Legislature(1993 - 1994)
01/26/1993 09:08 AM Senate CRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
The Senate Community & Regional Affairs Committee was called to order by Chairman Randy Phillips at 9:08 a.m. Because there was not a quorum present, the Chairman stated he would take testimony only until a quorum was established. He then brought SB 15 (VILLAGE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS PROGRAM) before the committee. Number 020 COMMISSIONER RICHARD BURTON, Department of Public Safety, said the legislation came about as the result of discussions between members of the legislature, members of non profit corporations and the Department of Public Safety. The department has been administering the Village Public Safety Officers program for approximately the last 10 years, however, the program is only existent as a grant pass- through program in a budget document. SB 15 will establish the VPSO program in statute, thereby formalizing the program to improve the quality of the service and to bring some sense of organization to it. Commissioner Burton stated the VPSO program is a very important program, and it is of great assistance to the Department of Public Safety, particularly in the rural areas which have been neglected somewhat over the years. Number 048 Chairman Randy Phillips set aside SB 15 until later in the meeting. SB 15 (VILLAGE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS PROGRAM) was brought back before the committee. Number 132 DEAN GUANELI, Criminal Division, Department of Law, stated he was present to answer questions on the a proposed committee substitute and that he had provided the committee with a letter explaining the changes. Number 145 CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS stated the committee would take testimony from witnesses in Juneau, as well as those signed up to testify over the teleconference network. Number 147 GEORGE COLE, Village Public Safety program manager for the Tlingit Haida Central Council, voiced their support for SB 15, primarily because it moves the program into the reality of being a program instead of just a budgetary line item. It also provides a pathway for legislative review in that there will be regulations governing the program that will be subject to review by the legislature. Finally, it will help assure that the program is continued. Number 150 HOWARD AMOS, testifying from Bethel in support of SB 15, stated he has been a VPSO for 10 years. He said that villages in his region do not have an economic base and that these villages cannot fully finance the police departments for their respective villages. He added that the Alaska State Troopers fully rely on the VPSO's as first responders when there are problems. SENATOR TAYLOR arrived at the meeting. Number 200 JOSIE KING, testifying from Nome and representing Kawerak Inc., stated she has been a VPSO director for approximately nine years, working within the program. She stressed the importance of the program and that it be included in the statutes. Number 212 CAPTAIN TOM STEARNS, Alaska State Troopers, testifying from Anchorage, said he has rural enforcement command, as well as the oversight command of the VPSO program. He said in working with the program on a day-to-day basis, he thinks to bring the program up to its professional standard, it needs to be brought in under legislation and it needs to have regulations to move it along. He believes this is the first step in gaining the ability to manage the VPSO program. Number 235 SENATOR HALFORD arrived at the meeting. Number 244 KENT SWISHER, representing the Alaska Municipal League and testifying in Juneau, stated the League's support for the Village Public Safety Officer program and their support for creating its statutory authority as provided in SB 15. Number 252 CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS closed the public hearing on SB 15 and asked for the will of the committee. There being no motion on SB 15, he stated it would be held in committee for now.
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