Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
01/24/2024 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
Note: the audio
and video
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
Audio | Topic |
---|---|
Start | |
Presentation(s): Uaa Workforce Solutions for Alaska | |
SB173 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ | SB 173 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 173-AUTHORIZE HANDGUNS SCHOOL EMPLOYEE/VOLUNT 2:30:46 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 173, "An Act requiring school districts to grant qualified persons an assigned duty to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds under certain conditions; relating to standards, training, and continuing education in firearms training for qualified persons granted an assigned duty to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds; relating to communication of school districts with state and local law enforcement; and relating to school crisis response plans." 2:31:05 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN announced Senator Hughes and invited her to introduce SB 173. 2:31:17 PM SENATOR SHELLEY HUGHES, District M, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, speaking as sponsor of SB 173, moved to slide 2 and shared her belief that SB 173 addresses one of the most important concerns before the Legislature. [Original punctuation provided.] Purpose To save lives during an active shooter incident on school grounds by providing an immediate response by an on-site, highly-trained, stable, responsible individual as an augmentation to local law enforcement. SENATOR HUGHES stated that front-end measures, such as providing support for "mentally troubled" students and individuals and extra security measures at school facilities, are essential. However, back-end measures are crucial for times when front-end measures are not enough. This is especially true in Alaska, where many schools are located in remote areas that do not have a local police force. Referring to a conversation with the Commissioner of Public Safety, she shared that it can sometimes take law enforcement 3 to 5 days to reach remote villages in inclement weather. SB 173 is a stopgap that would address this issue. She said that she has spoken with parents, teachers, and students who have expressed concern that the question is not "if" but "when" an active shooter will enter their school. She noted that while active shooter rampages are not common, they are occurring more frequently. 2:34:04 PM SENATOR HUGHES indicated that this is not a new issue and brought attention to the shooting at Bethel Regional High School in 1997. Following the 2021 school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan, she was approached by a former Bethel high school faculty member who taught at the Bethel high school when the [Bethel High School] shooting occurred. He shared his belief that concealed carry on school grounds would be an effective deterrent for active-shooter incidents. Pointing to the many active-shooter incidents that have occurred across the country over the past two decades, she suggested early intervention, school preparation, and concealed carry could have reduced the number of incidents and loss of life. 2:35:58 PM SENATOR HUGHES brought attention to two individuals who had hoped to testify in support of SB 173 today: a school district employee whose identity must remain confidential but who has provided written testimony and the parent of a child killed in the Parkland school shooting who will not be able to testify due to a family emergency. SENATOR HUGHES read the following anonymous testimony: I cannot disclose my name for confidentiality for my safety and the school district where I work. I am here to lend my voice to speak on behalf of school employees who currently carry a concealed handgun on school grounds in support of SB 173. I have a master's in nursing leadership and management and a master's in business administration. I am a Certified School Nurse in the state where I practice. I currently work as a district school nurse, overseeing and providing care for staff and students from preschool through age 22 throughout multiple campus locations. In addition to my role as a Registered Nurse, I am a member of my district's armed response team. 2:37:55 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN announced invited testimony on SB 173. 2:38:34 PM DONNA ANTHONY, Chief of Police, Chickaloon Tribal Police Department, Chickaloon, Alaska, testified in support of SB 173. She is a lifelong resident of Alaska currently residing in Palmer. She has over 20 years of experience in law enforcement and security. She is the owner of Point-Blank Firearms and Defense Training. She is a training counselor and certified firearms instructor for the National Rifle Association (NRA), United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), and the National Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association (NLEFIA), among others. She shared that she has experience presenting on this topic at a variety of venues related to active shooter concerns and has helped create safety videos on this topic. MS. ANTHONY stated that her passion for school safety began during her time as a deputy sheriff in Ohio. At that time, she was a certified School Resource Officer (SRO) with the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO). She explained that the protocols for dealing with active-shooter incidents changed after the 1999 shooting at Columbine high school in Littleton, Colorado. While serving as an SRO, she learned of a potential shooting at a local middle school. This was due to a tip reported via the Safer Ohio School Tip Line. An investigation led to the seizure of guns and detailed plans from the student. The individual was arrested and placed in Juvenile Detention. It was later discovered that the student had been the victim of bullying. The tip line also allowed her to investigate and stop a bomb threat. In this case, the student had a troubled past and a history of making pipe bombs. 