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Session: State Capitol, Room 118 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-3777 Fax: (907) 465-2819 Send E-Mail Interim: 10928 Eagle River Road, Suite 141 Eagle River, AK 99577 Phone: (907) 694-8944 Fax: (907) 694-8945 |
| For Immediate Release: June 2, 2000 | |
| Contact: | Representative Pete Kott at (907) 694-8944. |
Eagle River -- Following gubernatorial approval, two bills that support Alaska's workers and children will become law. HB 230 is expected to be signed by the governor in Juneau on Friday, and HB 288 was signed on May 22nd. Both bills were sponsored by Representative Pete Kott (R-Eagle River).
HB 230 permits police and fire dispatchers at retirement to have the option of converting their service as dispatchers to service as peace officers. The new statute based on this bill will require dispatchers to pay for the full cost of converting their credited service so there is no increase in financial impact to the State, municipalities and the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). The conversion will allow dispatchers to retire after 20 years of service, as peace officers are able to, rather than waiting until they have been on the job 30 years.
“Dispatchers are in a high-stress occupation with a higher-than-average burnout that is reflected in the higher-than-normal turnover,” said Kott. “By providing dispatchers with the option of retirement at 20 years, we are hopeful that the retention rate will improve. This would carry with it the probability that training and recruitment costs will be lower than in the future.”
HB 288 helps protect Alaska’s children by allowing the presence of children at the scene of a domestic violence incidence to be considered an aggravating factor, and allows for stiffer sentences for those convicted of domestic violence under those conditions. “HB 288 recognizes that, even if children are not on the receiving end of domestic violence, they are still profoundly damaged when they witness parents or caregivers engaging in this abhorrent behavior,” said Kott. “Domestic violence is a scourge across our state and Alaskans are fighting back to protect the lives of the victims and the children involved.”
“Both of these bills are of benefit to Alaskans, one supporting a segment of our workers, and the other helping to protect our children,” said Kott. “I am pleased that they were both unanimously supported by the Legislature, and the Governor and that they are now becoming law.”