Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/20/2015 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearings: State Board of Parole and Alaska Police Standards Council | |
| SB43 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 43 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
March 20, 2015
1:38 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lesil McGuire, Chair
Senator John Coghill, Vice Chair
Senator Mia Costello
Senator Bill Wielechowski
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Peter Micciche
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 43
"An Act relating to immunity for a fire department and employees
or members of a fire department."
- MOVED CSSB 43(JUD) OUT OF COMMITTEE
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
Alaska Police Standards Council
Rebecca Hamon
Gustaf Sandahl
- CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED
State Board of Parole
Richard "Ole" Larson
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 43
SHORT TITLE: IMMUNITY FOR FIRE DEPT. & MEMBERS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) COGHILL
02/06/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/06/15 (S) CRA, JUD
02/17/15 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/17/15 (S) Heard & Held
02/17/15 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
03/05/15 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/05/15 (S) Moved CSSB 43(CRA) Out of Committee
03/05/15 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
03/06/15 (S) CRA RPT CS 3DP SAME TITLE
03/06/15 (S) DP: BISHOP, EGAN, MACKINNON
03/16/15 (S) JUD AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/16/15 (S) Scheduled but Not Heard
03/18/15 (S) JUD AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/18/15 (S) Heard & Held
03/18/15 (S) MINUTE(JUD)
03/20/15 (S) JUD AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
RICHARD "OLE" LARSON, Appointee
State Board of Parole
Boston, Massachusetts
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the State Board
of Parole.
GUSTAF SANDAHL, Chief
Kenai Police Department
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the Alaska
Police Standards Council.
REBECCA HAMON, Appointee
Alaska Police Standards Council
King Salmon, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the Alaska
Police Standards Council.
JORDAN SHILLING, Staff
Senator John Coghill
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented an overview of SB 43 on behalf of
the sponsor.
MITCH FLYNN, Chief
Steese Volunteer Fire Department
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 43.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:38:58 PM
CHAIR LESIL MCGUIRE called the Senate Judiciary Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:38 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Costello, Wielechowski, Coghill, and Chair
McGuire.
^CONFIRMATION HEARINGS: State Board of Parole and Alaska Police
Standards Council
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS:
1:39:21 PM
CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the first order of business would be
confirmation hearings for the State Board of Parole and the
Alaska Police Standards Council. She asked Mr. Larson to tell
the committee about his interest in serving on the State Board
of Parole.
State Board of Parole
1:39:29 PM
RICHARD "OLE" LARSON, Appointee, State Board of Parole,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified that he is seeking his second five-
year term on the State Board of Parole. He shared that he worked
for the Department of Corrections for over 29 years and retired
as the superintendent of the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility. He said
he is also on the Mat-Su School Board which gives him more
appreciation for the Board of Parole's goal to ensure that
parolees have the opportunity to get into rehabilitation and
education programs. He looks forward to continuing to serve the
state.
SENATOR COGHILL thanked Mr. Larson and asked if he had any
suggestions for effective rehabilitation tools for parolees.
MR. LARSON described the PACE program and what it has to offer,
such as drug and alcohol programs. He stressed the importance of
not having the parolee go through a program independently. The
goal is to provide effective drug and alcohol programs,
cognitive thinking programs, and moral recognition programs
followed by long-term after care to reinforce the skills.
SENATOR COGHILL noted that the committee considered the PACE
Program last year. He asked if there had been a discussion about
whether the State Parole Board or a specialty court or a
combination of the two should be used as a vetting tool for
long-term felons.
MR. LARSON explained that the parole staff vets applications and
then they are submitted to the governor's office or the clemency
board. However, the clemency board has not been in operation for
eight years and the hope is that under Governor Walker it can be
reactivated.
1:46:43 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO thanked Mr. Larson and opined that his
background made him perfect for the job. She brought up the
connection between reading skills in third grade and the future
history of crime.
MR. LARSON said the parole board does look at level of education
as a parole item for consideration. He agreed that reading
readiness is important. He mentioned the number of children with
parents who are incarcerated and the need for intervention.
