PSEA Legislative Update – May 11, 2007

The Rap Sheet –

Week of May 7

 

HB 67 Heard This Week

HB 67 by Representative Max Gruenberg was heard this week by the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee.  HB 67 gives municipalities an option to offer by ordinance, a property tax exemption for police officers who live in designated high crime areas.  The exemption is not to exceed  $150,000 of the assessed value of a parcel. In February PSEA gave its support to the legislation.  Since its first hearing, the bill had been expanded to include other forms of tax treatment.  The bill now awaits action in the Senate Finance Committee.

Bill Gives Communities a Boost

On Wednesday the Senate approved SB 72 to provide approximately $48 million in community revenue sharing beginning in July 2007.  In future fiscal years 3% of oil revenues or $50 million whichever is lesser will be deposited in the Community Revenue Sharing Fund for communities.  SB 72 passed House Community and Regional Affairs on Friday and now awaits action in the House Finance Committee.

SB 153 and HB 251 to Become Topics for Session in 2008

Hopes for a hearing on either SB 153 or HB 251 are unlikely this year.  The bills will be ready for action next session.  The bills will provide retiree medical when a peace officer or a fire fighter purchases military service credit for retirement purposes Sponsors of SB 153 are Senators French, Davis and McGuire. Sponsors of HB 251 are Representatives Dahlstrom, Lynn, Johnson, LeDoux and Doll. In the interim PSEA has time to add potential co-sponsors and to garner support for the legislation.

Police Standards Council Legislation

In response to a PSEA legislative priority, PSEA successfully gathered support to introduce SB 99 and HB 193.  Each bill adds rank and file police to the Alaska Police Standards Council. The council is now void of rank and file members. SB 99 differs from HB 193 in that it gives three officers a position on the council while HB 193 has been amended to give two positions to officers. SB 99 has been heard in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee once and remains in the committee.  HB 193 awaits action in the House Finance Committee since passing the House State Affairs Committee on April 11.  Even though the bill has a zero fiscal note it is stalled in Finance.  The Police Standards Council has aggressively lobbied against a rank and file presence on the council.  This aggressive opposition may explain why HB 193 has sit in the House Finance Committee for 30 days without a fiscal note?

Unfunded liability fix passes the House

On Saturday the House passed SB 125 to spend $193 million next fiscal year on the retirement systems unfunded liability.  The bill, if approved by the legislature, will lower the required amount that municipalities and school districts must pay.  Provisions in the bill will require municipalities to set an employer contribution rate of 22 percent of payroll while the state pays 78%.

Gas pipeline bill is approved

With approval of the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act on Friday the Legislature is on course to adjourn on Wednesday.