2:43:12 PM MS. ANTHONY acknowledged that some people may question the necessity of arming staff at schools in Alaska. In response to this question, she provided a list of active shooter incidents and threats that have occurred in Alaska. She expressed concern regarding law enforcement's inability to quickly access remote locations. In addition, remote villages often have Village Public Safety Officers (VPSO) who are not armed and therefore are unprepared to respond to these incidents. While larger cities in Alaska have Police Departments with SROs who can respond quickly, remote villages do not. She referred to a 2020 report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which stated that 98 percent of active-shooter incidents occur in gun-free zones. She pointed out that schools without an SRO or armed security are gun-free zones and opined that it is necessary to "harden" these schools. Additionally, the FBI reports that 68 percent of active-shooter incidents end before police arrive. These incidents often end in under five minutes, with many incidents lasting two minutes or less. Even in cities with armed law enforcement, response time is a concern. She concluded that having an SRO or trained, armed security in schools would help to address this issue in both rural and urban areas. 2:44:24 PM SENATOR DUNBAR asked what kind of training would be needed to qualify someone as a "highly trained, stable, responsible individual." He questioned whether training would be limited to what is needed for a concealed-carry permit or whether additional training would be required and asked about the length and expense of the necessary training. 2:45:10 PM MS. ANTHONY replied that every state is different. She shared her understanding that in general, armed security who is not law enforcement must have appropriate training and a background check. For law enforcement, a mental background check is also done. She opined that individuals working as armed security in schools need more than concealed carry training. It is her understanding that additional training requirements have been included in SB 173. 2:46:19 PM SENATOR HUGHES explained that the initial training would be a four-day training specific to the school setting. She pointed out that for law enforcement, SROs must complete an additional school-specific training prior to beginning their work in schools because of the unique aspects of working with children. Local school districts will determine any additional training requirements. 2:48:04 PM JIM IRVINE, President, Buckeye Firearms Foundation, Faster Saves Lives Director, Cleveland, Ohio, Gave invited testimony in support of SB 173. He is an airline pilot by trade and has been studying "active killer" events for the past 20 years. He has helped train thousands of school staff through the Faster Saves Lives program over the past 10 years. He stated that to end school shootings and save lives, three things are needed: • A law that encourages and allows schools to adopt best practices, including armed staff of trained individuals • Funding so that staff can attend training and schools can purchase equipment • School administrators must embrace their obligation to protect the children in their care and custody MR. IRVINE referred to a recent school shooting in Iowa, stating his belief that, had the principal received training and been armed, he would still be alive. He went on to discuss the school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, stating that while the reports from this shooting are gut-wrenching, they are not surprising. He suggested that it is reasonable to be critical of law enforcement in this case. However, there was time between the call to emergency services and the first gunshots that could have been taken advantage of, had staff members been trained and armed. He stated that criticisms of the police response are not unique to this event, pointing out that police do not often deal with active killer events. He opined that it is not the job of the police to save students; rather, it is the obligation of school faculty to protect students who are in their custody. He commented that most schools in the United States, including Robb Elementary School, have a culture of complacency, adding that the idea that "it would never happen here" results in a lack of preparedness. He stated that policies and procedures are needed for when these incidents inevitably occur. 2:51:57 PM MR. IRVINE said that a lack of understanding causes the public to disagree with plans to train and arm school staff. He opined that, once adopted in Alaska, some schools will readily adopt the changes while others will take a "wait and see" approach. He stated his belief that, over time, more schools will come on board and positive changes will occur. He shared several stories from Ohio to illustrate how armed school staff working with law enforcement is beneficial. He commented that, if passed, SB 173 would one day result in a critical incident review that applauds school faculty for being prepared, working together with emergency responders, and saving lives. 