HB 250-LAW ENFORCEMENT; CONCEALING ONE'S FACE  3:51:07 PM CHAIR CARRICK announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 250, "An Act establishing the crime of wearing a mask in public while acting as a peace officer; and providing for an effective date." [Before the committee, adopted as a working document on 2/10/26, was the proposed CS for HB 250, Version 34-LS1284\I, C. Radford, 1/21/26, ("Version I").] CHAIR CARRICK welcomed Sarah Hieb with the Alaska Police Standards Council. Chief Case was invited to join today, but he was not available. 3:52:40 PM REPRESENTATIVE ST. CLAIR stated that the Anchorage police chief opposed this legislation. California legislation has been used as an example and only includes federal agencies. The Los Angeles Police Department is not enforcing [this legislation]. He said anyone can ask an officer for their badge number and the officer should comply. He is opposed to this legislation. CHAIR CARRICK said she is hesitant to put it into statute. Five years ago, body-worm cameras ("body cams") were not standard and were opposed by law enforcement agencies and now law enforcement are very supportive of this tool to help avoid misinterpretation. 3:54:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE noted the committee had considered right to privacy in another meeting but are not concerned about the rights of privacy of law officers. At times, the public has wanted body cams and not wanted them other times. He is concerned about the safety of Alaska law enforcement officers and their families. He expressed concerns about making a video or doing anything with voices. Officers are trying to protect themselves. Officers didn't sign up for people to go to their homes and dox them. A person can lift an officer's likeness in film doing something. For now, he is concerned about protecting those officers. 3:57:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE SARA HANNAN, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor of HB 250, Version I answered questions. There was opposition from the police of chief in Anchorage and two other police unions opposed. There were no references to doxing. This is not a practice of Alaska law enforcement. Frequently, Alaska sees federal standards coming to the states. If Alaska has a standard that Alaska police departments use, then this won't be an issue. She talked to the need for deescalation or a community police officer having a mental health crisis. This bill affirms the standards that peace officers train in Alaska and currently uses. 4:00:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE ST. CLAIR stated that he obviously opposes this legislation. He said he has asked, how often officers have been seen masked in the manner described, and no one can tell him. In some example protests, the protestors are masked. The law enforcement said this legislation is not needed, and he supports them. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE stated that Representative Hannan wants to establish a clear standard for peace officers. She said instead of having it as a standard, HB 250 would make wearing a mask a crime. She asked Representative Hannan to explain her approach. 4:02:20 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN replied that the Alaska Police Council does not set standards for all levels of law enforcement in Alaska. She wants to make sure all levels from Village Public Safety Officers (VPSOs) to federal officers follow this law. REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE said that the committee is talking about Minneapolis and a couple deaths. If the Minneapolis police were there to protect the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, it likely wouldn't have happened. A federal ICE officer would come to Alaska with the support of local officers. He said that Alaska needs to protect Alaska officers. He is opposed to this bill. 4:04:40 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY said she wished that Alaska didn't need this piece of legislation. She is trying to prevent something that may happen in Alaska. Peace officers should be working together at all different levels. CHAIR CARRICK said she appreciates the discussion and she noted that Representative St. Clair is a former police officer. This legislation is very preventive and becoming a widespread issue in other states. She said kudos to Alaska's law enforcement and the committee for addressing an area where the state can prevent an issue. 4:07:30 PM SARAH HIEB, Administrative Investigator, Alaska Police Standards Council, provided testimony on HB 250. She said the standards council doesn't have a position on this legislation at this time. 4:07:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE offered her understanding that the bill sponsor wanted "to take action in response to what happened" and thought it "would prevent what is happening across the nation." She stated that it was an accidental death. She asked how preventing peace officers from wearing masks would prevent accidental deaths. CHAIR CARRICK said that not masking is a way to prevent escalation. A lot is lost with mask, and she wishes that protestors would not mask as well. Law enforcement officers are acting as public figures and agents of the law. 4:10:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked if there is data showing a direct correlation of escalation resulting from masking. She pointed out that during the COVID years, masking was required by the government. She has a concern about the impact on recruitment and retention of public safety, which is a nationwide problem. Retirements from 2019-2022 are up 30 percent and resignations are up 47 percent too! Public perception is a factor in recruiting and retention. There are law enforcements agencies saying that HB 250 is not needed. It won't prevent an unfortunate death but make it a crime for a police officer to wear a mask when the officer feels it was necessary to wear one. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN said the bill was drafted before the death occurred. She reemphasized how quickly things escalate when people are not identifiable. She wants to preserve the standards of officers in Alaska. She said body cams are not required in Alaska but are good for law enforcement to have verification of their interactions with the public. She noted she has an additional amendment pertaining to Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT). 4:18:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT stated that yesterday's hearing was about federal overreach. She shared about a family in Minneapolis trying to get food for a family who got pepper sprayed. She asked, what is the standard for an identification of an officer? MS. HIEB replied that the Alaska Police Standards Council do not have any standards in this area. REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked why peace officers wear nametags. MS. HIEB said generally so officers can be identified. REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked how the council sets its standards. MS. HIEB replied that the council sets minimum hiring and training standards. There are regulations on how a person could fall below those standards and lose their certificate. 4:21:22 PM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked whether an officer holds a license. MS. HIEB replied that officers have a certificate after working for a full year and meeting all the requirements. REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked whether there is a code of ethics. MS. HIEB replied yes, there is a code of ethics. REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked who writes the code of ethics. MS. HIEB answered that it is in the regulations and adopted by council members. 4:22:57 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE stated regardless of when the bill was written; the Minnesota event happened because politics got involved. He asked, "Are we doing the same thing?" Badging and name tags fall to the departments not the statewide council. MS. HIEB replied that it is a departmental thing how officers respond. REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE stated legislators make a mistake when they get into police department business. CHAIR CARRICK said she heard a lot of different perspectives and appreciated the discussion. 4:25:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY stated that one thing that happened during the COVID pandemic was a lot of retirements not limited to police officers. Public servants interact with others. She doesn't think that politicians involved in the Minnesota influenced what happened. She said it is a shame that the federal government felt officers had to mask. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE said while she disagrees with it being a crime for a police officer to mask; she appreciates the bill sponsor trying to find a workable solution. 4:28:34 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked if the changes by the bill sponsor would be made through amendments. If committee members could see the amendments then they wouldn't be duplicated. 4:29:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN said an amendment has been distributed to some offices. REPRESENTATIVE ST. CLAIR said tomorrow as a deadline is short notice considering the sponsor's amendment. CHAIR CARRICK said if committee members don't have them back by the deadline let office know. REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked if someone from the Department of Law would be available for the amendment process. 4:31:35 PM CHAIR CARRICK announced that HB 250 was held over.