Legislature(2009 - 2010)HOUSE FINANCE 519
01/30/2009 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Department of Public Safety Overview | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
January 30, 2009
1:35 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Hawker called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:35:31 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Hawker, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Stoltze, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Thomas Jr., Vice-Chair
Representative Allan Austerman
Representative Harry Crawford
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Richard Foster
Representative Les Gara
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Mike Kelly
Representative Woodie Salmon
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Joseph Masters, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety;
Dan Spencer, Director, Division of Administrative Services,
Department of Public Safety; Joseph Schmidt, Commissioner,
Department of Corrections; Dwayne Peeples, Deputy
Commissioner, Department of Corrections
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Audie Holloway, Colonel, Director, Division of Alaska State
Troopers, Department of Public Safety
SUMMARY
^Department of Public Safety Overview
Department of Corrections Overview
1:35:36 PM
Co-Chair Hawker started the meeting.
1:37:28 PM
JOSEPH MASTERS, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
introduced Dan Spencer, Director, Division of Administrative
Services and Leslie Houston, Division of Administrative
Services to help answer questions.
Commissioner Masters provided a brief overview of the public
safety department and programs. He reviewed the structure
and employee chart of the Department of Public Safety,
January 30, 2009 (copy on file).
1:42:20 PM
Commissioner Masters reviewed the Department of Public
Safety, Selected 2008 Accomplishments(copy on file). His
review included the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Wildlife
Troopers, Village Public Safety Officers, Fire and Life
Safety, Statewide Services, and the Crime lab. He remarked
that challenges still exist in the recruitment and retention
of Village Public Safety Officers.
1:45:19 PM
Commissioner Masters indicated that within the Fire and Life
Safety division additional facility expectations will be
reviewed on a two year cycle. He indicated that Statewide
Services are the backbone and structure of the department.
He noted that within this division 60,000 fingerprints cards
have been placed into the system.
1:46:39 PM
Commissioner Masters signified that the crime lab filled the
ten lab vacancies making them fully staffed for the first
time since 2002. The Commissioner observed that this has
enabled them to reduce the case backlog by 24 percent,
especially in the DNA area.
1:47:42 PM
Representative Fairclough asked how he envisioned the
Council of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA)
fitting within the department's management stream. She also
questioned if the crime lab was taking and processing DNA
swabs from felons entering the corrections system.
1:48:54 PM
Commissioner Masters believed a cooperative relationship
with the CDVSA is required if there was going to be any
effective effort in reducing sexual assault and domestic
violence.
1:49:52 PM
Representative Fairclough considered obtaining DNA samples
important because low crimes offenses often enter the system
and escalate to more serious cases and the availability of
DNA could help the system solve future or cold cases. She
congratulated John Glass on his participation and exemplary
performance in the domestic violence and sexual assault task
force.
1:51:08 PM
Vice-Chair Thomas asked about an injured trooper from his
district and requested a report before going over the budget
process.
1:52:05 PM
Commissioner replied he would get back to Vice-Chair Thomas
regarding the trooper.
1:52:52 PM
Representative Austerman noted in the governor's state-of-
the-state address there was mention of a highway patrol
issue and asked for more elaboration on the subject.
1:53:20 PM
Commissioner Masters reported that the governor referred to
the newly formed Alaska Bureau of Highway Patrol within the
Alaska State Troopers division. He noted that currently it
is primarily federally funded and the goal is to bring it
into a more centralized focused management structure that
will allow the implementation of better highway safety.
1:54:05 PM
Representative Austerman referred to some year-old homicides
in the community of Kodiak that prosecutors refused to move
forward to the grand jury without the crime lab work. He
questioned why the crime lab was so far behind in these
cases.
1:55:05 PM
Commissioner Masters responded that he would get back to
Representative Austerman on more specifics. The Commissioner
revealed that most cases in the crime lab turn around in 30
days. He revealed that backlogged more serious cases are
prioritized. Representative Austerman questioned how
homicides were prioritized within the department.
1:56:16 PM
Commissioner Masters reiterated he would follow up on
Representative Austerman's concerns.
