HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE April 16, 1993 8:47 A.m. CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Larson called the House Finance Committee to order at 8:47 a.m. PRESENT Co-Chair Larson Co-Chair MacLean Vice-Chair Hanley Representative Martin Representative Brown Representative Parnell Representative Foster Representative Therriault Representative Grussendorf Representatives Hoffman and Navarre were absent from the meeting. ALSO PRESENT Ken Erickson, Staff, Senator Pearce; Larry Fanning, City and Borough Juneau; Philip Reeves, Attorney, Kenai Peninsula Borough; Lieutenant Tandeske, Anchorage Police Force; C. E. Swackhammer, Deputy Director, Department of Public Safety; Kevin O'Leary, Chief, Anchorage Police Department. SUMMARY INFORMATION HB 93 "An Act relating to the village public safety officers program." CSHB 93 (CRA) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a zero fiscal note by the Department of Public Safety, dated 3/26/93. SB 97 "An Act relating to enhanced 911 emergency reporting systems; and providing for an effective date." SB 97 was HELD in a subcommittee consisting of Chair Parnell with Representatives Foster and Brown. HOUSE BILL NO. 93 "An Act relating to the village public safety officers program." Representative Foster noted that CSHB 93 (CRA) would place the Village Public Safety Officer Program (VPSO) into Alaska Statutes. Representative Foster MOVED to report CSHB 93 (CRA) out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal note. Co-Chair Larson asked if CSHB 93 (CRA) would affect the trooper retirement program. C. E. SWACKHAMMER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY clarified that CSHB 93 (CRA) would not affect the trooper retirement system. He added that VPSO officers are not on the state retirement system. Representative Parnell noted that CSHB 93 (CRA) will "formally institute the VPSO program in Alaska statutes, and formally institute the program in the Department of Public Safety." He asked if the Department of Public Safety can achieve this goal through the administration of contracts. Mr. Swackhammer replied that the regulation process is a more efficient and public way to manage the program. He noted that the program was begun as a pilot program, 12 years ago, and has grown to 121 officers. He asserted that it is time to recognize the program by statute. Representative Parnell expressed support for the VPSO program. He asked if it is the Department's intention to bring the VPSO program into the state's retirement system. Mr. Swackhammer stated that VPSO officer's are not included in the state's retirement system. He added that it is not the intention of the Department to make VPSO officers state employees. He stressed that the Department's primary concern is to raise the level of pay for VPSO officers. LIEUTENANT TANDESKE, ANCHORAGE POLICE OFFICER agreed that it is not the intention of the Department to make VPSO officers state employees. Representative Martin asked if VPSO officers are employed full-time. Mr. Swackhammer answered that they are full-time contract employees. Representative Parnell asked if the state will incur additional liability with the passage of CSHB 93 (CRA). Mr. Swackhammer clarified that the state will not incur additional liability. The state is already liable for VPSO officer's actions. Mr. Swackhammer stated that the annual cost of the VPSO program is $6 million dollars. Co-Chair Larson restated the motion to move CSHB 93 (CRA) out of committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSHB 93 (CRA) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a zero fiscal note by the Department of Public Safety, dated 3/26/93. SENATE BILL NO. 97 "An Act relating to enhanced 911 emergency reporting systems; and providing for an effective date." KEN ERICKSON, STAFF, SENATOR PEARCE stated that SSSB 97 (Fin) will enable emergency dispatchers to better assist people who call 911 when they find themselves in life threatening situations. He asserted that victims of crime, the young, and the elderly are often unable to give adequate directions when they dial 911. If enacted, SB 97 would create a mechanism to fund enhanced 911 emergency reporting systems (E 911). The bill is permissive. Mr. Erickson pointed out that enhanced 911 emergency reporting systems provide an expansion of the benefits of the basic 911 emergency telephone number. Among the benefits are: 1) Immediate visual display of the location and telephone number of the caller. 