Section 18.65.670. Village public safety officers program.

   (a) There is created in the Department of Public Safety a village public safety officer program to assist local governments and villages through nonprofit regional corporations or municipalities to appoint, train, supervise, and retain persons to serve as village public safety officers to administer functions relative to
        (1) the protection of life and property in rural areas of the state; and
        (2) providing probation and parole supervision to persons under supervision by communicating with and monitoring the activities and progress of these persons at the direction of probation and parole officers.
   (b) With funds appropriated for that purpose, the commissioner of public safety shall provide grants to nonprofit regional corporations for village public safety officers. If a nonprofit regional corporation for a rural area declines a grant under this subsection, the commissioner may provide the grant to a municipality with a population of less than 10,000 willing to administer the grant for the rural area. Before awarding a grant to a municipality, the commissioner shall consult with the nonprofit regional corporation that declined the grant. The commissioner of public safety shall coordinate with the commissioner of corrections when providing grants under this section, and the commissioners shall jointly execute an agreement with the nonprofit regional corporations or municipalities, as appropriate.
   (c) The commissioner of public safety may adopt regulations related to village public safety officers, including minimum standards and training, criteria for community, municipality, or corporation participation, and the interaction between the Department of Public Safety and village public safety officers. Regulations adopted by the commissioner under this subsection may not prohibit village public safety officers who otherwise meet minimum standards and training from carrying firearms. The commissioner of corrections may adopt regulations related to the functions of village public safety officers providing probation and parole supervision.
   (d)   [Repealed, Sec. 30 ch 92 SLA 2004]. 
   (e) In this section, "rural area" means a community with a population of less than 1,000 within
        (1) the unorganized borough; or
        (2) a borough, if the community is not connected by road to Anchorage or Fairbanks.

Authorities

29.35.010;39.35.342;39.35.680;39.35.990

Notes

Recent Bills that will modify this

HB 16 DISABILITY:ID/LICENSE AND TRAINING RQMTS.

Implemented As

13 AAC 96.010
13 AAC 96.020
13 AAC 96.030
13 AAC 96.040
13 AAC 96.050
13 AAC 96.060
13 AAC 96.080
13 AAC 96.090
13 AAC 96.100
13 AAC 96.105
13 AAC 96.110
13 AAC 96.120
13 AAC 96.900

References

AS 29.35.010 General powers.
AS 39.35.342 Village public safety officer service.
AS 39.35.680 Definitions.
AS 39.35.990 Definitions.

History

(Sec. 1 ch 48 SLA 1993; am Sec. 4, 5 ch 97 SLA 2001; am Sec. 30 ch 92 SLA 2004; am Sec. 1 - 4 ch 49 SLA 2009; am Sec. 1 ch 97 SLA 2014)