2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

HB219 – Referral to State Affairs has been waived, and the bill was sent to the Rules Committee on April 15

HB 219 (Sponsored by Representatives Fiege, Guttenberg and Thomas) is an act exempting certain emergency medical and fire department services from regulation as insurance.

 According to the bill sponsor, "HB 219 allows local fire and emergency medical agencies to solicit funding as a form of prepayment for services. This type of program has been successful in allowing such organizations to raise needed operating funds while limiting financial risk to those that may need the agency's services. In a typical scenario, an individual or family pays a set fee to the local emergency medical service on an annual basis. The agency then will respond and transport the individual or family member without additional charge to the individual. Under current statute, it is the opinion of the Division of Insurance that this type of activity is deemed insurance and is regulated by that division. HB 219 will clarify that this type of program is not insurance and is not regulated by the division."

HB170 – Referred to Rules Committee on March 15

CS for House Bill 170, (Sponsored by Representatives Fiege and Gara), "An Act relating to municipal property tax exemptions on residences of certain volunteer emergency services personnel and the widows and widowers of volunteer emergency services personnel; and providing for an effective date.”

Basically, this act would allow the state to reimburse municipalities taxes they would have received from volunteers who qualify for this property tax exemption. It is meant as an incentive for volunteers.

According to the state legislation introduced, a "volunteer" means that the person is an active volunteer of a first responder service, a rescue service, an ambulance service, or a fire department that provides emergency medical or rescue services as part of its duties.

According to Rep. Fiege, each municipality could enact the property tax exemption and that municipality would determine which volunteers qualify (i.e. active volunteers based on a certain amount of hours worked, etc.)

HB304 - Referred to Senate State Affairs on March 12 

HB304 (Sponsored by Representatives Johnson, T. Wilson, Stoltze, Costello, Hawker, Olson, Kerttula, Pruitt) is an act relating to the membership of the Alaska Fire Standards Council. 

The bill designates an existing seat to a member of the Alaska Professional Fire Fighters Association, adds a seat for a member from the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association and reclassifies an existing seat from the "firefighter adminstrative officer" to a "member of " the Alaska State Firefighters Association.

CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 103(L&C)  "An Act amending the medical examination requirements for firefighters entitled to a presumption of compensability for a disability resulting from certain diseases" was referred to the House Labor and Commerce Committee on February 3.

These diseases include:

    (A) Respiratory disease;

    (B) Cardiovascular events that are experienced within 72 hours after exposure to smoke, fumes, or toxic substances; and

    (C) The following cancers:

        (i) primary brain cancer;

        (ii) malignant melanoma;

        (iii) leukemia;

        (iv) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma;

        (v) bladder cancer;

        (vi) ureter cancer;

        (vii) kidney cancer; and

        (viii) prostate cancer;

Note regarding definitions: "firefighter" means a person employed by a state or municipal fire department or who is a member of a volunteer fire department registered with the state fire marshal, or a person registered for purposes of workers' compensation with the state fire marshal as a member of a volunteer fire department.

SB103 & HB232 - The following two bills, SB103 and HB232, would amend the medical examination requirements for firefighters entitled to a presumption of compensability for a disability resulting from certain diseases. CS for SB103 (Sponsored by the State Judiciary Committee) on 2/3/2012 was sent to the House for consideration. HB 232 (Sponsored by Representatives Stoltze, Millett & Lynn) on 4/7/11 was referred to the House Labor and Commerce Committee and on 1/25/12 Representative Lynn was added as a cosponsor.

SB38 & HB84 - The two bills would establish a one-time occupational death benefit to peace officers and firefighters in the state retirement system. SB38 (Sponsored by Senator Meyer, Ellis, French, McGuire, Menard and Egan) last action was on 2/1/12 when it was heard in the Senate Finance Committee. HB84 (Sponsored by Representatives Millett & Tuck) last action was on 1/18/11 when referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee.

HB151 (Sponsored by Representatives Dick & Kawasaki) last action 2/9/11 was when referred to the Labor and Commerce Committee. The bill related to occupational death benefits for peace officers and firefighters under the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska; and providing for an effective date.

SB4 (Sponsored by the Senator Menard) on 1/19/11 was referred to the State Affairs Committee. The bill would establish Alaska Volunteer Appreciation Day.