02/17/2005 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
          SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                        
                       February 17, 2005                                                                                        
                           1:28 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Con Bunde, Chair                                                                                                        
Senator Ralph Seekins, Vice Chair                                                                                               
Senator Johnny Ellis                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bettye Davis                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 100                                                                                                             
"An Act relating to enhanced 911 surcharges imposed by a                                                                        
municipality."                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     MOVED CSSB 100(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
BILL: SB 100                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: ENHANCED 911 SURCHARGES                                                                                            
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) BUNDE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
02/10/05       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/10/05       (S)       L&C, CRA                                                                                               
02/15/05       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
02/15/05       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/15/05       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
02/17/05       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Lauren Wickersham                                                                                                               
Staff to Senator Con Bunde                                                                                                      
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SB 100.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Walt Monegan, Chief                                                                                                             
Anchorage Police Department                                                                                                     
Anchorage AK                                                                                                                    
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 100.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Tim Rogers                                                                                                                      
Alaska Municipal League (AMA)                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 100.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Paul Harris                                                                                                                     
Fairbanks Police Department                                                                                                     
Fairbanks AK                                                                                                                    
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 100.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CON BUNDE called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing                                                                 
Committee meeting to order at 1:34:31 PM. Present were Senators                                                               
Seekins, Ellis and Chair Con Bunde.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
                  SB 100-ENHANCED 911 SURCHARGES                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CON BUNDE announced SB 100 to be up for consideration.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR RALHP SEEKINS asked what the definition of a local                                                                      
exchange access line is.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. LAUREN WICKERSHAM, staff to Chair Bunde, read from                                                                          
AS29.35.133 (4) that a local exchange access line means a                                                                       
telephone line that connects a local exchange service customer                                                                  
or the local telephone company's switching office. It has the                                                                   
capability of reaching local public safety agencies, but does                                                                   
not include a line used by a carrier to provide inner exchange                                                                  
services.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:36:23 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR SEEKINS asked if Bartlett Hospital has an extension in                                                                  
50 rooms, do they have 50 local exchange access lines. Someone                                                                  
indicated yes.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. WICKERSHAM added under current statute you only get charged                                                                 
for the first 100 lines.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BUNDE pointed out that there are already access charges,                                                                  
but this bill only changes the amount charged for them.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:37:26 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR ELLIS asked if the committee resolved any differences                                                                   
between the terms call center and dispatch.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. WICKERSHAM replied that a call center is under the                                                                          
definition of 911 service; the dispatch center is under the                                                                     
police department duties. A call first comes into the call                                                                      
center and it sends that call to the appropriate state dispatch                                                                 
center - two different things. The call center is covered under                                                                 
the 911 surcharge; the money required to run a dispatch center                                                                  
is not.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
WALT MONEGAN, Chief, Anchorage Police Department, supported SB
.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:39:34 PM                                                                                                                    
TIM ROGERS, Alaska Municipal League, supported SB 100 and said                                                                  
he would respond to questions.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BUNDE asked if they both were comfortable going with the                                                                  
call center being the focus of this bill.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHIEF MONEGAN replied yes.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:40:13 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. DAVID GIBBS, Administrator, Kenai 911 program, said the                                                                     
present surcharge revenue is insufficient to cover the costs to                                                                 
provide the required services. The Kenai Borough prefers that                                                                   
the assembly sets the surcharge rate.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BUNDE responded that the local government can set the rate                                                                
beyond the $2 cap with a public vote.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR GIBBS reiterated that they prefer to have the assembly set                                                                   
that rate.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:41:12 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. PAUL HARRIS, Fairbanks Police Department, supported the                                                                     
concept, but with a $3 cap.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:42:34 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR SEEKINS moved to pass CSSB 100(L&C), version Y, from                                                                    
committee with individual recommendations and zero fiscal note.                                                                 
There were no objections and it was so ordered.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business to come before the committee,                                                                   
Chair Bunde adjourned the meeting at 1:43:49 PM.