04/16/1993 08:47 AM House FIN

  HOUSE BILL NO. 93                                                            
                                                                               
       "An Act relating to the  village public safety officers                 
       program."                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
  Representative Foster noted  that CSHB 93 (CRA)  would place                 
  the Village Public Safety Officer Program (VPSO) into Alaska                 
  Statutes.  Representative Foster  MOVED  to  report CSHB  93                 
  (CRA) out  of Committee with  individual recommendations and                 
  with the accompanying fiscal note.                                           
                                                                               
  Co-Chair  Larson  asked if  CSHB 93  (CRA) would  affect the                 
  trooper retirement program.                                                  
                                                                               
  C.  E. SWACKHAMMER,  DEPUTY DIRECTOR,  DEPARTMENT OF  PUBLIC                 
  SAFETY clarified  that CSHB  93 (CRA)  would not  affect the                 
  trooper retirement system.  He added that  VPSO officers are                 
  not on the state retirement system.                                          
                                                                               
  Representative  Parnell   noted  that  CSHB  93  (CRA)  will                 
  "formally institute the VPSO program in Alaska statutes, and                 
  formally institute the  program in the Department  of Public                 
  Safety."  He  asked if the  Department of Public Safety  can                 
  achieve this goal through the administration of contracts.                   
                                                                               
  Mr. Swackhammer  replied that  the regulation  process is  a                 
  more efficient and  public way  to manage the  program.   He                 
  noted that  the program  was begun  as a  pilot program,  12                 
  years ago, and has grown to 121 officers.   He asserted that                 
  it is time to recognize the program by statute.                              
                                                                               
  Representative  Parnell  expressed   support  for  the  VPSO                 
  program.  He  asked if it  is the Department's intention  to                 
  bring the VPSO  program into the state's  retirement system.                 
  Mr. Swackhammer stated that VPSO  officer's are not included                 
  in the state's retirement  system.  He added that  it is not                 
  the intention  of the Department to make VPSO officers state                 
  employees.    He  stressed  that  the  Department's  primary                 
  concern is to raise the level of pay for VPSO officers.                      
                                                                               
  LIEUTENANT TANDESKE, ANCHORAGE POLICE OFFICER agreed that it                 
  is not the intention of the Department to make VPSO officers                 
  state employees.                                                             
                                                                               
  Representative Martin  asked if  VPSO officers  are employed                 
  full-time.  Mr. Swackhammer answered that they are full-time                 
  contract employees.                                                          
                                                                               
  Representative  Parnell  asked  if  the  state   will  incur                 
  additional liability with the passage of CSHB 93 (CRA).  Mr.                 
  Swackhammer  clarified   that  the  state   will  not  incur                 
  additional liability.  The state  is already liable for VPSO                 
  officer's actions.                                                           
                                                                               
  Mr. Swackhammer  stated that  the annual  cost  of the  VPSO                 
  program is $6 million dollars.                                               
                                                                               
  Co-Chair Larson  restated the motion  to move CSHB  93 (CRA)                 
  out  of  committee.   There being  NO  OBJECTION, it  was so                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  ordered.                                                                     
                                                                               
  CSHB 93 (CRA) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass"                 
  recommendation and with a zero fiscal note by the Department                 
  of Public Safety, dated 3/26/93.