00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 254                                                                          
01 "An Act directing the Alaska Police Standards Council to determine the number of                                        
02 police officers needed for various purposes; and providing for an effective date."                                      
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section                         
05 to read:                                                                                                                
06       FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.  The legislature finds that police protection should be                                     
07 universal across the state and law enforcement personnel should have the tools to perform                               
08 their duties.  The legislature recognizes that defining police staffing and deployment                                  
09 requirements is a complex effort that requires consideration of numerous factors.  The                                  
10 purpose of this Act is to determine police staffing levels and deployment requirements                                  
11 necessary to protect all communities in the state.                                                                      
12    * Sec. 2.  AS 18.65 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                    
13            Sec. 18.65.222.  Assessment of police officer levels.  (a)  Through a process                              
14       established by the council, the council shall annually determine the number of police                             
01       officers required in each community of the state that would enable the Department of                              
02       Public Safety to                                                                                                  
03                 (1)  respond to emergency and nonemergency demands of all citizens in                                   
04       a timely manner;                                                                                                  
05                 (2)  conduct prevention and other proactive patrol tasks effectively,                                   
06       including community-oriented policing and problem solving;                                                        
07                 (3)  allow officers to meet administrative requirements satisfactorily,                                 
08       including report writing, training, court, and personal needs; and                                                
09                 (4)  ensure the safety of the public and police officers.                                               
10            (b)  On or before November 1 of each year, the council shall submit a report to                              
11       the governor that includes its findings under (a) of this section.  The council shall                             
12       notify the legislature that the report is available.                                                              
13    * Sec. 3.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                         
14 read:                                                                                                                   
15       TRANSITIONAL PROVISION.  Notwithstanding AS 18.65.222(b), enacted by sec. 2                                       
16 of this Act, the first report by the Alaska Police Standards Council that is required under                             
17 AS 18.65.222, enacted by sec. 2 of this Act, is due on or before January 31, 2004, the second                           
18 report is due on or before November 1, 2004, and subsequent reports are due annually                                    
19 thereafter.                                                                                                             
20    * Sec. 4.  This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).