Legislature(2007 - 2008)
04/10/2008 05:51 PM Senate FIN
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB 152 | |
| HB 373 | |
| HB 320 | |
| HB 294 | |
| HB 417 | |
| HB 325 |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 320(FIN)
"An Act relating to search and rescue training and
search and rescue parties; requiring certain search and
rescue volunteers to be considered state employees for
purposes of workers' compensation coverage; and
allowing political subdivisions to elect to provide
workers' compensation insurance coverage for search and
rescue personnel."
Co-Chair Stedman reviewed that this was a first hearing on
the bill with the intent to hear from the bill sponsor, take
public testimony and confirm the will of the Committee.
6:07:25 PM
Mike Pawlowski, Staff, Representative Kevin Meyer presented
an overview of the bill history. Mr. Pawlowski explained
that volunteers assisting state troopers in a search and
rescue operation are not allowed or entitled to workers
compensation and this bill seeks to rectify this wrong. He
stressed that volunteers serve the state by rescuing people,
and if the volunteer is hurt during a mission, they are not
provided workers compensation. This bill would treat the
volunteers as state employees and provide them some
protection for their service. In Section 5 it would allow a
municipality to extend similar coverage to the volunteers
who are serving at the direction of a municipal search and
rescue operation. He referred to support letter and emails
from throughout the state.
6:09:55 PM
Co-Chair Stedman reviewed the three fiscal notes.
6:10:16 PM
Senator Elton pointed out that the City and Borough of
Juneau does not have a state trooper therefore the
municipality not the state would be forced to pick up the
additional cost.
6:11:10 PM
Mr. Pawlowski expressed that the state could not be held
responsible for search and rescue activities they did not
control. The municipalities would need to step up when they
are in control and provide for the additional cost.
6:12:36 PM
Senator Olson inquired if there would be any cost to the
communities that are participating in many of these search
and rescue operations.
Mr. Pawlowski replied that the cost would be incurred to the
community if the community decided to provide workers
compensation to the volunteers. If a state trooper was
involved, then the state would pick up the cost.
Senator Olson inquired if the Alaska Municipal League had a
position on this topic.
Mr. Pawlowski replied that the Alaska Municipal League has
taken no official position since it was left up to the
discretion of the municipalities.
6:13:41 PM
Senator Huggins questioned that when there is an aerial
component in the search, such as a helicopter assist, would
they also be covered under this bill.
Mr. Pawlowski confirmed it would be covered the state
troopers had requested the participation of the aerial
component.
6:14:27 PM
Senator Elton interjected that if the volunteer was a member
of the Civil Air Patrol assisting the Air National Guard
they would not be covered.
Mr. Pawlowski agreed that they are separate, but if the
Department of Public Safety initiates the search and rescue
operation, then it would be covered.
Co-Chair Hoffman inquired if those individuals who start on
a search and rescue operation on the local level before a
state trooper becomes involved would be covered.
Mr. Pawlowski responded that local searchers would not be
covered until a state trooper became involved.
Co-Chair Hoffman inquired if the local individuals who
continued the operation after the troopers were call would
be covered.
6:17:13 PM
Mr. Pawlowski responded that if the troopers take over the
mission and the local volunteers are on the trooper roster,
then they would be covered.
Co-Chair Hoffman asked if that would require the state
troopers to ask for their assistance or would they just sign
up.
6:18:13 PM
Mr. Pawlowski deferred the questioned to Lt. Rodney Dial.
6:18:40 PM
RODNEY DIAL, LIEUTENANT, ALASKA STATE TROOPERS, DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC SAFETY testified via teleconference and replied
that when the state troopers are notified of a search and
rescue the process of authorizing participants begins. If
volunteer participants search against the advice and
operational control of the state troopers, then they would
not be covered. Mr. Dial cited that there are search and
rescue rosters throughout the state for the state troopers
to call in an emergency situation.
6:21:13 PM
Senator Elton believed that the new language in the bill
states that the coverage will not begin until someone from
the Commissioner or Commissioner Designee decides to
organize the search. Senator Elton noted that often searches
start before there is an official beginning. He asked for
confirmation that if someone was injured before the official
start then they would not be covered.
6:22:14 PM
Lt. Dial responded that injured searchers would receive
coverage from Risk Management not workers compensation. If
the state troopers were not notified of an ongoing search
and rescue operation then the searchers would have to take
personal responsibility.
6:23:19 PM
Co-Chair Hoffman remarked that because the large areas in
Alaska local community often initiates a search and rescue
operation hours before the official troopers are notified or
able to respond. He inquired how state troopers would take
over the search and make it official.
6:24:24 PM
Lt. Dial responded that most local communities notify the
official representatives in a timely manner about a search
and rescue needs. He signified the importance of the local
community to notify the state troopers even if someone is
overdue so the troopers can cut a case number and make the
action official. The responsibilities of the newly requested
civilian position would be to coordinate and officially
activate information coming into the department from local
communities.
6:25:46 PM
Co-Chair Hoffman inquired if the department would take the
initiative to sign up the local searchers so they would be
covered.
6:26:27 PM
Lt. Dial responded that everyone asked by the department to
help would be covered.
Co-Chair Hoffman asked if the department would authorize
this.
Lt. Dial agreed that the department would authorize the
individuals and the coverage would be automatic.
6:27:06 PM
COREY AIST, PRESIDENT, ALASKA SEARCH AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION
testified via teleconference and spoke in support of the
bill. He clarified that the spontaneous searchers who
respond to a search and rescue operation are not necessarily
covered under this bill until the state troopers are
notified.
6:28:42 PM
CHUCK SPRINGER, FORMER PRESIDENT, ALASKA SEARCH AND RESCUE
ASSOCIATION testified via teleconference and spoke in
support of the bill. He cited that throughout Alaska local
trained searchers selflessly provide help to the Department
of Public Safety in a time of need.
AT EASE: 6:30:04 PM
RECONVENED: 6:31:40 PM
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to REPORT CSHB 320 (FIN) out of
Committee with individual recommendation and accompanying
fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSHB 320 (FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with no
recommendations and accompanying new fiscal noted from the
Department of Administration and previously published fiscal
notes from the Department of Administration, Department of
Public Safety, and the Department of Labor and Workforce
Development.
AT EASE: 6:32:23 PM
RECONVNED: 6:37:48 PM
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