HB 235-NORTH STAR MEDAL  4:49:31 PM CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of HB 235. 4:49:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN KREISS-TOMKINS, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 235, referenced the sponsor statement for HB 235 as follows: HB 235 creates a rare and high honor to be awarded by the State of Alaska to first responders who are injured or killed while exhibiting great courage in the service of their fellow Alaskans. The North Star Medal is reserved for firefighters, peace officers, first responders, and search and rescue volunteers. The idea for the bill came from Representative Bob Lynn, the former chair of the House State Affairs Committee, who envisioned the award as a small thanksgiving" for the valor and sacrifice shown by these men and women. One comparable award currently exists. The State Medal for Heroism was created by the Legislature in 1965 to recognize the heroic and valorous deed of saving a life. In contrast to the North Star Medal, the Medal for Heroism can be awarded to any Alaskan and has been awarded to individuals of all ages for what are often spontaneous acts of bravery. For example, the Medal for Heroism was awarded to a 10-year-old boy in Nome who lost his life rescuing a woman from a burning house in 1984, and to others who have saved people from drowning, or from death and injury in the aftermath of airplane and car crashes. The North Star Medal does not duplicate this award; while the recipients of the State Medal for Heroism have responded to extraordinary events with courage, the North Star Medal honors those individuals who show up each day knowing that they could be asked to give their lives to protect and serve their fellow Alaskans. Other states such as Idaho, Illinois, Oregon, and Texas have similar awards that honor first responders for meritorious conduct and/or death or injury in the line of duty. Nominations for the North Star Medal can originate within communities and organizations and will be passed on to the highest-ranking supervisor in the department or organization, who will then make recommendations to the Commissioner of Public Safety. After consideration, the Commissioner of Public Safety will submit the names of the nominees for the award to the governor. At a ceremony held no more than once a year, the governor will present the recipient of the North Star Medal with a ribbon, a medal, and a citation. If the honoree is no longer living or cannot accept the award, the next of kin may accept it on their behalf. The North Star Medal is a sign of gratitude from the people of Alaska to first responders whose dedication is a constant in a changing world. 4:50:20 PM GRIFFIN PLUSH, Staff, Representative Kreiss-Tomkins, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, summarized that the North Star Medal would be a regular award given by the governor to first responders from nominations submitted by departments and organizations throughout the state to recognize the sacrifices made by first responders. CHAIR MEYER asked if the governor has currently a way of recognizing people who have done a great job whether they are police officers, fire fighters or school teachers. MR. PLUSH explained as follows: There are several different awards, for heroism specifically there is only one comparable award and that is the Alaska Medal for Heroism; however, that award is an award that is awarded to any Alaskan based on an individual heroic deed or valor [inaudible] and it is something that is not awarded very frequently. The North Star Medal on the other hand is something that would be more regular and specifically for our first responders, for our police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, and search and rescue volunteers that are making that daily sacrifice. So, it's a medal that is more specific to those first responders and more awarded more regularly. 4:53:16 PM CHAIR MEYER noted that there is some overlap between the two medals and asked Mr. Plush to confirm that there is a difference. MR. PLUSH answered as follows: Yes, specifically awarded for displays of extreme bravery and heroism, and awarded by the governor; those are kind of the two main categories where there is overlap, but the medals are substantially different. CHAIR MEYER noted Mr. Lynn's comments that he calls the North Star Medal the "Purple Heart." MR. PLUSH explained as follows: Yes, that's language the we've been using as well, and I think that is sort of a fitting description of it as well, sort of a "Purple Heart" for our first responders. There are military honors, of course, like the "Purple Heart" that are awarded as well, but this is specifically for our civilian first responders, public servants who are putting their lives at risk. CHAIR MEYER asked why Representative Lynn was not able to get the legislation passed. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said he did not believe Representative Lynn ever introduced legislation to establish the North Star Medal. CHAIR MEYER asked if Representative Lynn would have won his reelection that he would have probably introduced that legislation. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS answered that was his understanding from his conversation with Representative Lynn. 4:56:01 PM WALT MONEGAN, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Public Safety, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of HB 235 as follows: When this idea, this medal was first introduced or brought to my attention, it made a lot of sense in regard to that we have many people out there, not only in the police and fire realm, but also in the volunteers that we have with search and rescue, pretty much all over the state. Barring anybody getting hurt or worse, I think this award is something that they can put on the wall or their family can have on the wall as a very poignant reminder of their efforts. On a personal note, my father was killed in combat in Korea and his Medal of Honor is hanging on our wall as a daily reminder of what sometimes we are called to do. I support this concept and I want to speak for all of the people out there who work for the safety of everybody out there. CHAIR MEYER asked if an individual can currently receive a medal for heroism. He added that if so, how often do individuals currently received medals for heroism. COMMISSIONER MONEGAN answered as follows: The last time we presented a medal of sorts was in action in a state trooper medal and it was to our BPO that was shot and wounded in the Bethel area about a year or so ago. So, this particular medal would be something that would be bestowed upon him or her by the governor as opposed to something from the Alaska State Troopers or myself. I think it is significant and hopefully we don't have to present too many of them because usually it involves somebody being hurt. He continued as follows: I like it because it goes beyond the uniform services, it goes to the search and rescue folks that do this as volunteers. I think it is very significant and it is honoring those who spend their time helping others. 4:59:36 PM JACOB WILSON, Business Agent, Alaska Correctional Officers Association, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of HB 235 as follows: I wanted to echo the commissioner's comments on behalf of correctional officers. We have about 860 members now and on behalf of those members we absolutely support HB 235 and the intent of the legislation to recognize peace officers in Alaska who die or are seriously injured in the line of duty. As peace officers, Alaska's correctional officers place their lives on the line "24/7," and unfortunately at times, correctional officers and other law enforcement officers around the state are seriously injured on a line of duty and in rare occasions lose their lives while performing their jobs. While nothing can replace their loss or can replace the fact that some people will never be the same after an on-the-job injury, the public recognition of the sacrifice that they made will provide some consolation to the surviving relatives or the injured worker who is the recipient of the North Star Medal. We appreciate the steps that this legislation takes to recognize our brave and selfless women and men who go to work everyday not knowing if they are going to return home safely. 5:01:25 PM CHAIR MEYER closed public testimony. 5:01:51 PM SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report CSHB 235(STA), version 30- LS0816\J from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. 5:02:07 PM CHAIR MEYER announced that there being no objection, the motion carried.