NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN POLICE, PROBATION, PAROLE, CORRECTIONS, AND MUNICIPAL CORRECTIONS OFFICER STANDARDS IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE ALASKA POLICE STANDARDS COUNCIL

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Alaska Police Standards Council proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 13 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the basic standards for police, probation, parole, corrections, and municipal corrections officers.

Pursuant to the authority in AS 18.65.220 (1) & (2), the Alaska Police Standards Council proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 13 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the clarification of the council’s authority, basic officer standards, applicant notice, denial of certification, and revocation of certification, including the following:

(1) 13 AAC 85.010 is proposed to be changed to clarify that information submitted to the Council will be utilized by the council to determine a police officer applicant’s eligibility and qualifications for employment and training, as well as for certification.

(2) 13 AAC 85.100 is proposed to be changed to update and clarify that the council may make a finding of a police applicant’s ineligibility for training, hiring, or certification based upon information submitted to the council.

(3) 13 AAC 85.110 is proposed to be changed to clarify and remove redundant language describing conduct for which the council may discretionarily or mandatorily revoke a police officer’s certification.

(4) 13 AAC 85.210 is proposed to be changed to require the Department of Corrections notify the Council if they determine an officer does not meet minimum standards and clarifying that information submitted to the Council will be used for determination of an applicant’s eligibility for employment and certification as a probation, parole or correctional officer.

(5) 13 AAC 85.260 is proposed to be changed to clarify that the council may make a finding that an applicant for probation, parole, corrections, or municipal corrections officer employment or certification is not eligible, based upon information submitted to the council.

(6) 13 AAC 85.270 is proposed to be changed to clarify and remove redundant language describing conduct for which the council may discretionarily or mandatorily revoke a probation, parole, correctional, or municipal corrections officer’s certification.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Wendy Menze at P.O. Box 111200, Juneau, AK 99811. Additionally, the Alaska Police Standards Council will accept comments by facsimile at 907-465-3263 and by electronic mail at wendy.menze@alaska.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessing this notice on the system and using the "comment" link. The comments must be received no later than 4:29 pm on March 3, 2017.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Sarah Hieb at sarah.hieb@alaska.gov or P.O. Box 111200, Juneau, AK 99811. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Alaska Police Standards Council will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and response available the Alaska Police Standards Council website http://www.dps.state.ak.us/apsc/ and on the Alaska Online Public Notice System. The Alaska Police Standards Council may, but is not required to, answer written questions received after the 10-day cut-off date and before the end of the comment period.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Wendy Menze at 907-465-4378 no later than February 21, 2017 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Wendy Menze at 907-465-4378, wendy.menze@alaska.gov or P.O. Box 111200, Juneau, AK 99811.

After the public comment period ends, the Alaska Police Standards Council will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.

Statutory Authority: AS 18.65.220(1) & (2)

Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: N/A

Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

DATE: ____January 20, 2017__________________ _______________________________________________

Executive Director