SL&C - 2/2/95 SB 55 REPEALING SUNSET OF ENHANCED 911 SYSTEM  Number 001 CHAIRMAN KELLY called the Labor and Commerce meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. and introduced SB 55 as the first order of business before the committee. SENATOR TORGERSON, Prime Sponsor of SB 55, explained that SB 55 would repeal the sunset clause in the original bill which allowed enhanced 911 emergency systems. He noted letters of support from the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the city of Juneau as well as others coming from Anchorage and Fairbanks. SENATOR SALO said that she supported SB 55, but inquired as to the reason a sunset was placed on the bill in the first place. SENATOR TORGERSON suggested that perhaps the sunset was in place on the possibility that state money might be available after the systems were operating. MARY JACKSON, Legislative Assistant to Senator Torgerson, explained that the sunset provision was due to amendments in House Finance which intended to afford the Telecommunications Information Committee (TIC) the opportunity to review and possibly do this on a statewide scope. TIC is currently waiting to determine if there will be any state or federal funding available to expand statewide. SHERMAN ERNOUF, Aide to Senator Kelly for Labor & Commerce, confirmed that the Anchorage Chief of Police supported SB 55. MARK JOHNSON, Chief of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) for the Department of Health & Social Services, stated that EMS supports the intent of SB 55. He pointed out that the enhanced 911 systems allows the dispatcher to have the phone number and location of the caller. He suggested that the enhanced 911 system should be extended into rural areas at some point. SENATOR MILLER moved that SB 55 be moved out of committee with individual recommendations. Without objections, it was so ordered.