NOTICEOF PROPOSED CHANGES ON POLICE OFFICER STANDARDS

INTHE REGULATIONS OF THE ALASKA POLICE STANDARDS COUNCIL

BRIEFDESCRIPTION

The Alaska Police Standards Councilproposes to adopt regulation changes in Title    13 of the Alaska Administrative Code,dealing with basic police standards and certification of police officers. 

The Alaska Police Standards Councilproposes to adopt regulation changes in Title    13 of the Alaska Administrative Code,dealing with the basic standards, permanent employment, and certification ofpolice officers, and APSC reciprocity and personnel reports and trainingrecords, including the following:

             13 AAC 85.010  is proposed to be changed to update and clarify basic standards,establish a requirement for police officer applicants to pass a psychologicalexam prior to being hired.

             13 AAC 85.020  is proposed to be changed to update and clarify requirements forpermanent employment as a police officer.

             13 AAC 85.040  is proposed to be changed to bring certification standards in-line andcurrent with national model standards.

            13AAC 85.050 is proposed to be changed to increase the minimum required hours andidentify specific required courses of instruction to be taught at the basicpolice officer academy.

            13 AAC 85.060   is proposed to be changed to specify andstandardize curriculum for APSC approved reciprocity police training academies.

             13 AAC 85.090  is proposed to be changed to require departments to notify APSC ofalleged misconduct by an officer if the alleged misconduct may be cause forrevocation under 13 AAC 85.110.

            13 AAC 85.100 is proposed to bechanged for update and clarification.

            13 AAC 85.110 is proposed to bechanged to allow for exigent use of a prescription medication not prescribed tothat person.

            13 AAC 85.120 is proposed to bechanged to require attendance at a recertification (refresher academy) if aperson has been separated from service as a police officer for between 2 and 4years, and requires attendance at a full basic police officer training academyif a person has been separated from service as a police officer for five yearsor longer.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including thepotential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, bysubmitting written comments to the Alaska Police Standards Council at P.O. Box111200, Juneau, AK 99811. Additionally, the Alaska Police Standards Councilwill accept comments by facsimile at 907-465-3263 and by electronic mail at wendy.menze@alaska.gov . Comments mayalso be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessingthis notice on the system and using the comment link. All comments must bereceived no later than 4:00 pm on April 1, 2016.

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

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodationin order to participate in this process, please contact Wendy Menze at907-465-4378 no later than March 11, 2016 to ensure that any necessaryaccommodations can be provided.

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the AlaskaOnline Public Notice System, posted on the Alaska Police Standards Councilwebsite http://www.dps.alaska.gov/apsc and bycontacting Wendy Menze at 907-465-4378, wendy.menze@alaska.govor P.O. Box 111200, Juneau, AK 99811.

After the public comment period ends, the Alaska Police Standards Councilwill either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealingwith the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. Thelanguage of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposedregulations. You should comment duringthe time allowed if your interests could be affected.

Statutory Authority: AS18.65.220

Statutes Being Implemented,Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 18.65.240; AS 18.65.230; AS 18.65.270

Fiscal Information: Theproposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increasedappropriation.

DATE:         December 21, 2015                     Bob Griffiths, Executive Director