2020-01-27                     Senate Journal                      Page 1579
SB 164                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 164 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to the crime of impersonating a                                                                      
          peace officer; relating to the powers of the Alaska                                                                   
          Police Standards Council; relating to the definition of                                                               
          'village police officer'; and providing for an effective                                                              
          date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance                                                           
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Public Safety                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 24:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Giessel:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to Police Standards in                                                          
Alaska. This bill will ensure that Alaska has rigorous, enforceable                                                             
standards for the employment of police and village police officers                                                              
throughout Alaska.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The bill proposes amendments to AS 18.65, Police Protection, to                                                                 
provide that a person may not be appointed as a police or village                                                               
police officer if the person has been convicted of a felony, a sex                                                              
offense defined in AS 12.63.100, or a crime involving domestic                                                                  
violence as defined in AS 18.66.990. The legislation further clarifies                                                          
that the Alaska Police Standards Council has the power to set                                                                   
standards for employment for village police officers by regulation and                                                          
may investigate when there is reason to believe an officer or a village                                                         
police officer does not meet minimum standards for employment. In                                                               
addition, this bill would include a definition for village police officer                                                       
in statute.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                

2020-01-27                     Senate Journal                      Page 1580
Establishing in law the standards and qualifications for the                                                                    
employment of police and village police officers, will ensure that                                                              
individuals who are appointed to these important positions of trust and                                                         
authority in our communities, are qualified to hold such a position.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this important public                                                                
safety measure.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor