02/19/1998 03:35 PM Senate STA

Number 335                                                                     
                                                                               
     CSHB 334(FIN) am - TUITION WAIVER FOR POLICE WIDOW/CHILD                  
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN GREEN brought CSHB 334(FIN) am before the committee as the            
final order of business.                                                       
                                                                               
BRUCE CAMPBELL, staff to Representative Pete Kelly who is the prime            
sponsor of HB 334, spoke to the recent ambush and killing of a                 
Fairbanks police officer who was the father of an 11-year-old son.             
The original legislation covered spouses and children of police                
officers killed in the line of duty; however, the House Finance                
Committee amended the bill to include the survivors of fire                    
fighters as well.  Currently, the list includes approximately 31               
police officers and six fire fighters for whom spouses, sons and               
daughters would be included as having tuition paid for by the state            
of Alaska.                                                                     
                                                                               
Number 362                                                                     
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN GREEN asked Mr. Campbell if he had the total number of                
peace officers, fire fighters and correctional officers in the                 
state.  MR. CAMPBELL related that are approximately 4,000 combined             
fire fighters and volunteer fire fighters and a much smaller number            
of police officers.  It was estimated there were between 500 and               
1,000 police officers and 800 correctional officers.                           
                                                                               
Responding to a question from CHAIRMAN GREEN, REPRESENTATIVE  KELLY            
clarified that the definition of "peace officer" in statute                    
includes  correctional officer.                                                
                                                                               
SENATOR MILLER noted there has been interest expressed to include              
EMS personnel in the legislation, but he pointed out that inclusion            
of that group would not fit under the title of the current bill,               
and the only way they could be included would be introduction of a             
committee bill.                                                                
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE KELLY said he looked into that issue,  but when he              
created this bill he had a standard that police and fireman are                
asked to stand in front of the bullet and enter the burning                    
building.  The danger that they are in is not necessarily the                  
determining factor, but it is because they have been asked to do               
those things.  He said as good a job as EMS personnel do and as                
valuable a job as that is, they are not asked to absolutely put                
themselves into those dangerous situations like police officers and            
fire fighters.  He added that a line had to drawn on who this                  
legislation would include.                                                     
                                                                               
Number 447                                                                     
                                                                               
SENATOR MACKIE pointed out that when EMS personnel respond to                  
ambulance calls, there's not always going to be police officers                
there, and a lot of the calls EMS personnel respond to are domestic            
violence situations where there are assaults, etc.  Although a lot             
of EMS units have policies that they don't enter those kinds of                
situations without first having police protection,  it is not                  
always the case when you are asking volunteer EMS personnel to                 
respond to a home because of situations.  He agrees that  the line             
has to be drawn somewhere, but he wishes there was a way the EMS               
personnel could be included.  He  said it is a very emotional issue            
because EMS people play a very vital role in our society.                      
                                                                               
Senator Mackie also said he was a close friend of slain Alaska                 
State Trooper Bruce Heck, and he can't think of a finer gesture                
than the state of Alaska recognizing Trooper Heck's wife and his               
children for educational opportunities.  He believes HB 334 is a               
piece of legislation that is long overdue.                                     
                                                                               
Number 481                                                                     
                                                                               
There being no further testimony, CHAIRMAN GREEN stated HB 334                 
would be held over until the following week at which time public               
testimony would be taken.  She then adjourned the meeting at                   
approximately 4:12 p.m.