00Enrolled SR 6                                                                                                           
01 Creating and relating to the Senate VPSO Task Force.                                                                    
02                                        _______________                                                                  
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:                                                                                         
04      WHEREAS many rural areas of the state, including rural areas located on the road                                 
05 system, depend on village public safety officers for police protection and law enforcement;                             
06 and                                                                                                                     
07      WHEREAS nonprofit regional corporations, coordinating with the state, administer                                 
08 village public safety officer programs; and                                                                             
09      WHEREAS it is in the interest of the entire state to ensure that rural areas are                                 
10 provided with adequate law enforcement services;                                                                        
11      BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate VPSO Task Force is established in the legislative                                 
12 branch by the senate, consisting of three senators and three public members appointed by the                            
13 president of the senate, who shall designate one of the senate members to serve as chair; and                           
14 be it                                                                                                                   
15      FURTHER RESOLVED that the public members of the task force may receive per                                       
16 diem and travel expenses authorized for boards and commissions under AS 39.20.180, subject                              
17 to available funding and approval by the task force chair; and be it                                                    

01      FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall                                                                       
02           (1)  consider the role of the village public safety officer program and ways in                               
03 which the program can be improved to better serve rural areas of the state, including areas                             
04 located on roads;                                                                                                       
05           (2)  identify any problems with the village public safety officer program and                                 
06 ways those problems might be addressed;                                                                                 
07           (3)  review statutes and regulations that deal with the village public safety                                 
08 officer program and consider whether statutory changes are necessary or desirable;                                      
09           (4)  prepare and deliver to the Senate, by January 15, 2007, a report of the                                  
10 findings and recommendations of the task force; and be it                                                               
11      FURTHER RESOLVED that, subject to available funding, the chair of the task force                                 
12 may hire staff and that the Legislative Affairs Agency shall provide administrative support to                          
13 the task force as needed; and be it                                                                                     
14      FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate VPSO Task Force is terminated on                                                
15 January 15, 2007.                                                                                                       
16      A COPY of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable William Tandeske,                                       
17 Commissioner, Department of Public Safety.