2) Automatic routing to the appropriate emergency response unit. 3) Faster response time. 4) Curtailment of abuses of the emergency system by documenting callers. Mr. Erickson observed that SSSB (FIN) gives immunity from liability, except for intentional acts of misconduct or gross negligence, to municipalities and their suppliers of 911 services. He explained that the bill, for the purposes of a dispatcher furnishing name and address information to emergency response units, waives the telephone customer's privacy rights normally afforded by unlisted phone numbers. Representative Brown discussed the additional cost to the Municipality of Anchorage. She referred to the system for the Municipality of Anchorage. BILL O'LEARY, CHIEF, ANCHORAGE POLICE DEPARTMENT clarified that Anchorage does not have a E 911 system. A RFP has been issued and bids have been received on the creation of a system. The estimated cost is $300 thousand dollars. He noted that individuals not residing in the Anchorage Police Department Service Area (APDSA) are not paying for the service that they are receiving. He noted that the legislation is based on model legislation used in 48 other states. He added that the Anchorage Police Department is prohibited by charter from providing services out side of the APDSA. He stated that the actual overall cost of an E 911 in the APDSA is $4.1 million dollars. Representative Brown stated that other states extend basic 911 service to the unserved areas of the states. She noted that there are many areas in Alaska that do not have basic service. She thought that other areas did not have local area option. Chief O'Leary stated that Northwestern states have a state run tariff that allows community to opt into the basic service. He added that many other states allow the option of Emergency 911 service. Co-Chair MacLean echoed the concerns of Representative Brown. Mr. Tandeske noted that communities will be able to institute the service with the help of SB 97. LARRY FANNING, FIRE CHIEF, CITY AND BOROUGH OF JUNEAU (CBJ) stated that CBJ is in the process of creating an E 911 system. He explained that the basic system only shows the callers telephone number. In an E 911 system the location is shown. Additional fields can be added to the data base. For example, medical needs or information concerning hazardous materials on site can be added to the callers identification. He pointed out that SB 97 provides a .75 cent cap. The municipality determines the cost within the cap. There is an additional on going cost of purchasing the data base from communications carriers. He noted that there will also be annual repair cost. He stressed that the geographical condition of Alaska determines a different approach than what has been adopted in other states. He emphasized that the ability to locate 911 calls quickly will greatly enhance service to communities. Representative Brown noted that E 911 will not work with the PBX switch used in state offices. Mr. Fanning clarified that technology exists to convert PBX systems to allow them to be compatible with the E 911 system. Representative Martin noted that the State of Alaska does not have the same telephone communications systems as other states. Representative Brown asked what CBJ anticipates charging users. He clarified that the initial system cost is $256 thousand dollars. The cost will be amortized over 5 years at a consumer cost of .25 cents per line. He added that calls need to be communicated to the units in the field. The legislation allows for essential radio communications equipment. Representative Martin expressed concern that the additional charge is not time determined. He did not think SB 97 would aid the state emergency units. Mr. Fanning stated that the legislation allows jurisdictional areas to provide services to other jurisdictional areas. PHILIP REEVES, DEPUTY ATTORNEY, KENAI BOROUGH noted that additional on going costs for the Kenai system include: * $48.0 thousand dollars a year for the telephone data base; * $75.0 - $100.0 thousand dollars a year for dedicated lines to extend service to outlying rural areas. Mr. Reeves felt that passage of SB 97 is very important to the system's operation. He noted that the Kenai Borough is approaching their mill cap and that revenue sharing has been reduced. Chief O'Leary stressed that the cost for Anchorage is $4.1 million dollars. They expect to capture $600 - $700 thousand dollars through the passage of SB 97. Mr. Erickson clarified, in response to a question by Co- Chair MacLean, that subsection (e) on page 4 states that local exchange telephone companies are not liable for uncollected surcharges. He explained that local exchange companies will have to carry part of the uncollected cost. The intent is that if a consumer does not pay their bill the utility would pro rate the amount. Part would go to operation costs and part to the 911 surcharge. Chief O'Leary explained, for Representative Brown, that the cost for the E 911 system is $2 million dollars. The additional $4 million dollars will pay for linkage of field officers. Representative Brown noted that personnel costs to acquire, operate, install and maintain a system can be paid for by the surcharge. She asked for clarification of which personnel would be covered by the surcharge. Chief O'Leary explained that call takers which are E 911 trained operators will be covered. The call takers transfer calls to dispatchers. Dispatchers will not be included. Co-Chair Larson placed SB 97 into a subcommittee consisting of Chair Parnell with Representatives Foster and Brown. SB 97 was HELD in a subcommittee consisting of Chair Parnell with Representatives Foster and Brown. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:28 a.m.