2:54:28 PM STEVE ROSE, Superintendent, Russia Local School, Russia, Ohio, gave invited testimony in support of SB 173. He said that he has worked in his school district for 15 years and has two children attending school there. Since the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, he has been working with the school district to develop a security plan to keep students safe. This includes having armed staff in the building. He explained that Russia, Ohio is a small village that does not have a police department. In the case of an emergency, it may take emergency responders and the county sheriff up to 20 minutes to arrive. He said that in an active shooter situation seconds count, adding that 20 minutes is too long. In 2013, the district implemented an armed response plan. He described the training that staff completed, which included training in firearms, active shooter protocols, and first aid. They also learned how to safely interact with law enforcement during an emergency. Staff attended lessons at the shooting range and received additional training on school grounds. 2:56:19 PM MR. ROSE commented that, while they are not police officers, they are well-trained in how to stop an active threat. In addition to training armed staff, they have secured school entry points, added protective film to doors, set up tip lines, and trained staff to recognize potential red flags. He stated that the armed response team is the last line of defense. All members of the armed response team are volunteers. They each have a conceal and carry license, have completed over 30 hours of training, and have fired over a thousand rounds of ammunition prior to being approved for the program. Each member of the team must attend annual training and qualify on the Ohio Peace Officer qualification test annually. He said that members of the armed response team are held to the same standards as Ohio Police officers. Only a small percentage of faculty members are on the armed response team. He compared this job to that of a school bus driver who is responsible for the safety of students while they ride the bus and stated that he takes the same responsibility for the safety of students while they are at school. He reiterated his support for armed staff as part of school security measures. 2:58:17 PM SENATOR DUNBAR asked what percentage of teachers chose to take the training. 2:58:39 PM MR. ROSE answered that there are 50 employees in the district, 3 of whom are on the response team. None of the response team members are teachers. 2:58:52 PM SENATOR DUNBAR asked how much it cost the district to train one person. MR. ROSE replied that the Sheriff's department provided the initial training free of charge. The second training was through the FASTER program and the district received grants to pay for that training. The district was responsible for purchasing ammunition and other tools needed for the training. SENATOR DUNBAR noted that SB 173 says, "has completed any training required by the district's insurance policy to be eligible for coverage." He asked how training armed staff has impacted the insurance policy in Mr. Rose's district. MR. ROSE answered that, initially, the district needed to purchase law enforcement insurance for approximately two thousand dollars. However, they have since been included under the district's Public Employment Risk Reduction Program (PERRP) policy at no extra charge. He added that they have multi- million-dollar liability coverage. 3:01:38 PM DIANNA MULLER, Member, Women for Gun Rights, Las Vegas, Nevada, testified by invitation in support of SB 173. She is a retired 22-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department, a world and national champion competition shooter, and the founder of Women for Gun Rights. She stated that she has experience with violence and experience with firearms. She reasoned that all people want safety for themselves and for their families; however, there are different ways of achieving this goal. She pointed out that, in the wake of mass-shootings, many propose gun-control. She opined that gun control is a proven failure and said that 94 percent of mass-shootings occur in gun-free zones. Highlighting the shootings at schools in Uvalde, Texas and Parkland, Florida, she pointed out that the US Supreme Court recently ruled that police officers do not have a duty to respond to active-shooter incidents. MS. MULLER opined that schools have a duty to care for the children who are in their custody. She said that schools typically do a good job addressing domestic abuse concerns. School administrators must apply this same vigor when preparing for and protecting students from violence at school. She surmised that many school staff already carry firearms. She suggested that these individuals should be able to conceal-carry on school grounds. She said that school employees in other states have been trained and authorized to carry firearms on school grounds for decades. She commented that this provides the students in those states with additional protection. She asserted that schools need to reevaluate their active-killer preparedness protocols and added that schools should be allowed to authorize trained individuals to carry firearms as a part of these protocols. 3:04:25 PM DEBORAH RIDDLE, Division Operations Manager, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), Juneau, Alaska, reported on the fiscal note for SB 173. She stated that the DEED fiscal note for SB 173 is zero. SB 173 directs individual school districts to take on policy creation. There are several entities that the districts can utilize for policy creation. DEED also has staff on its health and safety team who can assist. SENATOR DUNBAR pointed out that SB 173 requires districts to pay to train the individuals who choose to take on this role. He inferred that this would result in a cost to the district and asked Ms. Riddle to clarify that this would not cost the state anything. MS. RIDDLE replied that it would not cost the state anything. SENATOR HUGHES said that she encourages the creation of a fiscal note that would offset costs incurred by school districts as a result of the training requirement. 