2017-03-08                     House Journal                      Page 0432
HB 163                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 163 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act authorizing the Department of Public Safety to enter into                                                          
     agreements with nonprofit regional corporations and federal,                                                               
     tribal, and local government agencies to provide law enforcement                                                           
     services; authorizing the Department of Public Safety to collect                                                           
     fees for certain law enforcement services; and providing for an                                                            
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance                                                           
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Zero, Dept. of Administration                                                                                               
2.  Indeterminate, Dept. of Public Safety                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated March 7 follows:                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill authorizing the Department of                                                            
Public Safety to enter into agreements with and collect fees from                                                               
nonprofit regional corporations and federal, tribal, and local                                                                  
government agencies to provide law enforcement services.                                                                        

2017-03-08                     House Journal                      Page 0433
The State's current fiscal crisis has forced many agencies to                                                                   
reevaluate how they allocate their limited resources. In particular,                                                            
the Department of Public Safety has been forced to reduce its                                                                   
Trooper presence in some areas. Under current law, the Department                                                               
of Public Safety does not have the ability to enter into contractual                                                            
agreements with communities to provide continued law enforcement                                                                
services. This requires many of these areas to consider procuring                                                               
alternate law enforcement services. The bill would allow nonprofit                                                              
regional corporations and governmental agencies to contract with                                                                
the Department of Public Safety and pay for Trooper presence in                                                                 
their area. This will not only have a positive effect on public safety                                                          
in those local areas, but will also allow the Department to better                                                              
allocate resources in order to continue to provide basic law                                                                    
enforcement services statewide. This bill would limit contracts to                                                              
communities that currently lack an organized police force.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor"