Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/21/2022 01:00 PM Senate FINANCE
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB81 | |
| SB203 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 81 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 203 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 21, 2022
1:05 p.m.
1:05:57 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Bishop called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:05 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Natasha von Imhof
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman
ALSO PRESENT
Brix Hahn, Staff, Senator Donny Olson; Kelly Howell,
Legislative Liaison, Department of Public Safety; Emma
Torkelson, Staff, Senator Josh Revak; Andy Mills,
Legislative Liaison, Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Joe Hard, Director, Village Public Safety Officer Program,
Department of Public Safety, Anchorage; John Knott, State
Commander, Order of the Purple Heart, Fairbanks.
SUMMARY
SB 81 VILLAGE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER GRANTS
SB 81 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 203 PURPLE HEART TRAIL
SB 203 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 81
"An Act requiring background investigations of village
public safety officer applicants by the Department of
Public Safety; relating to the village public safety
officer program; and providing for an effective date."
1:07:20 PM
Co-Chair Bishop asked the bill sponsor to provide a brief
recap of the legislation.
SENATOR DONNY OLSON, SPONSOR, explained that the bill
pertained to implementing eight of the nine recommendations
made by the joint legislative Village Public Safety Officer
(VPSO) working group in a 2020 report. He detailed that the
VPSO program was created in the 1970s and had been
successful throughout the state; however, there had been
difficulty with recruitment and retention in recent years
as highlighted in the report. The bill worked to build the
program back up. He asked his staff to come to the table.
BRIX HAHN, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, introduced herself.
Senator Olson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1, 32-LS0362\I.17
(Radford, 3/21/22) (copy on file):
Page 1, line 2, following "Safety;":
Insert 11relating to fish and game enforcement;"
Page 3, following line 20:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 2. AS 16.05.150 is amended to read:
Sec. 16.05.150. Enforcement authority. The following
persons are peace officers of the state and they shall
enforce this title except AS 16.51 and AS 16.52:
(1) an employee of the department authorized by the
commissioner;
(2) a police officer in the state;
(3) a village public safety officer;
(4) [(3)] any other person authorized by the
commissioner."
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
Page 3, line 22, following "shall:
Insert "designate an authority within the department
to" 18
Page 6, lines 7 - 9:
Delete all material and insert:
"(i) A grant recipient may charge up to 30 percent of
its federally approved indirect costs to the village
public safety officer program. A grant recipient may
submit indirect expenses that exceed 30 percent to the
commissioner for approval on an individual basis. A
grant recipient may use an award only for purposes
related to village public safety officer activities."
Page 10, line 12, following "training":
Insert";
(iv) fish and wildlife enforcement training" 7
Page 11, line 4, following "professional":
Insert "approved by the department"
Page 11, line 5, following "requirements":
Insert "approved by the Alaska Police Standards
Council"
Page 14, line 11:
Delete "sec. 4"
Insert "sec. 5"
Page 14, line 12:
Delete "sec. 4"
Insert "sec. 5"
Page 14, line 16:
Delete "sec. 3'
Insert "sec. 4"
Page 14, line 20:
Delete "sec. 3"
Insert "sec. 4"
Page 14, line 21:
Delete "2021"
Insert "2022"
Page 14, line 22:
Delete "sec. 7"
Insert "sec. 8"
Co-Chair Bishop OBJECTED for discussion.
Senator Olson explained that Amendment 1 was a compilation
of a number of amendments suggested by members of the prior
committee that had heard the legislation. He relayed there
should be an individual named Terry Shanigan online who
could provide detail on the amendment.
Co-Chair Stedman asked who the person was and how they were
involved with the bill.
Senator Olson relayed that Mr. Shanigan was the former
chief of staff to Senator Mike Shower. He detailed that Mr.
Shanigan had a law enforcement background and had been
instrumental in other VPSO bills. Mr. Shanigan had
spearheaded all of the amendments that had come forward.
Co-Chair Bishop asked to hear from the Department of Public
Safety first.
1:10:40 PM
KELLY HOWELL, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY, deferred to a colleague.
JOE HARD, DIRECTOR, VILLAGE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER PROGRAM,
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), communicated that he found most of the
amendments to be benign.
Senator Olson requested to hear the explanation of the
amendment prior to hearing from the department.
1:12:00 PM
AT EASE
1:12:31 PM
RECONVENED
SB 81 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
1:12:59 PM
AT EASE
1:13:59 PM
RECONVENED
SENATE BILL NO. 203
"An Act designating portions of the Parks, Glenn,
Seward, and Sterling Highways as a part of the State's
Purple Heart Trail and relating to signage and
informational displays for the trail."
1:14:26 PM
EMMA TORKELSON, STAFF, SENATOR JOSH REVAK, explained the
legislation. She detailed that since 1992, the Purple Heart
Trail system of highway designations had extended across
the nation honoring service men and women who had been
wounded or killed in service to the nation. She elaborated
that in 2008, former Senator Johnny Ellis's bill SB 216
designated the highway between the Alaska/Canada border to
Fairbanks as the Purple Heart Trail. Since that time, signs
along the highway stood as a thank you to veterans and as a
reminder of the sacrifices made by individuals serving the
United States. The bill would extend the Purple Heart Trail
from Fairbanks to Homer, connecting the Purple Heart cities
of North Pole, Fairbanks, Wasilla, Soldotna, and Homer. She
highlighted that Alaska had a strong military tradition
with an estimated 65,000 resident veterans and
approximately 21,000 active duty military members. Signage
drawing attention to the designation would be placed at
appropriate intervals along the highway to stimulate
thought and discussion amongst adults and children about
the history of the country and individuals who had made
significant sacrifices for the country.