1:56:38 PM
Co-Chair Hawker expressed the committee's concern on the
level of services provided to the rural communities. He
remarked that in studying the budget he wanted to know if
the department was asking for sufficient resources to
accomplish their mission statement across the entire state.
1:58:14 PM
Commissioner Masters replied that budget requests are looked
at from many different points. He commented that the
department looks at the mission statement and determines if
there are adequate personnel to accomplish it. He noted that
earlier vacancies made it difficult to determine the
department's true capabilities. The Commissioner added that
if the department asked for more staff money he was not sure
if it would be possible to fill those positions. The
Commissioner also noted that additional comprehensive
studies were required to determine if more positions were
needed and where. He believed that the FY10 request was
reasonable.
2:01:22 PM
Co-Chair Hawker voiced his concern that the Commissioner
wanted more time to research the needs of the department
when he understood the department had moved far in
determining the needs for a ten-year plan.
2:02:30 PM
Commissioner Masters replied that the department is
considering work done by the previous administration but he
believed it was important to know the capabilities of the
current allotted positions. Co-Chair Hawker asked if the
previous years had been so mismanaged that the Commissioner
was not aware of the present needs of the department.
Commissioner Masters believed that planning needed to be
more extensive with more required information factors. Co-
Chair Hawker asked what factors the Commissioner was
referring to. Commissioner Masters replied factors such as
crime and population trends, the current economic situation,
and potential new projects such as the natural gas pipeline.
Co-Chair Hawker could not believe the department had not
considered such obvious aforementioned trends.
2:04:36 PM
Commissioner Masters emphasized that he came into the
department with a forward looking attitude to assess needs
and then move forward. He defended the capabilities and
dedication of his staff. Co-Chair Hawker reiterated his
skepticism of the department's staff capabilities if they
had neglected to consider such important trends. Co-Chair
Stoltze supported and appreciated the Commissioner's
approach to the department planning. He referred to the
letter from the Department of Public Safety answering many
of the questions put forth by the House Finance Public
Safety subcommittee (copy on file).
2:07:17 PM
Representative Foster applauded the local public safety
record in the rural communities.
2:08:04 PM
Co-Chair Hawker asked about the charts on perspective
retirement within the department. Commissioner Masters
presented an overview of the present recruitment vacancies.
He noted that there were twenty two Alaska state trooper
vacancies. He also noted the seven Alaska wildlife trooper
vacancies and twelve Court Service officer vacancies. At
present twenty three job offers had been made with new
trooper recruits starting in the academy in February 2009.
The Commissioner also noted that there is sufficient lateral
hiring to fill any existing vacancies. He stressed that by
FY 10 all the trooper and CSO positions would be filled.
2:10:36 PM
DAN SPENCER, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY reported he did not have
specific information regarding retirement.
2:11:32 PM
AUDIE HOLLOWAY, COLONEL, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ALASKA STATE
TROOPERS, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY testified via
teleconference that there would be approximately three
retirement vacancies per year for the next few years. He
added that several instructors at the academy will reach
their 20-year anniversary date in the next three years. Mr.
Holloway pointed out that the normal attrition rate is 8 to
10 troopers per year. Co-Chair Hawker asked if this
information was being factored into the personnel
requirements. Commissioner Masters replied the department is
monitoring the expected attrition rate year by year.
2:13:37 PM
Representative Fairclough asked about administration
staffing. The Commissioner replied that vacancies did exist
in all divisions of the civilian support staff but they are
proceeding with recruitment.
Representative Fairclough stressed that the committee
consider that unsupported troopers often end up performing
administrative work costing the department more money in the
long run.
2:15:29 PM
Commissioner Masters commented that the department is
looking at how support personnel and technical advances can
aid the troopers. He noted that troopers performing court
services functions, especially in rural areas, have been a
problem.
2:17:05 PM
Representative Joule asked about Village Public Safety
Officer (VPSO) vacancy rates and if these positions are
getting into new villages. He noted that last year there was
a task force to deal with VPSO issues and he wondered if
there had been any follow-up to these recommendations. He
questioned if there was enough involvement in search and
rescue in rural areas where costs of fuel was very high.
