02/15/2018 03:15 PM House STATE AFFAIRS

         HB 293-BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR POLICE & TRAINING                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
3:19:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS  announced that  the first order  of business                                                              
would be  HOUSE BILL NO.  293, "An Act  relating to powers  of the                                                              
Alaska  Police  Standards  Council;  and  relating  to  background                                                              
checks   for   admission   to   police   training   programs   and                                                              
certification as a police officer."                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:20:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WOOL  asked  for  the  number  of  village  police                                                              
officers (VPOs) in Alaska.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:20:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROBERT  GRIFFITHS,  Executive Director,  Alaska  Police  Standards                                                              
Council (APSC),  Department  of Public Safety  (DPS), referred  to                                                              
his letter  dated 1/31/18, included  in the committee  packet, and                                                              
said that  there are seven VPOs  actively enrolled with  APSC, but                                                              
APSC is aware that  there are many more who are  not in compliance                                                              
with the regulations.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:21:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KNOPP  stated that  he  is uncomfortable  with  HB
.  He expressed  that he was unclear on the  status of VPOs and                                                              
what  entity  employs  them.    He  mentioned  there  being  seven                                                              
actively  enrolled  VPOs  and  138  communities  that  potentially                                                              
would  be affected.    He offered  that his  concern  is that  the                                                              
state would  be engaging in a  recruitment program that  it cannot                                                              
afford.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:22:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL  moved to report HB 293 out  of committee with                                                              
individual  recommendations  and   the  accompanying  zero  fiscal                                                              
notes.  There being  no objection, HB 293 reported  from the House                                                              
State Affairs Standing Committee.