HOUSE BILL 304 "An Act relating to the membership of the Alaska Fire Standards Council." 1:37:07 PM Co-Chair Stoltze disclosed that there may be some possible changes to HB 254, therefore it would probably not leave the committee today. 1:38:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG JOHNSON, commented that he had introduced the bill at the request of fire departments throughout the state. ERIN SHINE, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG JOHNSON, explained that the bill makes reasonable changes to the Alaska Fire Standards Council. The first change designates an existing seat to a member of the Alaska Professional Firefighters Association. The second change adds a seat for the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association, and the third, reclassifies the existing seat from a Firefighter Administrative Officer to a member of the Alaska State Firefighters Association. The mission of the Alaska Fire Standards Council is to establish professional standards for fire service personnel and curriculum requirements for the certification of the training program. Under HB 304, the governor appoints one member from each of the three associations to the Alaska Fire Standards Council from a list of a least three nominees submitted by each association. The intent of HB 304 is to ensure that all three associations are represented on the Alaska Fire Standards Council and that the members can speak with the full confidence of their respective associations in council meetings. Representative Doogan questioned what happens when all twelve members show up and want to vote. Ms. Shine said that currently the board consists of eleven members, but will become a twelve member board under the bill. In the event that all twelve voting members are there, the Chair will abstain from voting. 1:41:54 PM TOM WESTCOTT, PRESIDENT, ALASKA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS (via teleconference), voiced his support for the bill. He disclosed that the Standards Council gave their support for this legislation. The main goal is for it to be another tool to assist the Standards Council in doing their job. Representative Guttenberg questioned Mr. Wescott on why the legislation was needed, what was the problem and how can it be fixed. Mr. Westcott answered that the bill designates a seat for the Alaska Professional Firefighters on the Alaska Fire Standards Council and insures there will always be a representative on the board. The intent is for the position to be a valuable addition. GORDEN DESCUTHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA FIRE STANDARDS COUNCIL (via teleconference), testified in support of the bill. The agreement is that both positions would augment the council's ability to perform its mission. 1:45:12 PM JEFF TUCKER, ALASKA STATE FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION (via teleconference), supported the bill. The addition of the positions puts the three major state firefighting associations on the standards council. Co-Chair Stoltze CLOSED public testimony. He referred to the fiscal note. He believed the funds were covering travel expenses for the additional person. Co-Chair Stoltze indicated he had worked to get the funding for the bill. He expressed that it was important to have standards for training, whether for volunteers or paid positions. Vice-chair Fairclough MOVED to report HB 304 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being, NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HB 304 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with previously published fiscal note: FN1 (DPS). 1:48:35 PM AT EASE 1:49:53 PM RECONVENED