2:18:30 PM
Commissioner Masters responded that his department was
looking at all the task force recommendations, including the
VPSO funding and salary/wage structure. He noted that the
department has been working with non-profits to add and fill
recommended vacancies. The Commissioner mentioned that as of
last year forty seven VPSO positions were filled and this
year they expected to fill fifty nine positions.
Commissioner Masters noted recruitment challenges within
nonprofit corporations. The Commissioner mentioned the
desire to implement a five and ten year plan with the non-
profits. Representative Joule questioned the search and
rescue budget. Commissioner Masters replied that fuel budget
items were talked about before his present tenure but the
intent is to support search and rescue efforts. He
recognized that most search and rescue is performed by
outside nonprofit volunteer organizations.
DAN SPENCER, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY replied that fuel increase
requests have been made to the governor's office but not
specifically for search and rescue.
2:23:51 PM
Representative Gara questioned how many communities
currently do not have VPSOs and the department's goal in
implementing the task force recommendations.
2:24:36 PM
Commissioner Masters responded he would reply in writing to
Representative Gara's requests on the VPSO figures.
2:26:20 PM
Representative Gara followed up with a question concerning
the proposed development of a sexual assault unit in the
state and the disagreement over it between the former
commissioner and governor. He wondered what federal funds
the department might seek for a sexual assault unit. Co-
Chair Hawker remarked that he would like to add a white
collar crime unit.
2:28:00 PM
Representative Joule wondered how committee members will
receive the answers from the commissioners and agencies for
questioned being asked.
2:28:51 PM
Co-Chair Hawker responded that any response from the
Commissioner or his department will be copied to all member
of the committee. Co-Chair Hawker remarked that of all the
departments before the committee this department presented
the emptiest plan. The Commissioner responded that the
department has presented the most necessary present needs
and he assured Co-Chair Hawker that the department takes the
process very seriously. Commissioner Schmidt believed that
the 10-year plan structure helps the department move forward
in the way it needs. The Commissioner reminded the committee
he was not around when this original input was made. He
assured the committee that next year's plan would look very
different. Co-Chair Hawker accepted that there would be a
year to reevaluate the department's needs but he could not
believe that more plans and visions had not been formulated.
2:32:28 PM
Representative Salmon remarked that in these times of
expanded communication and computers there have been few
changes in rural areas. He believed more effort was needed
in rural areas to respond to emergency calls.
2:33:40 PM
Representative Foster applauded the department for their
work in his community. Representative Kelly reminded the
committee that the public is concerned about having more
troopers on the streets and applauded the department's
recruiting efforts and hoped for even more results.
2:36:19 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze responded that the subcommittee would be
looking at rural issues, VPSOS, and meetings on the Council
of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
2:37:29 PM
Department of Corrections Budget Overview
JOSEPH SCHMIDT, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
provided a brief overview for the department and department
heads. He noted that the Department of Corrections is one of
six states that oversees jails and prisons plus pre-trial
and sentencing prisoners. The Commissioner remarked that the
department has 12 correction institutions and 13 regional
adult probation offices. At present there were 3604 general
capacity beds with 3,715 maximum capacity beds (copy on
file).
Representative Fairclough asked if this ratio was the
standard for all prison facilities. Commissioner Schmidt
responded he would get back to her with the answer.
Commissioner Schmidt continued that the department has 13
regional adult probation offices supervising 5,940
probationers. He added that there are 15 contracted
municipal jails with 153 beds and 6 community residential
centers with 753 beds. The Commissioner referred to the
change in 2007 of the department's mission statement to
enhance the safety of the public through secure confinement,
reform programs, and supervised re-entry.
2:45:14 PM
Commissioner Schmidt continued that electronic monitoring
does not change recidivism but it is a cheaper alternative
to incarceration. The Commissioner noted that there has been
an effort to add halfway house beds to help the inmates
reacclimatize to the community before being released.
