SB 7-STATE TROOPER POLICIES: PUBLIC ACCESS  3:32:50 PM CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 7 "An Act requiring the Department of Public Safety to publish certain policies and procedures on the department's Internet website." He noted who was available to answer questions. 3:33:28 PM SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 7 introduced the legislation reading the following into the record: First, I would like to thank the hard-working men and women peace officers and office staff who provide the services that protect lives and welfare of the people within Alaska's communities. Thank you all for your service. The recent casualties surrounding civilians has drawn even greater attention to issues around policing and police to community relationships. This moment seems to have created real momentum to address one of the longest standing injustices in society. During last summer and into the Fall, my office - along with Senator Begich's office - worked together to develop a series of bills. These bills were drafted by Legislative Legal as a bill packet that our offices refer to as TPIP- Turning Pain into Progress. TPIP was crafted after the national 8 Can't Wait campaign which is eight specific policies that have been proven, with data, to reduce police violence by as much as 72 percent, when implemented. I recognize that the national campaign can't and shouldn't be applied to a place as unique as Alaska. Therefore, I spent a great deal of time talking to stakeholders and gaining input throughout the process of drafting these bills to ensure that the proposal would be fitting for Alaska. I am pleased to say that I have engaged public safety agencies to include the Anchorage Police Department, Anchorage Police Employees Association, Public Safety Employees Association, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives during the process. Because of my proactive approach, I am confident in moving forward with the implementation of public safety policy changes that will benefit both the citizens of Alaska and our law enforcement officers. SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON deferred to her staff to present the sponsor statement and sectional analysis. 3:35:42 PM DELANEY THIELE, Staff, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the sponsor statement for SB 7. SB7 "An Act requiring the Department of Public Safety to publish certain policies and procedures on the department's Internet website." This bill would require that the Department of Public Safety publish on their website the department's current policies and procedures related to the conduct of peace officers employed or regulated by the department. The duty of the Department of Public Safety is to ensure public safety within our communities and, as such, the public must be able to easily access the current policies and procedures that requires peace officers regulated by the department to adhere to. 3:36:21 PM MS. THIELE presented the sectional analysis for SB 7. Section 1: Amends AS 44.441.020 to add the Department of Public Safety shall publish on their website the current policies and procedures related to the conduct of peace officers employed or regulated by the department. CHAIR SHOWER asked if the members had questions or comments. 3:37:05 PM SENATOR COSTELLO asked if there was any objection to the bill. SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON answered that she worked diligently with all the agencies and revised the bill to include the feedback. She said she did not believe there was any objection to the bill at this time. CHAIR COSTELLO asked what feedback she received and how she changed the bill to respond to the feedback. SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON replied there wasn't much feedback because both the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Anchorage Police Department (APD) already have their policies and procedures online. CHAIR SHOWER asked if the Alaska State Troopers had any feedback or concerns with the bill. SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON replied her office worked with the Public Safety Employees Association (PSEA), which the Troopers fall under, and their questions were answered. She did not hear from them again and she assumes that they have no additional concerns. CHAIR SHOWER asked Ms. Breager if she had any comments on SB 7. 3:39:42 PM RANDI BREAGER, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Department of Public Safety, Anchorage, Alaska, expressed appreciation that the sponsor proactively worked with the department to answer their questions on the bill package. She confirmed that DPS policies already are public. She noted that the department did advise the sponsor that the Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC) falls under DPS, but they have no authority to require local police agencies to publish their policies. However, she believes that most agencies would comply since the law defines these records as public and available to request. 3:40:41 PM CHAIR SHOWER asked for confirmation that this policy is for more than just troopers, but it will not apply to jurisdictions that are not under DPS direct supervision or authority. MS. BREAGER answered yes; their assessment is that DPS would not have the authority to require other departments to comply. The Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC) regulates the certification of police officers but not police departments so DPS would have to work with individual police departments to encourage them to publish their policies. 3:41:29 PM CHAIR SHOWER asked if it was her intent that by regulation or policy decision of the administration APSC could publish the information. SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON replied that was the intent. 3:42:21 PM CHAIR SHOWER held SB 7 for future consideration.