SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE March 19, 1998 3:33 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Lyda Green, Chairman Senator Jerry Ward, Vice-Chairman Senator Jerry Mackie MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Mike Miller Senator Jim Duncan COMMITTEE CALENDAR SENATE BILL NO. 338 "An Act relating to waiver of tuition and fees for certain family members of a member of the armed services or a member of an emergency medical service killed in the line of duty; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED SB 338 OUT OF COMMITTEE SENATE BILL NO. 339 "An Act relating to a volunteer fire fighter license plate." - MOVED SB 339 OUT OF COMMITTEE SENATE BILL NO. 249 "An Act authorizing an advisory vote on whether the legislature should propose amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to the use of income of the permanent fund; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED SB 249 OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION SB 338 - No previous action to record. SB 339 - No previous action to record. SB 249 - No previous action to record. WITNESS REGISTER Ms. Renee Howell, Staff to Senator Lyda Green State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Presented overviews on SB 338 & SB 339 Mark Johnson, Chief, Community Health & Emergency Medical Services Division of Public Health Department of Health & Social Services P.O. Box 110616 Juneau, AK 99811-0616 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 338 Mrs. R.J. Nelson, Fire Chief Nenana Fire Department Box 70 Nenana, AK 99760 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 338 & SB 339 Craig Lewis, Director Interior Region EMS Council 3522 Industrial Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99701 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 338 Ms. Ronni Sullivan, Executive Director Southern Region EMS Council 6130 Tuttle Place Anchorage, AK 99507 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 338 Steve O'Connor, Assistant Chief Central Emergency Services 231 S. Binkley Soldotna, AK 99669 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 338 Tim Everson 207 Moller Drive, #113 Sitka, AK 99835 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 338 Jay Dulany, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles Department of Administration 5700 E. Tudor Road Anchorage, AK 99507-1225 POSITION STATEMENT: Offered information on SB 339 Craig Johnson, Staff to Senator Ward State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Present to respond to questions on SB 249 ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 98-13, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate State Affairs Committee to order at 3:33 p.m., and noted the presence of Senators Ward, Mackie and Green. SB 338 - TUITION WAIVER FOR EMT WIDOW/CHILD CHAIRMAN GREEN brought SB 338 before the committee as the first order of business and invited Ms. Howell to present an overview on the legislation. RENEE HOWELL, staff to Senator Green, read the following statement into the record. "Currently the state of Alaska grants tuition waivers to state- supported educational facilities for the families of members of the armed services killed in the line of duty. Senate Bill 338 provides this tribute to families of emergency medical service providers that are killed in the line of duty by establishing a tuition waiver for the spouse and child to obtain an undergraduate degree from a state-supported Alaskan educational institution. "The reality of being placed in harm's way is part of the delivery of emergency medical services. EMS providers are in no less danger than their counterparts in the police and fire departments. They get shot, stabbed and assaulted. It is difficult to appreciate the danger associated with pulling an injured victim from flooding rivers, steep hillsides, and crushed motor vehicles. Although they may not be in the public eye as often, there is an EMS provider responding to every assault with injuries, every domestic violence case with injuries, every psychological emergency, every involved fire, every motor vehicle accident with injuries, every terrorist event and every hazardous materials spill with potential injuries. "In Alaska there are over 130 EMS calls per day equaling almost 50,000 per year. Although the data is not complete, EMS responses customarily are three to four times as frequent as responses to fires. This actuality places the EMS provider at risk. Between 1985 to current, there have been 10 EMS providers in Alaska who died in the line of duty. "In Alaska, there are many communities and villages that do not have either law enforcement or fire departments. However, very few are without emergency medical services. In many locations, the EMS responder is the only authority figure who regularly responds to every form of emergency, including ones that place the life of the responder in peril. The EMS person is the mental health professional and intervenes in all kinds of abuse and suicide situations and often becomes the eyes and ears of law enforcement. "EMS personnel provide for the protection and safety of all Alaskans. They are an integral part of the Public Safety community and deserve the same recognition and benefits as police and fire personnel." Number 054 CHAIRMAN GREEN asked if all EMS personnel are certified by the Department of Health and Social Services. MS. HOWELL acknowledged that they are, and she noted that paramedics are included under this bill as well, however, they are licensed by the State Medical Board. Number 085 MARK JOHNSON, Chief, Community Health & Emergency Medical Services, Department of Health and Social Services, testifying in support of SB 338, confirmed that the department certifies EMTs from level I up to level III, as well as ground ambulance services and air medical services, including Medivac and air ambulance services, under statute and regulations. He said the legislation covers those who either work for or volunteer with a state certified emergency medical service, as well as paramedics working for a state certified ambulance service. Mr. Johnson said emergency medical providers encounter a variety