02/02/1995 01:35 PM Senate L&C

 SL&C - 2/2/95                                                                 
                                                                               
        SB  55 REPEALING SUNSET OF ENHANCED 911 SYSTEM                       
                                                                               
 Number 001                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN KELLY called the Labor and Commerce meeting to order at              
 1:35 p.m. and introduced  SB 55  as the first order of business               
 before the committee.                                                         
                                                                               
 SENATOR TORGERSON, Prime Sponsor of SB 55, explained that SB 55               
 would repeal the sunset clause in the original bill which allowed             
 enhanced 911 emergency systems.  He noted letters of support from             
 the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the city of Juneau as well as                 
 others coming from Anchorage and Fairbanks.                                   
                                                                               
 SENATOR SALO said that she supported SB 55, but inquired as to the            
 reason a sunset was placed on the bill in the first place.  SENATOR           
 TORGERSON suggested that perhaps the sunset was in place on the               
 possibility that state money might be available after the systems             
 were operating.                                                               
                                                                               
 MARY JACKSON, Legislative Assistant to Senator Torgerson, explained           
 that the sunset provision was due to amendments in House Finance              
 which intended to afford the Telecommunications Information                   
 Committee (TIC) the opportunity to review and possibly do this on             
 a statewide scope.  TIC is currently waiting to determine if there            
 will be any state or federal funding available to expand statewide.           
                                                                               
 SHERMAN ERNOUF, Aide to Senator Kelly for Labor & Commerce,                   
 confirmed that the Anchorage Chief of Police supported SB 55.                 
                                                                               
 MARK JOHNSON, Chief of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) for the            
 Department of Health & Social Services, stated that EMS supports              
 the intent of SB 55.  He pointed out that the enhanced 911 systems            
 allows the dispatcher to have the phone number and location of the            
 caller.  He suggested that the enhanced 911 system should be                  
 extended into rural areas at some point.                                      
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER moved that SB 55 be moved out of committee with                
 individual recommendations.  Without objections, it was so ordered.