Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
04/04/2022 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB85 | |
| SB223 | |
| HB148 | |
| HB209 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 85 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 223 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 148 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 209 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 209-EMERGENCY FIREFIGHTERS
4:36:28 PM
VICE CHAIR MICCICHE announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE
BILL NO. 209(FIN) "An Act relating to emergency firefighters;
and providing for an effective date."
4:36:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CRONK, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of HB 209, read the following sponsor statement
into the record:
HB 209 authorizes the Commissioner of the Department
of Natural Resources to hire emergency firefighter
personnel using general fund appropriations.
By amending AS 41.15.030 (b), allowing the use of
general funds to pay EFF personnel, they would be able
to perform nonemergency work, such hazardous fuels
reduction, fuel break development, fire prevention,
habitat restoration or improvement activities in fire-
prone areas. In addition, this would provide economic
opportunities for Alaskans and empower rural Alaskans,
for the department to responsibly manage the state's
natural resources, and to enhance public safety to
protect and save human lives.
Such nonemergency work could reduce the likelihood,
intensity, and damage of wildland fires near populated
areas and could bring significant reductions in the
state's costs to fight future fires. By employing EFF
during non-emergency would provide training, fitness,
and readiness for when a wildfire does occur. The
number of EFF personnel that may be interested in
applying for a permanent DNR job would increase, which
would help with recruitment.
Based on the legislative history, amending AS
41.15.030(b)'s last sentence does not appear to yield
and constitutional or legal problems. In 1996, the
legislature added the last sentence to address
concerns of conflict with the Alaska Personnel Act;
specifically, that short term non-permanent employees
would become full time employees. However, in 2000,
the legislature amended the APA to allow for long term
nonpermanent employees. Due to that amendment, the
apparent concerns expressed by the legislature in 1996
warranting the inclusion of the last sentence no
longer exists.
VICE CHAIR MICCICHE turned to invited testimony on HB 209.
4:39:20 PM
NORM MACDONALD, Chief of Fire and Aviation, Division of
Forestry, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Palmer, Alaska,
testified by invitation in support of HB 209. He stated that
this bill manifests Alaska's need to build firefighting capacity
as the challenge of wildland fires increase. The bill will help
the division fulfill its primary mission of protecting Alaskans
from wildland fires and reducing the catastrophic impacts
through hazardous fuels mitigations. HB 209 will also provide
jobs and training for rural Alaskans throughout fire-prone areas
of the state.
MR. MACDONALD agreed with the sponsor that removing the funding
impediment in AS 41.15.030 would allow DNR to use already
allocated general funds to pay emergency firefighters for non-
emergency fire prevention work during periods of low fire
activity. This will enable nonemergency fire prevention work,
provide a training ground for EFF employees to learn valuable
crossover firefighting skills, and provide consistent and
desirable job opportunities for rural Alaskans. Leveraging this
workforce could potentially save tens of millions of dollars in
future fire suppression costs.
MR. MACDONALD highlighted that while this bill allows general
funds to be used for EFF and nonemergency tasks, the division
would only use funds that have already been appropriated for
fuel reduction and prevention work, which is why the fiscal note
is zero. He also noted that the division has and will continue
to receive federal funds for fuels mitigation that will be used
for fire suppression and fire prevention activities by EFF
crews.
MR. MACDONALD emphasized that DOF currently does not have
sufficient personnel to staff for both fire suppression and
fuels reduction. The lack of consistent work for the EFF crews
has resulted in a drastic decline in the number of EFF crews in
the last 10 years and the division has had to import Lower 48
crews, which is expensive and makes a quick, aggressive initial
attack impossible. This increases the overall cost to respond to
wildland fires.
MR. MACDONALD stated that HB 209 will help the division rebuild
its EFF fire crews to create a self-sufficient Alaskan
firefighting force, while reducing costs. The bill also
dovetails with the division's request in the governor's budget
to reinstate a wildland fire academy. The intent is to build
back Alaska's wildland firefighting crews by training
firefighters in rural communities. Providing secure employment
strengthens local economies and enhances public safety.
4:43:49 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked if the state loans its firefighters to
Lower 48 states when the fire danger in Alaska is relatively
low.
MR. MACDONALD confirmed that the division shares its resources
with Lower 48 states when the fire season is over and the fire
indices are low.
SENATOR STEVENS asked for confirmation that it doesn't create a
conflict to loan crews.
MR. MACDONALD confirmed that it does not create a conflict. Life
and safety are priorities so when Lower 48 states have fire
seasons similar to the last several, the division will send
support with every available resource, including EFF crews.
That's been common practice for the last 40 years and will not
stop.
4:45:07 PM
VICE CHAIR MICCICHE opened public testimony on HB 209; finding
none, he closed public testimony.
VICE CHAIR MICCICHE found no further discussion and solicited a
motion.
4:45:43 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to report the CS for HB 209(FIN), work
order 32-LS0929\B from committee with individual recommendations
and attached fiscal note(s).
VICE CHAIR MICCICHE found no objection, and CSHB 209(FIN) was
reported from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.