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HB0250b -1- CSHB 250(STA)
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CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 250(STA)
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION
BY THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Offered: 3/9/26
Referred: Judiciary
Sponsor(s): REPRESENTATIVES HANNAN, Fields, Mina
A BILL
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED
"An Act establishing the crime of wearing a mask in public while acting as a peace 1
officer; and providing for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 11.56 is amended by adding a new section to article 6 to read: 4
Sec. 11.56.880. Wearing a mask in public while acting as a peace officer. 5
(a) A peace officer commits the crime of wearing a mask in public while acting as a 6
peace officer if, while interacting with the public in the peace officer's official 7
capacity, the peace officer knowingly conceals the peace officer's face with a mask or 8
disguise. 9
(b) This section does not apply to a peace officer who 10
(1) is on an undercover assignment that is authorized by the officer's 11
supervisor or by a court order; 12
(2) is wearing 13
(A) a shield that does not obscure the peace officer's face that is 14
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CSHB 250(STA) -2- HB0250b
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designed to protect the peace officer's face from harm; 1
(B) a medical mask or surgical mask designed to protect 2
against transmission of disease or infection or any other mask or device, 3
including an air-purifying respirator, a full or half mask, or a self-contained 4
breathing apparatus, necessary to protect against exposure to a toxin, gas, 5
smoke, inclement weather, or another hazardous or harmful environmental 6
condition; 7
(C) a mask for protection against exposure to smoke; 8
(D) a mask while outdoors when the temperature is at or below 9
32 degrees Fahrenheit; 10
(E) a helmet if the officer is using a motorcycle or other vehicle 11
that requires a helmet for safe operation while in the performance of the 12
officer's duties; 13
(3) is participating in a tactical operation for which protective gear is 14
required for immediate physical safety; in this paragraph, "tactical operation" means a 15
planned or emergent law enforcement activity 16
(A) involving the elevated risk of death or serious physical 17
injury, specialized operational methods, or hazardous environmental 18
conditions; and 19
(B) for which a peace officer's use of protective equipment that 20
partially or fully covers the face is reasonably necessary for officer safety or 21
mission execution and is not intended to conceal the officer's identity; 22
(4) is assigned to a special weapons and tactics team and is actively 23
performing responsibilities of that team. 24
(c) Wearing a mask in public while acting as a peace officer is a class B 25
misdemeanor. 26
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 27
read: 28
APPLICABILITY. AS 11.56.880, enacted by sec. 1 of this Act, applies to offenses 29
committed on or after the effective date of this Act. 30
* Sec. 3. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 31