of risks from hazardous rescue situations to infectious diseases, and the department thinks it appropriate that a tuition waiver be established for the spouse and children of a member of an emergency medical service who is killed in the line of duty. Number 110 MRS. R.J. NELSON, Fire Chief, Nenana Fire Department, testifying via teleconference from Nenana, commended Ms. Howell for her presentation on SB 338 and voiced her full support for the legislation. Number 116 CRAIG LEWIS, Director, Interior Region EMS Council, Fairbanks, testifying via teleconference from Fairbanks, stated that during previous testimony on HB 334 (TUITION WAIVER FOR POLICE WIDOW/CHILD) he encouraged the committee to develop this legislation for EMS providers. He expressed his appreciation to Chairman Green and Ms. Howell for doing an excellent job in putting the bill together. He said the legislation properly recognizes EMS providers and it puts them in an excellent position to feel equivalent to the other public safety people. Number 127 MS. RONNIE SULLIVAN, Executive Director, Southern Region, EMS Council, Anchorage, said EMS providers are routinely expected to respond quickly no matter what the weather is, which often means the kind of weather that causes someone else to be hurt badly. She voiced strong support for the legislation, which she said is an excellent and inexpensive way to say "Thank You" to the many EMS volunteers. Number 142 STEVE O'CONNOR, Assistant Chief, Central Emergency Services, Soldotna, as well as vice chair of the Alaska Council on Emergency Medical Services, testifying from Soldotna, said he also supported SB 338 for the same reasons as the previous speakers. He said the legislation goes a long way in recognizing one of the components of the community's public safety, and he urged its passage. Number 152 TIM EVERSON, Executive Director, Southeast Region, EMS Council, Sitka, testifying via teleconference from Sitka in support of SB 338, noted he is a volunteer EMS responder with the Sitka Fire Department. He informed the committee that over 100 Medivacs are performed each year in the Southeast Region, and these Medivacs are performed often times by volunteers in small planes and in hostile weather conditions. He said it would nice to provide this benefit to them in the case of a deadly accident. There being no further testimony on SB 338, CHAIRMAN GREEN stated she would accept a motion on the bill. Number 170 SENATOR WARD moved SB 338 and the accompanying fiscal note be passed out of committee with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. SB 339 - FIRE FIGHTER LICENSE PLATES CHAIRMAN GREEN brought SB 339 before the committee and invited Ms. Howell to present an overview on the legislation. RENEE HOWELL, staff to Senator Green, read the following sponsor statement into the record: "Currently, volunteer firefighters make up 80 percent of Alaska's 4,255 firefighters. Senate Bill 339 will establish a volunteer firefighter license plate available for purchase only by volunteer firefighters. The purchase price is $50. The license plate will provide recognition for volunteer firefighters and will provide a possible source of revenue for firefighter training around the state. "Historically, small communities do not have the money to pay for a full-time fire department and they rely on volunteers. These volunteers, in addition to their full-time careers, dedicate their spare time to firefighting and firefighter training. A volunteer receives comparable training as that of a full-time paid firefighter. They risk their lives and are the unsung heroes of many communities across the state. Let us honor their dedication and sacrifice by establishing a visible means of recognition for these important and dedicated community volunteers." Number 195 CHAIRMAN GREEN inquired how the design for these plates is created. MS. HOWELL responded that she was informed by Juanita Hensley of the Division of Motor Vehicles that there is a graphic designer that has a list of restrictions on size, color, etc., for the design of the plates. Individuals are allowed to submit recommendations for the plates, but the division makes the final decision. Number 206 JAY DULANY, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Administration, said the division always tries to work with the organizations, such as the Gold Rush Centennial Committee, when there is a special plate to get a design that is most beneficial to the organization and he doesn't see any problems with doing something with this one as well. Number 217 MRS. R.J. NELSON, Fire Chief Nenana Fire Department, testifying via teleconference from Nenana, related that she did a survey in her area asking what firefighters thought of these plates and she received a lot of positive responses, and she has submitted some examples and ideas for plates to the committee which were suggested by firefighters and herself. She also pointed out that the training requirements are exactly the same for volunteers and paid firefighters and most of the communities in the state are protected by volunteer department only. Directing the revenue generated from the sale of these plates towards training of firefighters will be a real benefit to rural communities around the state. She said the legislation honors the state of Alaska's volunteer firefighters with a lot of respect and appreciation. There being no further testimony on SB 339, CHAIRMAN GREEN asked for the will of the committee. SENATOR MACKIE moved SB 339 and the accompanying zero fiscal note be passed out of committee with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. SB 249 - PERMANENT FUND ADVISORY VOTE CHAIRMAN GREEN brought SB 249 before the committee as the final order of business. SENATOR WARD, prime sponsor of SB 249, explained that the legislation requests the lieutenant governor to place an advisory vote on the ballot relating to the use of income of the permanent fund. There being no testimony on SB 249, CHAIRMAN GREEN asked for the pleasure of the committee. SENATOR MACKIE moved SB 249 and the accompanying fiscal note be passed out of committee with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting adjourned at 3:52 p.m.