Co-Chair Bishop asked to hear the sectional analysis.
1:16:09 PM
Ms. Torkelson reviewed the sectional analysis (copy on
file):
Section 1. Amends AS 35.40.210(a) to extend the Purple
Heart Trail designation to include the ~590 miles of
highway from Fairbanks to the End of the Road in
Homer. With this extension, the Purple Heart Trail
will, in its entirety, be made up of:
? the Alaska Highway from the Alaska-Canada
Border to Delta Junction - existing
? the Richardson Highway between Delta Junction
and Fairbanks - existing
? the George Parks Highway between Fairbanks and
Wasilla - new
? the Glenn Highway between Wasilla and Anchorage
- new
? the Seward Highway between Anchorage and the
Seward-Sterling highway junction - new
? the Sterling Highway to its termination at the
end of the Homer Spit - new
Section 2. Amends AS 35.40.210(b) to require the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
erect appropriate "Purple Heart Trail" signage at the
Veterans Memorial at Byers Lake, Wasilla, Anchorage,
the junction of the Seward and Sterling highways,
Soldotna, and Homer.
Removes the existing language requiring signage be
placed at points "halfway between" these locations and
replaces it with language that allows the department
to determine the most appropriate locations for
additional signage.
Section 3. Amends AS 35.40.210(c) to increase to six
the number of required informational displays at pull-
outs along the Purple Heart Trail. The Border to
Fairbanks trail has three displays, so this will
require that at least three displays be erected on the
new portion of the Purple Heart Trail between
Fairbanks and Homer.
Section 4. Amends the uncodified law of the State of
Alaska to ensure that DOTP&F has the authority to
accept gifts, donations, and grants from a person or
agency for the purpose of providing signage and
informational displays required by AS 35.40.210(b) and
(c).
Section 5. Amends the uncodified law of the State of
Alaska to clarify that DOTP&F has the flexibility to
erect the signs and informational displays as funds
are available, without waiting to receive all the
funds needed to complete the entire project required
by AS 35.40.210(b) and (c).
1:18:54 PM
Co-Chair Bishop asked if the department agreed with the
bill sections and that it could move quickly to make the
changes proposed under the legislation.
ANDY MILLS, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES, explained that most
signage took the department four to six weeks to craft. He
noted that the sign design was already complete and was
included in members' bill packets. He stated it would be an
"easy lift" for the department to produce and install the
signs. The department's fiscal note reflected the full
amount detailed in the bill; however, general funds would
be offset by donations if received. He added that any
donations would be recognized as a contribution to the
effort.
Co-Chair Bishop moved to invited testimony.
JOHN KNOTT, STATE COMMANDER, ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART,
FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), relayed the Order of the
Purple Heart had three chapters in Alaska. He spoke in
support of the legislation and relayed it would mean
tremendous pride for his organization, active duty
military, and veterans in Alaska. He detailed that the
signs reflected continued patriotism and showed respect for
individuals who had sacrificed with blood and their lives.
He elaborated that the signs brought up conversations and
emotions. He stated the signs recapped everything people
lived for in the United States: freedom. He pointed out
that freedom was not free. He thanked the committee for
hearing the legislation.
Co-Chair Bishop thanked Mr. Knott for his testimony and
service to the country.
Co-Chair Bishop OPENED and CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Stedman suggested including the Alaska Marine
Highway System (AMHS) and perhaps adding a plaque on each
of the ferries.
Co-Chair Bishop thought it was a good idea. He remarked
that AMHS served some communities with the highest veteran
population per capita. He noted that the amendment deadline
was March 23 at noon.
Co-Chair Stedman added there were many military members
traveling from Bellingham to Haines [on the ferry] to reach
their post in Fairbanks and Anchorage. He would discuss the
idea with the bill sponsor.
SB 203 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Bishop reviewed the schedule for the following
day.
ADJOURNMENT
1:23:47 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 1:23 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 81 Sponsor Statement 2.23.2022.pdf |
SFIN 2/28/2022 9:00:00 AM SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM |
SB 81 |
| SB 81 Sectional Version I 2.23.2022.pdf |
SFIN 2/28/2022 9:00:00 AM SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM |
SB 81 |
| SB 81 VPSO Working Group Report 9 Recommendations Supporting Document 2.23.2022.pdf |
SFIN 2/28/2022 9:00:00 AM SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM |
SB 81 |
| SB 81 Alaska Regional Coalition 2.23.2022.pdf |
SFIN 2/28/2022 9:00:00 AM SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM |
SB 81 |
| SB 203 Sectional Analysis 2.27.22.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM STRA 3/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 203 |
| SB 203 Support Doc MOPH Article 2.27.22.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM STRA 3/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 203 |
| SB 203 Sponsor Statement 2.27.22.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM STRA 3/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 203 |
| SB 203 Support Doc Purple Heart Trail as extended 2.27.22.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM STRA 3/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 203 |
| SB 203 Support Letter Soldotna PH Hw 11.19.19.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM STRA 3/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 203 |
| SB 203 Support Letter City of Fairbanks 11.05.19.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM STRA 3/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 203 |
| SB 203 Support Letter City of Wasilla Mayor Cottle 9.18.19.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM |
SB 203 |
| SB 203 Support Letter Kenai Penn. Borough Mayor PH 10.22.19.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM STRA 3/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 203 |
| SB 203 Support Letter PH Highway 10.18.19.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM STRA 3/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 203 |
| SB 203 Support Letter Trapper Creek CC Board 10.17.19.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM |
SB 203 |
| SB 81 Amendment 1 Olson.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2022 1:00:00 PM |
SB 81 |