01/31/2023 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB26 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
January 31, 2023
3:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Scott Kawasaki, Chair
Senator Matt Claman, Vice Chair
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator Kelly Merrick
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 26
"An Act relating to special registration plates commemorating
peace officers killed in the line of duty."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 26
SHORT TITLE: LICENSE PLATES: FALLEN PEACE OFFICERS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) KAUFMAN
01/18/23 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/23
01/18/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/23 (S) STA, FIN
01/31/23 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR JAMES KAUFMAN
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 26.
DOMINICK HARNETT, Staff
Senator James Kaufman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sectional analysis for SB 26.
JAMES COCKRELL, Commissioner
Department of Public Safety
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided invited testimony in support of SB
26.
DOUG FIFER, Chair
CIRI Board of Directors
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided invited testimony in support of SB
26.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:30:32 PM
CHAIR SCOTT KAWASAKI called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Bjorkman, Claman, Merrick, and Chair
Kawasaki. Senator Wielechowski arrived immediately thereafter.
SB 26-LICENSE PLATES: FALLEN PEACE OFFICERS
3:31:22 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 26
"An Act relating to special registration plates commemorating
peace officers killed in the line of duty."
He stated the intention to hear the introduction and invited
testimony and hold the bill for further consideration.
3:31:45 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI joined the committee.
CHAIR KAWASAKI invited the sponsor and staff to the witness
table.
3:32:21 PM
SENATOR JAMES KAUFMAN, District F, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 26, introduced the legislation by
reading the following sponsor statement into the record:
[Original punctuation provided.]
I am honored to sponsor SB 26 during the 33rd Alaska
State Legislature. This bill intends to pay tribute to
the brave men and women who have made the ultimate
sacrifice in the line of duty as peace officers. This
bill adds a subsection to the Alaska statutes which
authorizes the creation and issuance of license plates
commemorating these peace officers. This bill includes
not just police officers, but all peace officers such
as state troopers, municipal police officers, village
public safety officers, and officers of the courts.
Every day, those that have sworn to protect us put
themselves in harm's way to preserve the peace and to
protect their fellow citizens. There are a multitude
of other states with license plates honoring those who
have died in the line of duty. It is time that the
great state of Alaska represents our respect for
Alaskan peace officers in a similar manner.
This bill is a small but meaningful way to recognize
and honor the sacrifices made by these heroes. I urge
my fellow legislators to support SB 26 and show our
state's gratitude for the service and sacrifices of
our fallen peace officers, their families, friends,
and coworkers.
Please support those that protect and serve. Support
SB 26!
3:34:09 PM
DOMINICK HARNETT, Staff, Senator James Kaufman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the sectional analysis
for SB 26. It read as follows:
Sec 1:
Adds a new subsection to AS 28.10.181 which
authorizes, and sets guidelines for the creation of,
special request plates commemorating peace officers
killed in the line of duty.
This section also defines "peace officer" as:
• An officer of the state troopers
• A member of the police force of a municipality
• A village public safety officer
• An officer assigned to a court to serve warrants
and court orders, provide court security and
judicial protection, and transport prisoners
Sec 2:
Adds a new paragraph to AS 28.10.421(d) which sets the
cost of the special request plates authorized in
Section 1 [at $30].
3:35:10 PM
SENATOR MERRICK stated support for the legislation. She read the
last sentence in the fiscal note analysis that says, "Expenses
associated with coordinating design, set up, updates to website,
education and training is estimated at $14,000." She asked what
education and training was envisioned.
SENATOR KAUFMAN offered his understanding that the cost was the
normal process of setting up a program for a commemorative
license plate.
SENATOR MERRICK asked if the reference to education and training
was a mistake.
SENATOR KAUFMAN offered to follow up with a definitive answer.
CHAIR KAWASAKI stated that the bill has a Finance Committee
referral where fiscal questions could be sorted out.
3:36:15 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked for confirmation that the commemorative
license plate would be for officers who had died in the line of
duty but would not have an individual officer's name.
SENATOR KAUFMAN answered yes; it would be a commemorative plate,
similar to other commemorative plates one might see.
SENATOR CLAMAN asked if $14,000 was the estimated cost of
designing the plate and whether it would cost another $14,000 if
the plate were redesigned in five years.
SENATOR KAUFMAN offered his understanding that it would be a
one-time cost to design the plate.
3:37:54 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked if the $30 additional charge covers the
department's cost to make specialty plates.
SENATOR KAUFMAN explained that $30 is the default number in
statute.
SENATOR CLAMAN asked if he knew the difference in cost between a
regular license plate and a specialty license plate.
SENATOR KAUFMAN offered to follow up with the information.
SENATOR CLAMAN said he'd appreciate the information and he liked
the bill.
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked how "peace officer" was defined in this
context.
SENATOR KAUFMAN explained that he'd been working on the bill for
three years and over that time he'd expanded the definition to
include correctional officers who were killed in the line of
duty.
3:40:03 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no further questions and turned to invited
testimony.
3:40:34 PM
JAMES COCKRELL, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety,
Anchorage, Alaska, provided invited testimony in support of SB
26. He reported that since Territorial Days, 69 law enforcement
officers had lost their lives in the line of duty. SB 26
signifies the importance that Alaskans place on law enforcement
officers and sends a message that Alaska is law enforcement
friendly. The bill recognizes the men and women who make the
state safe for citizens and families and protect wildlife
resources. He encouraged this committee and the full legislature
to pass SB 26 in support of the law enforcement community.
CHAIR KAWASAKI thanked Commissioner Cockrell for his testimony
and for coming out of retirement to serve the state in this
capacity.
3:42:56 PM
DOUG FIFER, Chair, Cook Inlet Region Inc. (CIRI) Board of
Directors, Anchorage, Alaska, stated that he was a retired
Anchorage police officer who specialized in hostage negotiation.
He said the idea of a specialty plate to commemorate peace
officers who were killed in the line of duty came to him when he
saw that most states have this type of specialty plate. He
started working on the idea in 2017 and he hopes it will pass
this year. He named some of the worthy groups and organizations
that have specialty commemorative license plates and asked the
committee to also support the men and women who risk their lives
every day to protect Alaskan citizens and communities.
MR. FIFER shared that he participates in a 400-mile bike ride
every year to commemorate fallen officers. The culmination is
the Police Memorial in Washington, DC. It is a somber reminder
of the number of officers killed in the line of duty. He
described SB 26 as both honorable and respectful of Alaska's
peace officers. He asked the committee to take this positive
step to add Alaska to the majority of states that already honor
law enforcement in this way.
3:45:35 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited questions.
3:45:43 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN asked whether other states that have this type
of commemorative plate charge extra that goes into a special
fund to help the families of fallen law enforcement officers.
MR. FIFER replied that some do have that option, which he
supports. To the question of who would design the plate, he
recommended the state/national organization called COPS. It is
comprised of family members of fallen officers.
SENATOR CLAMAN noted that the bill does not mention correctional
officers. He asked if that was a drafting oversight.
SENATOR KAUFMAN said he would follow up because his intent was
to include correctional officers.
3:48:32 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced he would hold SB 26 in committee for a
future hearing.
3:49:34 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Senator Kawasaki adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting at 3:49 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB26 ver A.pdf |
SSTA 1/31/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB26 Sponsor Statement version A 1.25.23.pdf |
SSTA 1/31/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB26 Sectional Analysis version A 1.25.23.pdf |
SSTA 1/31/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB26 DOA-DMV 01.27.2023.pdf |
SSTA 1/31/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB 26 Supporting Document- Other State Plates 1.30.23.pdf |
SSTA 1/31/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 26 |