Legislature(1997 - 1998)
03/19/1998 03:33 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
March 19, 1998
3:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyda Green, Chairman
Senator Jerry Ward, Vice-Chairman
Senator Jerry Mackie
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Mike Miller
Senator Jim Duncan
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 338
"An Act relating to waiver of tuition and fees for certain family
members of a member of the armed services or a member of an
emergency medical service killed in the line of duty; and providing
for an effective date."
- MOVED SB 338 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 339
"An Act relating to a volunteer fire fighter license plate."
- MOVED SB 339 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 249
"An Act authorizing an advisory vote on whether the legislature
should propose amendments to the Constitution of the State of
Alaska relating to the use of income of the permanent fund; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED SB 249 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 338 - No previous action to record.
SB 339 - No previous action to record.
SB 249 - No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
Ms. Renee Howell, Staff to Senator Lyda Green
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented overviews on SB 338 & SB 339
Mark Johnson, Chief, Community Health & Emergency Medical Services
Division of Public Health
Department of Health & Social Services
P.O. Box 110616
Juneau, AK 99811-0616
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 338
Mrs. R.J. Nelson, Fire Chief
Nenana Fire Department
Box 70
Nenana, AK 99760
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 338 & SB 339
Craig Lewis, Director
Interior Region EMS Council
3522 Industrial Ave.
Fairbanks, AK 99701
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 338
Ms. Ronni Sullivan, Executive Director
Southern Region EMS Council
6130 Tuttle Place
Anchorage, AK 99507
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 338
Steve O'Connor, Assistant Chief
Central Emergency Services
231 S. Binkley
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 338
Tim Everson
207 Moller Drive, #113
Sitka, AK 99835
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 338
Jay Dulany, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles
Department of Administration
5700 E. Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK 99507-1225
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered information on SB 339
Craig Johnson, Staff to Senator Ward
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Present to respond to questions on SB 249
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 98-13, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate State Affairs Committee to order
at 3:33 p.m., and noted the presence of Senators Ward, Mackie and
Green.
SB 338 - TUITION WAIVER FOR EMT WIDOW/CHILD
CHAIRMAN GREEN brought SB 338 before the committee as the first
order of business and invited Ms. Howell to present an overview on
the legislation.
RENEE HOWELL, staff to Senator Green, read the following statement
into the record.
"Currently the state of Alaska grants tuition waivers to state-
supported educational facilities for the families of members of the
armed services killed in the line of duty. Senate Bill 338
provides this tribute to families of emergency medical service
providers that are killed in the line of duty by establishing a
tuition waiver for the spouse and child to obtain an undergraduate
degree from a state-supported Alaskan educational institution.
"The reality of being placed in harm's way is part of the delivery
of emergency medical services. EMS providers are in no less danger
than their counterparts in the police and fire departments. They
get shot, stabbed and assaulted. It is difficult to appreciate the
danger associated with pulling an injured victim from flooding
rivers, steep hillsides, and crushed motor vehicles. Although they
may not be in the public eye as often, there is an EMS provider
responding to every assault with injuries, every domestic violence
case with injuries, every psychological emergency, every involved
fire, every motor vehicle accident with injuries, every terrorist
event and every hazardous materials spill with potential injuries.
"In Alaska there are over 130 EMS calls per day equaling almost
50,000 per year. Although the data is not complete, EMS responses
customarily are three to four times as frequent as responses to
fires. This actuality places the EMS provider at risk. Between
1985 to current, there have been 10 EMS providers in Alaska who
died in the line of duty.
"In Alaska, there are many communities and villages that do not
have either law enforcement or fire departments. However, very few
are without emergency medical services. In many locations, the EMS
responder is the only authority figure who regularly responds to
every form of emergency, including ones that place the life of the
responder in peril. The EMS person is the mental health
professional and intervenes in all kinds of abuse and suicide
situations and often becomes the eyes and ears of law enforcement.
"EMS personnel provide for the protection and safety of all
Alaskans. They are an integral part of the Public Safety community
and deserve the same recognition and benefits as police and fire
personnel."
Number 054
CHAIRMAN GREEN asked if all EMS personnel are certified by the
Department of Health and Social Services. MS. HOWELL acknowledged
that they are, and she noted that paramedics are included under
this bill as well, however, they are licensed by the State Medical
Board.
Number 085
MARK JOHNSON, Chief, Community Health & Emergency Medical Services,
Department of Health and Social Services, testifying in support of
SB 338, confirmed that the department certifies EMTs from level I
up to level III, as well as ground ambulance services and air
medical services, including Medivac and air ambulance services,
under statute and regulations. He said the legislation covers
those who either work for or volunteer with a state certified
emergency medical service, as well as paramedics working for a
state certified ambulance service.
Mr. Johnson said emergency medical providers encounter a variety of
risks from hazardous rescue situations to infectious diseases, and
the department thinks it appropriate that a tuition waiver be
established for the spouse and children of a member of an emergency
medical service who is killed in the line of duty.
Number 110
MRS. R.J. NELSON, Fire Chief, Nenana Fire Department, testifying
via teleconference from Nenana, commended Ms. Howell for her
presentation on SB 338 and voiced her full support for the
legislation.
