.
LIEUTENANT TANDESKE, ANCHORAGE POLICE OFFICER agreed that it
is not the intention of the Department to make VPSO officers
state employees.
Representative Martin asked if VPSO officers are employed
full-time. Mr. Swackhammer answered that they are full-time
contract employees.
Representative Parnell asked if the state will incur
additional liability with the passage of CSHB 93 (CRA). Mr.
Swackhammer clarified that the state will not incur
additional liability. The state is already liable for VPSO
officer's actions.
Mr. Swackhammer stated that the annual cost of the VPSO
program is $6 million dollars.
Co-Chair Larson restated the motion to move CSHB 93 (CRA)
out of committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so
ordered.
CSHB 93 (CRA) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with a zero fiscal note by the Department
of Public Safety, dated 3/26/93.
SENATE BILL NO. 97
"An Act relating to enhanced 911 emergency reporting
systems; and providing for an effective date."
KEN ERICKSON, STAFF, SENATOR PEARCE stated that SSSB 97
(Fin) will enable emergency dispatchers to better assist
people who call 911 when they find themselves in life
threatening situations. He asserted that victims of crime,
the young, and the elderly are often unable to give adequate
directions when they dial 911. If enacted, SB 97 would
create a mechanism to fund enhanced 911 emergency reporting
systems (E 911). The bill is permissive.
Mr. Erickson pointed out that enhanced 911 emergency
reporting systems provide an expansion of the benefits of
the basic 911 emergency telephone number. Among the
benefits are:
1) Immediate visual display of the location and
telephone number of the caller.
2) Automatic routing to the appropriate emergency
response unit.
3) Faster response time.
4) Curtailment of abuses of the emergency system by
documenting callers.
Mr. Erickson observed that SSSB (FIN) gives immunity from
liability, except for intentional acts of misconduct or
gross negligence, to municipalities and their suppliers of
911 services. He explained that the bill, for the purposes
of a dispatcher furnishing name and address information to
emergency response units, waives the telephone customer's
privacy rights normally afforded by unlisted phone numbers.
Representative Brown discussed the additional cost to the
Municipality of Anchorage. She referred to the system for
the Municipality of Anchorage.
BILL O'LEARY, CHIEF, ANCHORAGE POLICE DEPARTMENT clarified
that Anchorage does not have a E 911 system. A RFP has been
issued and bids have been received on the creation of a
system. The estimated cost is $300 thousand dollars. He
noted that individuals not residing in the Anchorage Police
Department Service Area (APDSA) are not paying for the
service that they are receiving. He noted that the
legislation is based on model legislation used in 48 other
states. He added that the Anchorage Police Department is
prohibited by charter from providing services out side of
the APDSA. He stated that the actual overall cost of an E
911 in the APDSA is $4.1 million dollars.
Representative Brown stated that other states extend basic
911 service to the unserved areas of the states. She noted
that there are many areas in Alaska that do not have basic
service. She thought that other areas did not have local
area option.
Chief O'Leary stated that Northwestern states have a state
run tariff that allows community to opt into the basic
service. He added that many other states allow the option
of Emergency 911 service.
Co-Chair MacLean echoed the concerns of Representative
Brown.
Mr. Tandeske noted that communities will be able to
institute the service with the help of SB 97.
LARRY FANNING, FIRE CHIEF, CITY AND BOROUGH OF JUNEAU (CBJ)
stated that CBJ is in the process of creating an E 911
system. He explained that the basic system only shows the
callers telephone number. In an E 911 system the location
is shown. Additional fields can be added to the data base.
For example, medical needs or information concerning
hazardous materials on site can be added to the callers
identification. He pointed out that SB 97 provides a .75
cent cap. The municipality determines the cost within the
cap. There is an additional on going cost of purchasing the
data base from communications carriers. He noted that there
will also be annual repair cost. He stressed that the
geographical condition of Alaska determines a different
approach than what has been adopted in other states. He
emphasized that the ability to locate 911 calls quickly will
greatly enhance service to communities.
Representative Brown noted that E 911 will not work with the
PBX switch used in state offices. Mr. Fanning clarified
that technology exists to convert PBX systems to allow them
to be compatible with the E 911 system.
Representative Martin noted that the State of Alaska does
not have the same telephone communications systems as other
states.
Representative Brown asked what CBJ anticipates charging
users. He clarified that the initial system cost is $256
thousand dollars. The cost will be amortized over 5 years
at a consumer cost of .25 cents per line. He added that
calls need to be communicated to the units in the field.
The legislation allows for essential radio communications
equipment.
Representative Martin expressed concern that the additional
charge is not time determined. He did not think SB 97 would
aid the state emergency units. Mr. Fanning stated that the
legislation allows jurisdictional areas to provide services
to other jurisdictional areas.
PHILIP REEVES, DEPUTY ATTORNEY, KENAI BOROUGH noted that
additional on going costs for the Kenai system include:
* $48.0 thousand dollars a year for the telephone
data base;
* $75.0 - $100.0 thousand dollars a year for
dedicated lines to extend service to outlying
rural areas.
Mr. Reeves felt that passage of SB 97 is very important to
the system's operation. He noted that the Kenai Borough is
approaching their mill cap and that revenue sharing has been
reduced.
Chief O'Leary stressed that the cost for Anchorage is $4.1
million dollars. They expect to capture $600 - $700
thousand dollars through the passage of SB 97.
Mr. Erickson clarified, in response to a question by Co-
Chair MacLean, that subsection (e) on page 4 states that
local exchange telephone companies are not liable for
uncollected surcharges. He explained that local exchange
companies will have to carry part of the uncollected cost.
The intent is that if a consumer does not pay their bill the
utility would pro rate the amount. Part would go to
operation costs and part to the 911 surcharge.
Chief O'Leary explained, for Representative Brown, that the
cost for the E 911 system is $2 million dollars. The
additional $4 million dollars will pay for linkage of field
officers. Representative Brown noted that personnel costs
to acquire, operate, install and maintain a system can be
paid for by the surcharge. She asked for clarification of
which personnel would be covered by the surcharge. Chief
O'Leary explained that call takers which are E 911 trained
operators will be covered. The call takers transfer calls
to dispatchers. Dispatchers will not be included.
Co-Chair Larson placed SB 97 into a subcommittee consisting
of Chair Parnell with Representatives Foster and Brown.
SB 97 was HELD in a subcommittee consisting of Chair Parnell
with Representatives Foster and Brown.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:28 a.m.
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