Co-Chair Hawker asked if the trends being seen were
favorable to the Commissioner's vision of population
management. Commissioner Schmidt answered yes and remarked
that projections have been up and down with the numbers of
prisoners increasing and decreasing regularly from year to
year. He stressed this made projections difficult.
2:48:09 PM
Commissioner Schmidt pointed out that arrests are down in
the field because 30 more police officers have been added on
the street.
Co-Chair Stoltze asked if there were trends in certain areas
of the state that lead to bed shortages. Commissioner
Schmidt reported that the problem was mainly among medium
security prisoners. He felt the inmates were not being
released from maximum security to minimum security
facilities in a timely enough manner.
2:50:51 PM
Commissioner Schmidt asserted that the division commits to
working within the Results Delivery Units (RDE). He informed
that the division is working on an Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) respiratory protection program.
The Commissioner reported on Kenai building renovations.
2:52:01 PM
Commissioner Schmidt mentioned three housing units built at
Palmer Camp and the gym in Fairbanks. He declared that 38
beds would be brought to Fairbanks. The Commissioner
disclosed that aging facilities were still a challenge as
well as training and procuring staff. He discussed present
programs for staff members.
2:54:19 PM
Commissioner Schmidt continued with the subject of
population management. He maintained the importance of
halfway houses to make sure those beds were full.
Co-Chair Stoltze remarked he had visited almost every
facility in the state and expressed his concern regarding
the staffing levels at some facilities.
2:56:10 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze wondered if there was an issue of where to
put different kinds of offenders. Commissioner Schmidt
agreed it sometime happens. He reported that staff had been
added to help address some of the problems. Co-Chair Stoltze
remarked he would attend a subcommittee meeting on the
subject.
2:58:45 PM
Representative Fairclough questioned if a specific issue for
Highland Mountain Correctional center was in the
department's capital projects budget. Mr. Peeples replied it
was in the FY10 capital budget. Representative Fairclough
questioned if the municipality was working cooperatively on
the land swap. Mr. Peeples indicated there was positive
cooperation on land swap. Representative Fairclough wondered
if this will occur during the present legislative session.
Mr. Peeples indicated they were trying to initiate the
project now. Representative Fairclough requested a follow-up
to her inquiry. Mr. Peeples agreed to provide the
information.
3:01:24 PM
Representative Salmon questioned the fire drill protection
plans that were practiced at the prisons. Commissioner
Schmidt replied that each facility had emergency plans for
fire evacuations drills.
3:03:12 PM
Representative Salmon further questioned the physical fire
systems. The Commissioner responded that water sprinkler
systems are throughout the facilities. Representative Kelly
asked if the number of correction officers mentioned earlier
was a positive change. The Commissioner replied that it was.
Representative Kelly referred to the intent to fill all
vacancies in FY09 and asked if that was also a positive
achievement.
3:05:36 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze responded that he had heard less from
correctional officers on the subject of forced overtime.
Commissioner Schmidt replied that the overtime issue is
gone.
3:06:18 PM
Representative Salmon asked for more information on how the
department plans to bring home prisoners at the Arizona
facility. Commissioner Schmidt replied that the first draw
down occurred when empty beds were found in Seward. He
believed the new projection indicated that all those
incarcerated in Arizona should be returning to Alaska.
Representative Salmon asked when that
would happen. The Commissioner replied by March 2012.
Representative Kelly remarked that more inmates returning to
Alaska would cause costs to rise. He requested the economic
costs for putting inmates in Goose Creek as opposed to
keeping them in Arizona.
3:10:07 PM
Representative Joule asked about the recommended increase in
community center jails or halfway houses. Commissioner
Schmidt replied that half-way houses were used as an
integration tool for those completing longer sentences.
Representative Joule thanked the Commissioner for the
departments help and cooperation within his community.
3:12:22 PM
Representative Fairclough questioned the statistics of
alcoholism and alcohol related cases in prison. Commissioner
Schmidt responded that a 2003 study put alcohol related
problems at 92 percent. Representative Fairclough asked if
there were any alcohol or drug related programs in the
prisons. Commissioner Schmidt responded that residential
substance abuse programs were in Kenai, Eagle River and
Arizona. He remarked that with most sentences averaging 120
days there was not enough time for prisoners to complete the
programs. Representative Fairclough noted that anger
management programs were difficult to house in rural areas.
