April 23, 2002
Tuesday - 10:00 am

Noting a disturbing lack of interest on the part of the Legislature in making aggressive improvements to Alaska's homeland security, Gov. Tony Knowles on Monday urged immediate legislative action on this package of vital appropriations.

"I introduced my homeland security budget proposal to the public in November and again at the beginning of the Legislative session in January expecting immediate action in support of Alaska's security needs," Knowles said. "The Legislature has so far responded only by partially reimbursing some expenses incurred for response and defense activities after September 11. With budget cuts proposed by the majority that will actually reduce the number of troopers and other first responders, Alaska will be less prepared for a major threat to our security than we were on Sept. 11. I urge immediate action on the entire package of recommendations."

In an effort to get legislative action on the key parts of the homeland security package, Knowles' budget director Annalee McConnell on Friday sent legislators a spreadsheet breaking the homeland security budget items into categories:

• $397,300 in state dollars for costs already incurred but not yet reimbursed, such as the Alaska State Troopers' costs of operating the Yukon River checkpoint;
• $41.4 million in federal and other funds for airport security needs such as improved access control, better communications, and modifications to accommodate new explosives detection equipment at the Anchorage and Fairbanks international airports. The bulk of this amount, $37.7 million, is federal funds matched by $3.4 million in international airport revenue funds. Only $271,000 in state funds is needed to match federal dollars to contract with municipal law enforcement officers to meet FAA's mandatory 15-minute response time at rural airports;
• $24.5 million for such costs as hazardous response teams, increased public safety presence around the state, training against weapons of mass destruction, war casualty insurance, improved communications, and security for information technology. Nearly $16 million of this is state general funds, plus $5 million in federal funds, most of which is to prepare for emergency repair of critical bridges.
• The Governor's original proposal is reduced by nearly $10 million in state funds for items that are lower priorities or can no longer be implemented this year because of the Legislature's delay in acting on the package, such as continuing the Yukon River Bridge checkpoint or adding troopers.

McConnell categorized remaining items in the funding package by level of importance, to expedite legislative review and facilitate action on at least part of the package this year.

In December, the Governor proposed an 18-month Homeland Security initiative to improve security for all Alaskans and to prepare the state for a terrorism attack if it comes. This initiative has the added benefit of improving Alaska's ability to deal with other natural disasters Alaskans face, such as fires and earthquakes.

The proposal expands Alaska's public safety system, emphasizing emergency response and security of communications, transportation and public utilities, with new troopers and Village Public Safety Officers, specialized urban firefighters, and increased airport inspections. The proposal also expands capability to deploy medical professionals, medicines and equipment in case of an attack or disaster; better training and equipment for those who will be called on for first response in a contaminated environment; and secure essential communications systems throughout the state.

According to the Governor's news release, other than approval of partial reimbursements in the supplemental bill, the Legislature has largely ignored the Homeland Security budget. The House version of the full proposal, HB 324, awaits a hearing in the House State Affairs committee, its second of three House committee referrals. The Senate version of the bill, SB 236, passed out of the State Affairs Committee two months ago but has yet to receive a hearing before the Finance Committee.

Knowles welcomed the $927,000 added to the supplemental bill by the House to partially reimburse state agencies for emergency expenses incurred in the days and weeks following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. After House-Senate negotiations resolved differences in their supplemental budget bills, a final version was sent to the Governor, who signed it into law Monday.

Source of News Release:

Office of the Governor
Web Site

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