Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/31/2015 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB56 | |
| SB24 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 56 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 56-ALASKA FIREFIGHTERS' DAY
9:01:47 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced the consideration of HB 56.
9:02:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE BOB LYNN, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, provided a sponsor statement as follows:
There's a special group of people who help us survive.
At the federal level, of course, it's American's
military. At the state and local levels it's first
responders and that includes our Alaska firefighters.
When you're trying to escape a fire, firefighters run
into burning buildings to help us escape. When you
suffer a heart attack or some other medical emergency,
it's our firefighters who rush into our home to save
our lives. When you are trapped in a car from some
horrible accident, it's firefighters who rush to the
scene to rescue us with Jaws of Life. Unless we
survive, all of the other issues and challenges and
opportunities are moot. Alaska's firefighters deserve
their own special day of recognition and I urge you to
pass this bill out of committee. This good bill has
become a better bill when the Chairman included
volunteer firefighters. I urge you to pass the bill.
9:03:36 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE noted that the committee has a committee
substitute (CS) that Representative Lynn referenced. He pointed
out that the CS does not change any substance of the bill. He
added that the CS has a Findings Section that will not be
included in the statutes, but does reflect the contribution of a
large number of folks.
SENATOR MCGUIRE moved to adopt the Senate State Affairs version
for HB 56, [29-LS0241\W] as the working document.
CHAIR STOLTZE objected and explained that he worked closely with
the bill sponsor with the desire to recognize the large number
of people that are not paid professionals.
9:04:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN commented that Chairman Stoltze made a good
bill much better.
CHAIR STOLTZE detailed that the bill's Findings Section is only
reflected in the legislative record that the volunteers will be
recognized. He pointed out that service includes non-police,
public safety, dispatchers, wild firefighters and so forth.
9:05:08 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE asked if there were any other objections. He
announced that the CS is before the committee.
9:05:29 AM
JEFF TUCKER, Fire Chief, Kenai Fire Department, Kenai, Alaska,
revealed that he is also the 2nd Vice President for the Alaska
Fire Chiefs Association. He said HB 56 recognizes the
contributions of firefighters across the state, both career and
volunteer firefighters. He pointed out that the bill gives the
state a date to pause, reflect, and celebrate the services that
the men and women firefighters provide for their communities. He
said the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association supports and encourages
the adoption of HB 56.
9:06:24 AM
MARK HALL, Fire Chief, Hilcorp Alaska, LLC, Alaska-North Slope,
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, said HB 56 is a great thing for all of the
fire-people in the fire-service, including professionals that
volunteers or paid that put their lives on the line. He
concurred with Chief Tucker that HB 56 will establish a great
day for people to just think about what the fire-service does
for their community and what the community does for the service
too.
9:07:45 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE pointed out that firefighting personnel includes
both men and women. He noted that the fire chief at his local
fire department is a woman.
MR. HALL agreed with Chair Stoltze.
9:08:02 AM
KELLY NICOLELLO, Alaska State Fire Marshal, Director, Division
of Fire and Life Safety, Alaska Department of Public Safety,
Anchorage, Alaska, pointed out that there are approximately 1500
firefighters across the state made up of career, municipal,
borough, wildland, and airport firefighters. He added that there
are approximately 6000 volunteer municipal, borough, village,
and wildland firefighters that are all considered professionals
for serving communities with their heart, soul, pocketbooks, and
sometimes their lives. He stated that the vast majority of
firefighters are volunteers who have other fulltime careers. He
said all firefighters dedicate many extra hours to learn, train,
equip, and respond to local emergency situations.
He stated that recognition of Alaska Firefighter Day is a great
way to demonstrate that firefighters' personal involvement means
more than what happens locally. He said that the service
firefighters perform has a direct impact on the quality of life
of those around them and is recognized as a positive
contribution to Alaska as a whole. He summarized that the
recognition of Alaska Firefighter Day during Fire Prevention
Week is appropriate when remembrance is given to those
firefighters who have lost their lives in the performance of
their duties.
9:10:31 AM
SENATOR MCGUIRE stated that she had one amendment for the
committee to consider.
9:11:02 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE asked if there was any other public testimony. He
announced that public testimony was closed.
SENATOR MCGUIRE noted that she serves on the board for the
Alaska Police and Fire Chaplains' Ministries. She pointed out
that chaplains are an amazing part of the fire service. She said
chaplains are people that go on the frontlines and help comfort
families that lost their loved ones.
SENATOR MCGUIRE moved and asked for unanimous consent that on
line 13, after "search and rescue personnel" put a comma and add
"chaplains."
CHAIR STOLTZE asked Senator McGuire to repeat her conceptual
amendment.
SENATOR MCGUIRE restated that on page 1, line 13, after "search
and rescue personnel" insert a comma and add "chaplains, and
countless others beyond the field."
9:12:18 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE found no objection and announced that [Amendment
1] is adopted.
He said he would like to make a personal dedication to two
individuals that put three to four decades in their respective
fire departments near the area where he lives. He cited Charles
Von Gunten from the Butte Volunteer Fire Department and Cliff
Gilmore from the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department.
9:13:16 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to report the Senate CS for HB 56, version
\W as amended, be moved from committee with individual comments
and zero fiscal note.
9:13:29 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced that hearing no objection SCS HB 56(STA)
is reported from Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB56 Support Document - Written Testimony Kelly Nicollelo - Presented in HSTA 2-24-15.pdf |
SSTA 3/31/2015 9:00:00 AM |
HB 56 |
| HB56 Support Document - AK State Firefighters Association list of fallen firefighters - provided by SSTA.pdf |
SSTA 3/31/2015 9:00:00 AM |
HB 56 |
| HB56 - SSTA CS Workdraft version W - 3.27.15.pdf |
SSTA 3/31/2015 9:00:00 AM |
HB 56 |
| SB24 Backup Document - Legislature Contracts - provided by Sen. Gardner.pdf |
SSTA 3/31/2015 9:00:00 AM |
SB 24 |
| SB24 Backup Document - LB&A Current Contracts - provided by Sen. Gardner.pdf |
SSTA 3/31/2015 9:00:00 AM |
SB 24 |