Legislature(2005 - 2006)BELTZ 211
04/27/2005 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB121 | |
| HB27 | |
| SB188 | |
| SB179 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 27 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 121 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 188 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 179 | ||
CSHB 27(FIN)-MUNI PROP TAX EXEMPTION FOR POLICE HOMES
CHAIR GARY STEVENS announced HB 27 to be the next order of
business.
1:36:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG, Co-Sponsor, said the purpose of HB 27
is to encourage law enforcement officers to purchase and live in
homes in certain areas of a municipality that are in need of
more police protection.
The bill gives municipalities the option to enact an ordinance
to exempt up to $150,000 of assessed valuation on a primary
permanent residence of a law enforcement officer who lives in an
area the municipality recognizes as high crime. He clarified
that municipalities may not enact such an ordinance without
passing this type of legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG defined an eligible area as "either a
weed and seed program, a renaissance or, alternatively as an
area that has a higher occurrence of crime than a municipality
as a whole. Or it could meet both A and B."
He said co-sponsor, Representative Chenault believes this
legislation would be helpful in Nikiski and he believes it would
be helpful in parts of Anchorage.
1:39:08 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked if it's true that this isn't an
obligation; it's an opportunity for a municipality.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG agreed.
SENATOR BERT STEDMAN questioned why this couldn't be handled at
a local level.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG replied it can, but under AS 29.45.050
an enabling state law is required.
SENATOR STEDMAN asked if there is a reason that firefighters
aren't included.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG replied that would be a good idea.
Currently volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel have a
$10,000 exemption under another provision.
SENATOR STEDMAN said he was referring to fulltime paid rather
than volunteer firefighters.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he wasn't sure it would help as
much to have a firefighter on the block as a policeperson, but
he wouldn't have a problem with including firefighters if it
would help keep crime down.
1:42:09 PM
SENATOR THOMAS WAGONER asked for an explanation of the statement
that two or more individuals are eligible for an exemption on
the same property.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG explained that particular language was
taken from the subsection dealing with volunteer firefighters.
The idea is that the exempted valuation wouldn't be more than
$300,000 for a single property. This would accommodate the
instances in which one law enforcement officer marries another,
but wouldn't extend to multiple family members that are in law
enforcement or groups of officers going together to buy a single
residence.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked if this would apply only to actively
employed law enforcement officers.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said the intent is to cover just the
actively employed, but the municipal ordinance would address the
particulars.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS noted Mr. Van Sant, the state assessor, was
available for questions.
CHIEF WALT MONEGAN, Anchorage Police Department (APD), spoke in
support of HB 27. Over the years several different housing
incentives have been offered and about 12 APD members have
participated. That indicates that the proposal has merit, he
said.
He supports the bill because neighborhoods feel safer;
neighborhoods get to know the resident officer; officers are
reminded that they are citizens in the community; and they
provide positive role models for youth. Certainly, the program
would aid in officer recruitment and retention. Finally, he said
he supports including firefighters in the bill.
1:49:31 PM
SENATOR WAGONER questioned whether police officers were aware of
the bill.
CHIEF MONEGAN replied some are and the union representatives
keep members informed as well.
SENATOR WAGONER asked if he'd gotten any feedback.
CHIEF MONEGAN replied officers are waiting to see whether the
program becomes available.
SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS stated support for the bill and said he
represented some of the low-income high-crime areas in Anchorage
and he knows that if cops make a decent salary and live in more
affluent neighborhoods it fosters bad feelings. Hopefully this
will encourage folks that could afford to live in better areas
to move into less affluent areas because that would help to
improve those neighborhoods.
CHIEF MONEGAN said when neighborhoods benefit there is an
operational benefit for the department in that crime goes down.
It's a plus to see neighborhoods change complexion for the
better, he said.
1:53:17 PM
SERGEANT MIKE COUTURIER, Representative, Anchorage Police
Department Employee Association (APDEA), stated that the
association supports HB 27. His job includes recruitment and
retention and this will be a distinct aid in attracting
applicants. More than likely, he said, the primary use will come
from officers that are attracted from out of state. The
association has the information on its web site and members have
already shown interest in the idea.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS recapped this would be at the option of the
local government and it could exempt city police departments and
state troopers. He asked if that was Sergeant Couturier's
understanding.
SERGEANT COUTURIER said yes.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS observed that the comments had been positive.
He was asked to hold the bill to review several issues, but it
would be dealt with quickly at the next hearing. CSHB 27(FIN)
was held in committee.
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