Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
02/21/2012 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB304 | |
| HB254 | |
| HJR34 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 304 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HJR 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 254 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 304-ALASKA FIRE STANDARDS COUNCIL
8:06:30 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business was HOUSE
BILL NO. 304, "An Act relating to the membership of the Alaska
Fire Standards Council."
8:06:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG JOHNSON, Alaska State Legislature, as
sponsor, introduced HB 304. He deferred to his staff to present
the proposed legislation.
8:07:46 AM
ERIN SHINE, Staff, Representative Craig Johnson, Alaska State
Legislature, presented HB 304 on behalf of Representative
Johnson, sponsor. She noted that the sponsor statement in the
committee packet shows two changes [to the membership of the
Alaska Fire Standards Council (AFSC)], and she explained that
there is a third change that did not make it into the sponsor
statement in time for the bill hearing. She said the proposed
legislation would make the following three changes relating to
AFSC: designate an existing seat to a member of the Alaska
Professional Fire Fighters Association (AKPFFA); add a seat for
a member of the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA); and
reclassify the existing seat for the Alaska State Firefighters
Association (ASFA) from "firefighter administrative officer" to
"a member of" the association.
MS. SHINE stated that the mission of AFSC is to establish
professional standards for fire service personnel and curriculum
requirements for the certification of training programs. She
said AKPFFA, an affiliate of the International Association of
Fire Fighters, represents roughly 500 career fire fighters
throughout the state. She relayed that the mission of AFCA is
to serve the people of the state of Alaska by influencing fire
and emergency services programs in legislation, advancing fire
and emergency services professionals, and providing for the
safety and well-being of fire fighters and their communities.
She said the mission of ASFA is to serve its members through
professionalism and leadership, thereby enhancing the fire
rescue services of Alaska.
MS. SHINE said under HB 304, the Governor would appoint one
member of AKPFFA, one member of ASFA, and one member of AFCA to
the council from a list of at least three nominees submitted by
each association. She said the intent of the bill is to ensure
that AKPFFA, ASFA, and AFCA are represented on the Alaska Fire
Standards Council and to guarantee their designees can "speak
with the full confidence of their respective associations."
8:10:54 AM
MS. SHINE, in response to a question from Chair Lynn, offered
her understanding that the need for HB 304 was voiced by AFCA
and AKPFFA, as well as through letters of support from AFSC.
8:12:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN asked, "So, instead of having an
administrator, we're having a professional fire fighter - an
experienced fire fighter - on the council instead? Is that ...
why that was switched?"
MS. SHINE answered yes.
8:12:36 AM
MS. SHINE, in response to Representative P. Wilson, said after
asking all three associations and the council, she could not
find any opposition to the proposed bill. In response to
Representative Seaton, she offered her understanding that HB 304
includes all fire fighter associations of Alaska; however, she
deferred to upcoming witnesses for verification.
8:14:04 AM
JEFF TUCKER, Fire Chief, North Star Volunteer Fire Department
(NSVFD); Past President, Alaska Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA),
testifying in support of HB 304, confirmed Ms. Shine's answer to
Representative Seaton that [HB 304] would represent the three
statewide organizations that represent fire fighters throughout
Alaska. He said AFCA, along with AKPFFA, has worked with the
council to give those two organizations representation on the
council; ASFA already had a seat on the council. He said the
decisions of the council have a direct influence on fire service
provisions and fire fighter training. He emphasized the
importance of having direct representation on the council.
8:15:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG cited AS 18.70.360, which read as
follows:
Sec. 18.70.360. Alaska fire services personnel fund.
The Alaska fire services personnel fund is created in
the general fund. The fund consists of appropriations
made by the legislature to the fund. The council may
use the money in the fund to carry out its powers and
duties.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted that AS 18.70.350 does not
reference the Alaska fire services personnel fund. He said he
thinks the last sentence in AS 18.70.360 would normally appear
in AS 18.70 350. He said he would like to know more about the
fund.
8:17:10 AM
MS. SHINE said she would have to get back to Representative
Gruenberg with an answer.
8:17:38 AM
CHAIR LYNN asked what Representative Gruenberg's question has to
do with the number people on the council.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG answered nothing, but indicated that it
is related.
8:18:06 AM
MR. TUCKER deferred to Gordon Descutner to answer Representative
Gruenberg's question.
8:18:49 AM
TOM WESCOTT, President, testified in support of HB 304. He
stated that AKPFFA represents fire fighters from Kotzebue to
Ketchikan. He said both the fire chief and AKPFFA have worked
with the council to be represented on the council and to get the
support of the council for the proposed legislation. He said,
"Speaking for both, it's basically our goal to bring our
experience, our expertise, and our resources to the board in an
effort to help the board fulfill its mission."
8:20:13 AM
MR. WESCOTT, in response to Representative P. Wilson, said there
are criteria for a fire fighter from a town with a population of
less than 2,500, as well as one from a town that has a
population greater than that. In response to a follow-up
question, he said there was no major event that brought about
the realization that the proposed changes were needed; there
were a couple meetings, where the idea was generated that the
people who make up AKPFFA and AFCA have something to offer to
the council. He confirmed that there are seven communities
represented by AKPFFA. In response to Representative P.
Wilson's query as to whether AKPFFA would "try to get more," he
said, "Well, certainly."
8:22:51 AM
MS. SHINE, in response to Representative Petersen, said
currently there are 11 members serving on the council and, under
HB 304, there would be 12.
8:24:36 AM
GORDON DESCUTNER, Executive Director, Alaska Fire Standards
Council (AFSC), Department of Public Safety (DPS), in response
to Representative Gruenberg's previous question, said the
original intent of the council was to collect a fee from home
insurance premiums that would be put into a dedicated fund to
support the council; however, that never materialized. He said
that language is still in statute, but technically there is no
money in a fire services personnel fund. He said the council
does have the authority to collect receipts, which are tied most
directly to testing and certification, but are not tied to
council travel, which has, to date, been covered with the
council's general funds. In response to Representative
Gruenberg, he said he does not know why the provision in statute
for the fund has never been implemented. He said there was a
lot of work done about 10 years ago regarding this issue, but no
agreement was reached with the insurance agencies and "the other
personnel that were involved with the early formation of the
council." He stated his belief that because of the difficulty
reaching an agreement, [the council] chose an alternative
solution, part of which was to at least have the administrative
services and travel costs for council members covered under the
general fund.
CHAIR LYNN requested that the bill sponsor check into this issue
and report his findings to the next committee of referral - the
House Finance Committee.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he would like a copy of those
findings.
8:27:45 AM
CHAIR LYNN, after ascertaining that there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony.
8:28:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report HB 304 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 304 was reported out of the
House State Affairs Standing Committee.