HB 199-VPSO FIREARMS                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:02:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the  first order of business would                                                               
be HOUSE BILL  NO. 199, "An Act relating to  Department of Public                                                               
Safety  regulations allowing  village public  safety officers  to                                                               
carry firearms."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:02:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BRYCE  EDGMON, Alaska State  Legislature, speaking                                                               
as  sponsor of  HB 199,  acknowledged the  comments and  concerns                                                               
regarding  whether  the  [VPSO] training  regime  is  sufficient.                                                               
After speaking  with the  Department of  Public Safety  (DPS) and                                                               
members of the nonprofit  community, Representative Edgmon opined                                                               
that  the vetting  process  will  be very  thorough  in terms  of                                                               
selecting  candidates to  go to  the Academy,  and thus  would be                                                               
more  than adequate  in  terms  of arming  the  initial slate  of                                                               
VPSOs.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:03:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  LEDOUX  reminded  members  that  public  testimony  was                                                               
closed at the last meeting.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:03:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD related  that she had the costs  of a new                                                               
Alaska  State Trooper  versus  the costs  of a  VPSO.   The  cost                                                               
difference  is significant  such that  a VPSO  costs hundreds  of                                                               
thousands less  than an  Alaska State Trooper.   She  opined that                                                               
due to the budget situation, the costs need to be considered.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:04:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  NAGEAK moved  to report  HB 199  out of  committee with                                                               
individual  recommendations  and  the accompanying  fiscal  note.                                                               
There  being no  objection, HB  199 was  reported from  the House                                                               
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:04:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 8:04 a.m. to 8:07 a.m.