HB234 • 2026

PERS: EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS

An Act relating to emergency medical dispatchers; classifying dispatchers in police or fire departments and in state trooper offices as peace officers under the public employees' retirement system; and providing for an effective date.

Healthcare Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVE HALL
Last action: 2026-04-29
Official status: (H) L&C
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how dispatchers in village programs will be affected or the financial implications for the retirement system.

Emergency Medical Dispatchers as Peace Officers

This act classifies emergency medical dispatchers in police or fire departments and state trooper offices as peace officers under the public employees' retirement system.

What This Bill Does

Updates the definition of 'emergency medical dispatcher'.
Classifies dispatchers in police or fire departments and state trooper offices as peace officers.

Who It Names or Affects

Emergency medical dispatchers working for police or fire departments
Dispatchers working for state trooper offices

Terms To Know

peace officer: An employee in a position such as a dispatcher, who is classified under the public employees' retirement system.
emergency medical dispatcher: A trained public safety telecommunicator with additional emergency medical training and knowledge.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how dispatchers in village programs will be affected.
It is unclear if there are any financial implications for the retirement system due to this change.

Bill History

2026-04-29 Text
(H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 5 min. Following Session --
2026-04-29 Text
(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
2026-04-22 Text
(H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
2026-04-22 Text
(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
2026-04-17 Text
(H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
2026-04-17 Text
(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
2026-04-15 Text
(H) Heard & Held -- Meeting Postponed from 3:15 pm 4/13/2026--
2026-04-15 Text
(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 08:00 AM BARNES 124
2026-04-13 Text
(H) -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- Meeting Postponed to 8:00 am 4/15/2026--
2026-04-13 Text
(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
2026-04-08 2048
(H) REFERRED TO LABOR & COMMERCE
2026-04-08 2048
(H) FN2: ZERO(ADM)
2026-04-08 2048
(H) FN1: ZERO(DPS)
2026-04-08 2048
(H) AM: ST. CLAIR
2026-04-08 2048
(H) NR: G.NELSON
2026-04-08 2048
(H) DP: HOLLAND, PRAX, HALL, MEARS, HIMSCHOOT
2026-04-08 2048
(H) CRA RPT 5DP 1NR 1AM
2026-04-07 Text
(H) Moved SSHB 234 Out of Committee
2026-04-07 Text
(H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124
2026-04-02 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2026-04-02 Text
(H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124
2026-03-12 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2026-03-12 Text
(H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124
2026-02-23 1681
(H) CRA, L&C
2026-02-23 1681
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2026-02-23 1681
(H) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED
2026-01-20 1446
(H) CRA, L&C
2026-01-20 1446
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2026-01-20 1446
(H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/26

Official Summary Text

PERS: EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS
An Act relating to emergency medical dispatchers; classifying dispatchers in police or fire departments and in state trooper offices as peace officers under the public employees' retirement system; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB0234b -1- SSHB 234
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

ctr34-LS0830\N

SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 234

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVE HALL

Introduced: 2/23/26
Referred: Community and Regional Affairs, Labor and Commerce

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to emergency medical dispatchers; classifying dispatchers in police or 1
fire departments and in state trooper offices as peace officers under the public 2
employees' retirement system; and providing for an effective date." 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 4
* Section 1. AS 18.08.200(7) is amended to read: 5
(7) "emergency medical dispatcher" means an initial first responder 6
[A] trained as a public safety telecommunicator with additional training and specific 7
emergency medical knowledge essential for the efficient management of emergency 8
medical communications; 9
* Sec. 2. AS 39.35.680(30) is amended to read: 10
(30) "peace officer" or "firefighter" means an employee occupying a 11
position as a peace officer, chief of police, regional public safety officer, correctional 12
officer, correctional superintendent, firefighter, fire chief, dispatcher in a police or 13
fire department or in a state trooper office, or probation officer, but does not 14
34-LS0830\N
SSHB 234 -2- HB0234b
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

include a village public safety officer or dispatcher employed by a village public 1
safety officer program established under AS 18.65.670; 2
* Sec. 3. AS 39.35.990(20) is amended to read: 3
(20) "peace officer" or "firefighter" means an employee occupying a 4
position as a peace officer, chief of police, regional public safety officer, correctional 5
officer, correctional superintendent, firefighter, fire chief, dispatcher in a police or 6
fire department or in a state trooper office, or probation officer, but does not 7
include a village public safety officer or dispatcher employed by a village public 8
safety officer program established under AS 18.65.670; 9
* Sec. 4. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026. 10