She wondered if anger management programs were available to
help reintroduce inmates to the community. Representative
Fairclough also wondered if there was any online way to
record court ordered perpetrator accountability.
Commissioner Schmidt replied he would have to return to
Representative Fairclough with specifics.
3:16:23 PM
Representative Salmon asked if the Commissioner was familiar
with HB9 on capital punishment and, if the bill passed, what
additional facilities would need to be built. Commissioner
Schmidt replied he was not sure at this time. Representative
Salmon wondered how this would work. Commissioner Schmidt
did not want to speculate at this time.
3:18:00 PM
Representative Kelly questioned if the use of polygraphs was
working. Commissioner Schmidt replied no active study exists
but evidence-based work indicates that sex offender programs
can reduce recidivism by 8 percent. He added that it is an
expensive program that is not always cost effective.
Representative Kelly declared that results should be
observed to justify the large amount of money being spent.
He added that the number of non-compliance was not good.
Representative Kelly questioned if the probation officers
were making frequent visits to oversee the progress of the
offender. Commissioner Schmidt commented that probation
officers do supervise the sex offenders in the community.
Representative Kelly declared his interest in making the
numbers in prison go down because probation progress was
effective and parolees were not just left on the street
unsupervised. He wondered if there was any reward for the
private sector to hire people coming out of prison. Co-Chair
Stoltze recounted success stories from businesses who hired
former inmates.
3:23:59 PM
Mr. Peeples replied there were no tax credits for businesses
who hire former inmates. Representative Kelly was interested
in knowing of successful programs that have been working in
other areas of the country.
3:24:52 PM
Representative Gara questioned what sort of alcohol related
issues exists in the prisons. Commissioner Schmidt replied
that alcohol related issues do not necessarily refer to
alcoholism. Representative Gara asked if numbers were
available on those that had actual alcoholism problems. The
Commissioner replied that more studies would be needed to
review those statistics. Representative Joule wondered if
there had been any success in recidivism among sex
offenders.
3:27:53 PM
Commissioner Schmidt replied that evidence base numbers
could be as much as 8 percent. Mr. Peeples interjected that
there was a Colorado model that provided some statistics.
Representative Joule questioned if there existed drugs that
reduce the sex drive. The Commissioner replied that more
research was needed on the subject.
3:28:58 PM
Representative Fairclough contended that rehabilitation of
certain sex offenders had been approached at different
levels but she believed that child sex offenders can not be
rehabilitated. She agreed drugs existed that try to repress
the urges of child sex offenders. She felt that some
programs often help the offender learn how to avoid the
court system.
3:32:44 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze requested that more information on the
subject be sent to the committee. Commissioner Schmidt
agreed with Representative Fairclough that it is just as
important who is not treated as those who are.
Co-Chair Stoltze applauded Natalie Brooks who spent her life
as an advocate in the prison system and hoped for some
higher recognition for her.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 3:35 PM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| CORRECTIONS 10 year plan.HFC.pdf |
HFIN 1/30/2009 1:30:00 PM |
|
| CORRECTIONS FY09 10 budget update.pdf |
HFIN 1/30/2009 1:30:00 PM |
|
| PUBLIC_SAFETY_Plan.pdf |
HFIN 1/30/2009 1:30:00 PM |
|
| DPS FY09 and FY10 outline.pdf |
HFIN 1/30/2009 1:30:00 PM |
|
| DPS Org Chart 1-30-09 Rev.pdf |
HFIN 1/30/2009 1:30:00 PM |
|
| DPS selected 2008 accomplishments.pdf |
HFIN 1/30/2009 1:30:00 PM |
|
| Letter to Rep. Stoltze.pdf |
HFIN 1/30/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 81 |
| DOC HFC Sub-Committee Overview.pdf |
HFIN 1/30/2009 1:30:00 PM |