04/06/1993 01:00 PM House JUD

  HB 93 VILLAGE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS PROGRAM                                 
                                                                               
  Number 503                                                                   
                                                                               
  LARRY LABOLLE, LEGISLATIVE AIDE TO REP. RICHARD FOSTER,                      
  PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 93, testified in support of the bill.                    
  Mr. Labolle stated that the bill put the Village Public                      
  Safety Officer (VPSO) program into statute.  He said that                    
  the VPSO program had been in existence since 1980, but had                   
  not been included in the state statutes.                                     
                                                                               
  MR. LABOLLE noted that the Department of Community and                       
  Regional Affairs (DCRA) had a concern that this bill would                   
  increase the state's liability exposure, but added that it                   
  was the sponsor's contention that it actually would decrease                 
  the exposure because it would enable the Department of                       
  Public Safety (DPS) to set standards.                                        
                                                                               
  Number 535                                                                   
                                                                               
  CAPTAIN TOM STEARNS, ALASKA STATE TROOPERS, testified via                    
  teleconference from Anchorage in support of the VPSO                         
  program.  Captain Stearns noted that part of his duties                      
  involved supervising the VPSO program, and he believed that                  
  the program was widely supported by all of the communities                   
  it served.  Captain Stearns added that passing this                          
  legislation would help give the program some stabilization                   
  and direction.                                                               
                                                                               
  Number 550                                                                   
                                                                               
  MARGIE DERENOFF, REPRESENTING THE KODIAK AREA NATIVE                         
  ASSOCIATION'S (KANA'S) VPSO PROGRAM, testified in support of                 
  HB 93.  She stated that the program had been a very positive                 
  influence in the communities and she hoped that the                          
  committee would support the legislation.                                     
                                                                               
  Number 572                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHARLES GREDIAGIN, A VILLAGE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER FROM                      
  DILLINGHAM, read a resolution dated March 24, 1993,                          
  sponsored by 124 communities around the state in support of                  
  HB 93.                                                                       
                                                                               
  MR. GREDIAGIN echoed Captain Stearns' testimony regarding                    
  the need for the program to be recognized in statute.                        
                                                                               
  Number 603                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. GREEN asked if the program was funded by grants and if                  
  that would continue to be the case.                                          
                                                                               
  Number 608                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN PORTER answered "yes," and added that it was his                    
  understanding that it would continue in the same way.                        
                                                                               
  Number 610                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. GREEN expressed concern that with the passage of this                   
  bill the VPSO employees would eventually become state                        
  employees.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 620                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. LABOLLE pointed out that section 18.65.670(b) of HB 93                   
  specifically provided for the funding to be through "grants                  
  to nonprofit regional corporations."                                         
                                                                               
  MR. LABOLLE added that by establishing the program in                        
  statute, the commissioner of DPS would have regulatory power                 
  to further define the program and its goals.                                 
                                                                               
  Number 646                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. GREEN inquired who would be liable if a VPSO got hurt                   
  under this legislation.                                                      
                                                                               
  MR. LABOLLE answered that it would continue to be the                        
  regional corporation, as was the case now.                                   
                                                                               
  Number 651                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. KOTT noted that the relationship between DPS and the                    
  nonprofit regional corporations had been a contractual one                   
  and wondered if that would change.                                           
                                                                               
  MR. LABOLLE stated that the relationship would not change.                   
                                                                               
  REP. JAMES stated that she supported the bill to protect the                 
  program from disappearing due to deletion of the grant                       
  money.  She added that the state could not anticipate what                   
  would be proper to do with this program in the future.                       
                                                                               
  Number 681                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. DAVIDSON stated that HB 93 lent legitimacy to the VPSO                  
  program.  He stated that he supported HB 93 because the VPSO                 
  program offered a basic protection to rural Alaska.                          
                                                                               
  Number 697                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. NORDLUND added that he also supported the program but                   
  noted that HB 93 did not offer complete protection to the                    
  program as the governor and the commissioner of DPS had ways                 
  to undercut the program through funding or the lack thereof.                 
                                                                               
  Number 704                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. KOTT supported HB 93 but expressed concerns that the                    
  grant mechanism was faulty as the regional nonprofit                         
  corporation that administered these grants answered to its                   
  shareholders and did not necessarily serve the public's                      
  interest.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Number 720                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. JAMES made a motion to move CSHB 93(CRA) out of                         
  committee with individual recommendations and a zero fiscal                  
  note, and asked for unanimous consent.                                       
                                                                               
  No objections were heard, and the bill moved out of                          
  committee.