HB 209-EMERGENCY FIREFIGHTERS  4:36:28 PM VICE CHAIR MICCICHE announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 209(FIN) "An Act relating to emergency firefighters; and providing for an effective date." 4:36:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CRONK, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 209, read the following sponsor statement into the record: HB 209 authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources to hire emergency firefighter personnel using general fund appropriations. By amending AS 41.15.030 (b), allowing the use of general funds to pay EFF personnel, they would be able to perform nonemergency work, such hazardous fuels reduction, fuel break development, fire prevention, habitat restoration or improvement activities in fire- prone areas. In addition, this would provide economic opportunities for Alaskans and empower rural Alaskans, for the department to responsibly manage the state's natural resources, and to enhance public safety to protect and save human lives. Such nonemergency work could reduce the likelihood, intensity, and damage of wildland fires near populated areas and could bring significant reductions in the state's costs to fight future fires. By employing EFF during non-emergency would provide training, fitness, and readiness for when a wildfire does occur. The number of EFF personnel that may be interested in applying for a permanent DNR job would increase, which would help with recruitment. Based on the legislative history, amending AS 41.15.030(b)'s last sentence does not appear to yield and constitutional or legal problems. In 1996, the legislature added the last sentence to address concerns of conflict with the Alaska Personnel Act; specifically, that short term non-permanent employees would become full time employees. However, in 2000, the legislature amended the APA to allow for long term nonpermanent employees. Due to that amendment, the apparent concerns expressed by the legislature in 1996 warranting the inclusion of the last sentence no longer exists. VICE CHAIR MICCICHE turned to invited testimony on HB 209. 4:39:20 PM NORM MACDONALD, Chief of Fire and Aviation, Division of Forestry, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Palmer, Alaska, testified by invitation in support of HB 209. He stated that this bill manifests Alaska's need to build firefighting capacity as the challenge of wildland fires increase. The bill will help the division fulfill its primary mission of protecting Alaskans from wildland fires and reducing the catastrophic impacts through hazardous fuels mitigations. HB 209 will also provide jobs and training for rural Alaskans throughout fire-prone areas of the state. MR. MACDONALD agreed with the sponsor that removing the funding impediment in AS 41.15.030 would allow DNR to use already allocated general funds to pay emergency firefighters for non- emergency fire prevention work during periods of low fire activity. This will enable nonemergency fire prevention work, provide a training ground for EFF employees to learn valuable crossover firefighting skills, and provide consistent and desirable job opportunities for rural Alaskans. Leveraging this workforce could potentially save tens of millions of dollars in future fire suppression costs. MR. MACDONALD highlighted that while this bill allows general funds to be used for EFF and nonemergency tasks, the division would only use funds that have already been appropriated for fuel reduction and prevention work, which is why the fiscal note is zero. He also noted that the division has and will continue to receive federal funds for fuels mitigation that will be used for fire suppression and fire prevention activities by EFF crews. MR. MACDONALD emphasized that DOF currently does not have sufficient personnel to staff for both fire suppression and fuels reduction. The lack of consistent work for the EFF crews has resulted in a drastic decline in the number of EFF crews in the last 10 years and the division has had to import Lower 48 crews, which is expensive and makes a quick, aggressive initial attack impossible. This increases the overall cost to respond to wildland fires. MR. MACDONALD stated that HB 209 will help the division rebuild its EFF fire crews to create a self-sufficient Alaskan firefighting force, while reducing costs. The bill also dovetails with the division's request in the governor's budget to reinstate a wildland fire academy. The intent is to build back Alaska's wildland firefighting crews by training firefighters in rural communities. Providing secure employment strengthens local economies and enhances public safety. 4:43:49 PM SENATOR STEVENS asked if the state loans its firefighters to Lower 48 states when the fire danger in Alaska is relatively low. MR. MACDONALD confirmed that the division shares its resources with Lower 48 states when the fire season is over and the fire indices are low. SENATOR STEVENS asked for confirmation that it doesn't create a conflict to loan crews. MR. MACDONALD confirmed that it does not create a conflict. Life and safety are priorities so when Lower 48 states have fire seasons similar to the last several, the division will send support with every available resource, including EFF crews. That's been common practice for the last 40 years and will not stop. 4:45:07 PM VICE CHAIR MICCICHE opened public testimony on HB 209; finding none, he closed public testimony. VICE CHAIR MICCICHE found no further discussion and solicited a motion. 4:45:43 PM SENATOR STEVENS moved to report the CS for HB 209(FIN), work order 32-LS0929\B from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). VICE CHAIR MICCICHE found no objection, and CSHB 209(FIN) was reported from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.