The Alaska House of Representatives voted 38-0 on Wednesday to require that police be trained to interact with people who have non-visible disabilities.
House Bill 16, sponsored by Rep. Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks, is the second bill of the session to garner approval from the full House. It’s the first bill from the House’s Republican minority to reach a floor vote.
In addition to its police training requirement, the bill allows Alaskans with any of 45 disabilities to have a special marker placed on their driver’s license or state ID. The list of disabilities includes traumatic brain injury, celiac disease and diabetes; each disorder might complicate a traffic stop or police interaction.
The bill also asks the Department of Motor Vehicles to include a section in the driver’s handbook that explains what to do when your car is pulled over by police.
Thompson, speaking on the floor, said the bill is the culmination of a five-year effort.
“I think this is long in coming,” said House Minority Leader Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, in support.
Rep. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, offered some words of caution before voting in favor of its passage. She said that while she believes it will improve police interactions, she doesn’t want “unrealistic expectations” about what it might do.
She said she heard no opposition from police unions or the state troopers, which was important to her support.
Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kotzebue, and Rep. Mark Neuman, R-Big Lake, were absent from the vote.
The bill advances to the Senate, where it will be considered in committee. It must be approved by a Senate committee, a vote of the full Senate, and Gov. Bill Walker before becoming law.
In other business Wednesday:
• The Senate Finance Committee approved Senate Bill 30, introduced by Gov. Bill Walker. SB 30 has already been approved by the Senate Resources Committee and now faces a floor vote. If approved by the Senate, and if approved by the House after navigating the committee process there, it would sell some of the state’s royalty oil to Petro Star Inc., a subsidiary of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation.
• The House Judiciary Committee approved House Concurrent Resolution 1, introduced by Rep. Jason Grenn, I-Anchorage. The resolution now goes to the House State Affairs Committee. If approved by the committee, full House and full Senate, HCR 1 — in conjunction with House Bill 44 — would make it more difficult for lawmakers with a declared conflict of interest to vote on a piece of legislation.
• Contact reporter James Brooks at james.k.brooks@juneauempire.com or 419-7732.