Number 116
CRAIG LEWIS, Director, Interior Region EMS Council, Fairbanks,
testifying via teleconference from Fairbanks, stated that during
previous testimony on HB 334 (TUITION WAIVER FOR POLICE
WIDOW/CHILD) he encouraged the committee to develop this
legislation for EMS providers. He expressed his appreciation to
Chairman Green and Ms. Howell for doing an excellent job in putting
the bill together. He said the legislation properly recognizes EMS
providers and it puts them in an excellent position to feel
equivalent to the other public safety people.
Number 127
MS. RONNIE SULLIVAN, Executive Director, Southern Region, EMS
Council, Anchorage, said EMS providers are routinely expected to
respond quickly no matter what the weather is, which often means
the kind of weather that causes someone else to be hurt badly. She
voiced strong support for the legislation, which she said is an
excellent and inexpensive way to say "Thank You" to the many EMS
volunteers.
Number 142
STEVE O'CONNOR, Assistant Chief, Central Emergency Services,
Soldotna, as well as vice chair of the Alaska Council on Emergency
Medical Services, testifying from Soldotna, said he also supported
SB 338 for the same reasons as the previous speakers. He said the
legislation goes a long way in recognizing one of the components of
the community's public safety, and he urged its passage.
Number 152
TIM EVERSON, Executive Director, Southeast Region, EMS Council,
Sitka, testifying via teleconference from Sitka in support of SB
338, noted he is a volunteer EMS responder with the Sitka Fire
Department. He informed the committee that over 100 Medivacs are
performed each year in the Southeast Region, and these Medivacs are
performed often times by volunteers in small planes and in hostile
weather conditions. He said it would nice to provide this benefit
to them in the case of a deadly accident.
There being no further testimony on SB 338, CHAIRMAN GREEN stated
she would accept a motion on the bill.
Number 170
SENATOR WARD moved SB 338 and the accompanying fiscal note be
passed out of committee with individual recommendations. Hearing
no objection, it was so ordered.
SB 339 - FIRE FIGHTER LICENSE PLATES
CHAIRMAN GREEN brought SB 339 before the committee and invited Ms.
Howell to present an overview on the legislation.
RENEE HOWELL, staff to Senator Green, read the following sponsor
statement into the record:
"Currently, volunteer firefighters make up 80 percent of Alaska's
4,255 firefighters. Senate Bill 339 will establish a volunteer
firefighter license plate available for purchase only by volunteer
firefighters. The purchase price is $50. The license plate will
provide recognition for volunteer firefighters and will provide a
possible source of revenue for firefighter training around the
state.
"Historically, small communities do not have the money to pay for
a full-time fire department and they rely on volunteers. These
volunteers, in addition to their full-time careers, dedicate their
spare time to firefighting and firefighter training. A volunteer
receives comparable training as that of a full-time paid
firefighter. They risk their lives and are the unsung heroes of
many communities across the state. Let us honor their dedication
and sacrifice by establishing a visible means of recognition for
these important and dedicated community volunteers."
Number 195
CHAIRMAN GREEN inquired how the design for these plates is created.
MS. HOWELL responded that she was informed by Juanita Hensley of
the Division of Motor Vehicles that there is a graphic designer
that has a list of restrictions on size, color, etc., for the
design of the plates. Individuals are allowed to submit
recommendations for the plates, but the division makes the final
decision.
Number 206
JAY DULANY, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of
Administration, said the division always tries to work with the
organizations, such as the Gold Rush Centennial Committee, when
there is a special plate to get a design that is most beneficial to
the organization and he doesn't see any problems with doing
something with this one as well.
Number 217
MRS. R.J. NELSON, Fire Chief Nenana Fire Department, testifying via
teleconference from Nenana, related that she did a survey in her
area asking what firefighters thought of these plates and she
received a lot of positive responses, and she has submitted some
examples and ideas for plates to the committee which were suggested
by firefighters and herself. She also pointed out that the
training requirements are exactly the same for volunteers and paid
firefighters and most of the communities in the state are protected
by volunteer department only. Directing the revenue generated from
the sale of these plates towards training of firefighters will be
a real benefit to rural communities around the state. She said the
legislation honors the state of Alaska's volunteer firefighters
with a lot of respect and appreciation.
There being no further testimony on SB 339, CHAIRMAN GREEN asked
for the will of the committee.
SENATOR MACKIE moved SB 339 and the accompanying zero fiscal note
be passed out of committee with individual recommendations.
Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
SB 249 - PERMANENT FUND ADVISORY VOTE
CHAIRMAN GREEN brought SB 249 before the committee as the final
order of business.
SENATOR WARD, prime sponsor of SB 249, explained that the
legislation requests the lieutenant governor to place an advisory
vote on the ballot relating to the use of income of the permanent
fund.
There being no testimony on SB 249, CHAIRMAN GREEN asked for the
pleasure of the committee.
SENATOR MACKIE moved SB 249 and the accompanying fiscal note be
passed out of committee with individual recommendations. Hearing
no objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business to come before the committee, the
meeting adjourned at 3:52 p.m.
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