SENATE BILL NO. 80                                                      
       "An Act relating to police  protection service areas in                 
  unified           municipalities; and  to  police protection                 
  provided by the state      in certain municipal areas."                      
                                                                               
  Senator  Rieger  stated  the purpose  of  this  measure will                 
  increase local self-determination and provide relief to  the                 
  state's  operating budget.  It allows  for the citizenry who                 
  have the  desire and  willingness to pay  for public  safety                 
  protection and sets  forth a mechanism by which that payment                 
  is delivered to the state.                                                   
  The purpose of the bill is  to create a permissive situation                 
  where a unified municipality  can set up a service  area and                 
  pay for  trooper protection.   He  offered  an amendment  in                 
  response to a  fiscal note  by the Dept.  of Public  Safety,                 
  which spoke to  the desire  to have an  extended gearing  up                 
  time and  winding down time  compared to the  original bill.                 
  This bill is good government at its best.                                    
                                                                               
  Co-chair Halford invited  Del Smith  to join the  committee.                 
  Mr. Smith stated  that the administration opposes  this bill                 
  because they  are not interested in contracting.   He stated                 
  that if  the law does pass, the  Dept. of Public Safety will                 
  do their best to implement the contracting.                                  
                                                                               
  Senator Rieger  stated that he  has had good  cooperation in                 
  working  with the Dept.  of Public Safety  in discussing the                 
  issues.  The opposition has come from the governor's office.                 
  Senator Rieger MOVED Amendment #1.  No objection having been                 
  raised, Amendment #1 was ADOPTED and will be incorporated in                 
  the  Finance CS.  This bill  will be  taken up  at  the next                 
  committee meeting.                                                           
                                                                               
  Senator  Zharoff   asked  how   many  municipalities   could                 
  participate  in  this  activity?    He  inquired  as to  the                 
  department's fiscal note.   Senator  Rieger stated that  you                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  could make an  argument that the  department benefits.   The                 
  wording  of the  actual  costing out  is,  direct cost  plus                 
  markup.  The department is the recipient, meaning more money                 
  is available  for the  delivery of  services throughout  the                 
  rest of the state.                                                           
                                                                               
  Co-chair Halford noted they  had run out of time,  and would                 
  take up SB 80 first thing at the next meeting.                               
                                                                               
  ADJOURNMENT                                                                  
                                                                               
  The meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:00 a.m.