1:50:25 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO said she would like to see school/business
partnerships strengthened at an early age.
CHAIR MCGUIRE noted his long years of service.
MR. LARSON said his experience at McLaughlin opened his eyes to
many issues.
CHAIR MCGUIRE echoed Senator Costello's thanks. She spoke of the
cost of corrections and the difficulty in rehabilitation.
Alaska Police Standards Council
1:53:08 PM
CHAIR MCGUIRE recognized Chief Sandahl.
GUSTAF SANDAHL, Chief, Kenai Police Department, testified as an
appointee to the Alaska Police Standards Council. He described
his law enforcement history with the Kenai Police Department and
his education. He said this would be his second term on the
council. He noted his role on the council is an important one
and he enjoyed his experience. He explained what the staff of
the council does.
CHAIR MCGUIRE thanked Mr. Sandahl for his service.
1:56:45 PM
SENATOR COGHILL voiced gratitude for Mr. Sandahl's service.
1:57:44 PM
CHAIR MCGUIRE recognized Ms. Hamon.
REBECCA HAMON, Appointee, Alaska Police Standards Council, King
Salmon, Alaska, testified as an appointee to the Alaska Police
Standards Council. She described her work with Safe and Fear-
Free Environment (SAFE) in Dillingham as an advocate for victims
of domestic violence. She said she works in partnership with the
local police departments, troopers, and service providers. She
said she has worked on the council for two years. She said she
brings a unique viewpoint to the council in that she is not in
police work. She has raised her family in King Salmon and is a
part of a community team. She hopes to bring understanding of
rural issues to the council and the state.
2:02:02 PM
CHAIR MCGUIRE pointed out the highlights of Ms. Hamon's resume
and thanked her for her service as a public member on the
council.
2:03:14 PM
SENATOR COGHILL expressed his gratitude for her service and
work.
CHAIR MCGUIRE discussed the importance of SAFE.
[The names were advanced to the full body for consideration.]
SB 43-IMMUNITY FOR FIRE DEPT. & MEMBERS
2:04:05 PM
CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the consideration of SB 43. "An Act
relating to immunity for a fire department and employees or
members of a fire department." She noted that Chief Flynn
testified at the last meeting. [CSSB 43(JUD) was before the
committee.]
SENATOR COGHILL asked his staff to review the bill.
2:04:46 PM
JORDAN SHILLING, Staff, Senator John Coghill, Alaska State
Legislature, presented an overview of SB 43 on behalf of the
sponsor. He said Alaska has a fire department immunity statute
that applies to staff of fire departments, but it does not
provide protection to contract fire departments. There are seven
departments that fall under this situation and SB 43 extends the
protection to those fire departments.
CHAIR MCGUIRE asked Senator Wielechowski if he has any concerns
about changes in the bill.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said he discussed it with Mr. Shilling and
plans to support the bill.
SENATOR COGHILL noted in his area almost all firefighters are
volunteers.
2:07:15 PM
CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if contract fire fighters receive state
system benefits.
MR. SHILLING replied he did not think so.
CHAIR MCGUIRE opined that all fire departments should be treated
equally.
MITCH FLYNN, Chief, Steese Volunteer Fire Department, said his
volunteer department has similar benefits but not through the
state.
CHAIR MCGUIRE voiced support for equal treatment.
2:09:21 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO asked if there has been any opposition to the
bill.
MR. SHILLING answered no.
SENATOR COSTELLO asked if there has been litigation related to
this issue that this bill could have clarified.
MR. SHILLING replied he was aware of one lawsuit in the
Fairbanks North Star Borough that the immunity statute would
have prevented.
CHAIR MCGUIRE found no further testifiers and closed public
testimony.
2:10:47 PM
SENATOR COGHILL motioned to report CS for SB 43 from committee
with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note.
CHAIR MCGUIRE announced that without objection CSSB 43(JUD) is
reported from the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee.
2:11:16 PM
There being nothing further to come before the committee, Chair
McGuire adjourned the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee at
2:11 p.m.
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