3:06:33 PM SENATOR DUNBAR stated his agreement. He would like to hear from school districts regarding the estimated costs. These costs can then be built into SB 173. He pointed out that SB 173 uses the word "shall" rather than "may", which will result in an added cost for the school districts. 3:07:15 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON expressed appreciation for the testimony offered from out-of-state individuals. She asked if the sponsor of SB 173 has had conversations with Alaska stakeholders such as Anchorage Police Department (APD), Department of Public Safety (DPS), Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC), and the Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP). SENATOR HUGHES replied yes. She said that she has spoken with law enforcement and met with DPS. She noted that SB 173 does not mandate law enforcement but does require districts to provide detailed information to law enforcement. There is a DPS fiscal note due to the potential increase in conceal-carry permit applications. She welcomed further discussions with law enforcement agencies. 3:09:15 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON replied that while she appreciates this response, she believes these conversations are needed. She expressed that she would like to know what the aforementioned organizations think about SB 173. SENATOR DUNBAR noted that the individuals who testified spoke about having the option to arm staff. He stated his understanding that currently, schools in Alaska have the option to arm staff and that SB 173 would change this to a requirement. He asked if this is correct. 3:10:08 PM SENATOR HUGHES replied yes. She explained that [school superintendents] currently set the policy [outlining the procedures for employing armed staff on school premises] and suggested that districts have been reluctant to implement these policies. She reasoned that this is because Alaskans want to be sure that the armed individuals are stable, responsible, and highly trained. SB 173 addresses this concern by including this language. She contrasted this with Utah's law that allows anyone who is licensed to conceal-carry to do so on school grounds with no restrictions. She emphasized the importance of student safety and pointed out that SB 173 includes physical and mental health requirements that must meet or exceed those of the Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC). APSC requires that individuals pass a general health check as well as a psychological evaluation. She reiterated that arming school staff has long been an option for districts; however, none has chosen to do so. SENATOR HUGHES reiterated concerns regarding law enforcement response times and the increase in school shootings across the country. She stated that if an active shooter event occurs and students and/or school staff are harmed this would be a travesty. The legislature should consider this issue before an active shooter event occurs. It is important to strengthen front-end protocols. However, four out of five shootings have no advance warning. She asserted that it is only a matter of time before an active-shooter event occurs in Alaska. 3:13:29 PM SENATOR HUGHES said that regardless of one's beliefs about gun- control and/or the second amendment, people should be able to agree that schools need someone on-site who can stop an active shooter. She added that this is an uncomfortable but necessary conversation. The legislature must create a policy because Alaska is more vulnerable than other states when it comes to potential school violence. CHAIR BJORKMAN thanked the invited testifiers and apologized for running out of time to take public testimony at this hearing. He reminded the public that they can submit written testimony via email to [email protected].
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
---|---|---|
SB173 ver H.PDF |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 173 |
SB173 Sponsor Statement ver H.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 173 |
SB173 Sectional Analysis ver H.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 173 |
SB173 Sponsor Presentation to SLAC 01.24.24.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 173 |
SB173 Fiscal Note-EED-SSA-01.19.24.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 173 |
SB173 Fiscal Note-LAW-CJL-01.19.24.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 173 |
SB173 Letter of Support-Email-Shannon Methe-01.13.24.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 173 |
SB173 Letter of Support-Email-Andrew Ault-01.21.24.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 173 |
SB173 Public Testimony-Received as of 1pm 01.23.24.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 173 |
UAA Workforce Hearing - Presentation - 1.22.24.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM |
Workforce Solutions for Alaska |
UAA Workforce Hearing - UAA Background - 1.22.24.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM |
Workforce Solutions for Alaska |
UAA Workforce Hearing - Nursing Background - 1.22.24.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM |
Workforce Solutions for Alaska |
UAA Workforce Hearing - KPC Background - 1.22.24.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM |
Workforce Solutions for Alaska |
SB173 Public Testimony(2)-Received as of noon 01.24.24.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 173 |
SB173 Public Testimony(3)-Received as of noon 01.24.24.pdf |
SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 173 |