Alaska legislation · 34th Legislature
Alaska HJR38: PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS
Status: Passed both chambers, September 22, 2026
Urging the United States Congress to recognize public safety telecommunicators as first responders; and urging the United States Congress to pass the Enhancing First Response Act.
What the bill says
A resolution Urging the United States Congress to recognize public safety telecommunicators as first responders; and urging the United States Congress to pass the Enhancing First Response Act.
From the introduced text:
A RESOLUTION Urging the United States Congress to recognize public safety telecommunicators as first responders; and urging the United States Congress to pass the Enhancing First Response Act. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: WHEREAS public safety telecommunicators, also known as emergency telecommunicators or emergency medical dispatchers, are the "first" first responders, providing the first communication of the first responders system; and WHEREAS, operating as a lifeline to law enforcement, firefighters, and medical responders in the field, public safety telecommunicators carry out critical life-saving work as part of the first responder system; and WHEREAS public safety telecommunicators receive training and specific emergency medical knowledge essential for the efficient management of emergency medical communications that save lives; and WHEREAS public safety telecommunicators often communicate with people in great distress, harm, fear, or injury, while employing experience and training to recognize a critical HJR038a -1- HJR New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS1502\A piece of information; and WHEREAS the service, timeliness, and performance of public safety telecommunicators can have a profound effect on the outcome of a call and can be the difference between life and death; and WHEREAS public safety telecommunicators may endure psychological effects, which, compounded with limited or no avenue for closure post-incident, may lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder for public …
Sponsors
- Carolyn Hall (D, HD-016) · primary sponsor
- Ted Eischeid (D, HD-022)
- Donna Mears (D, HD-021)
- Andi Story (D, HD-034)
- Andrew Josephson (D, HD-017)
- Alyse Galvin (I, HD-014)
- Robyn Niayuq Frier (D)
- Louise Stutes (R, HD-032)
- Calvin Schrage (NP, HD-012)
- Kevin McCabe (R, HD-030)
- George Rauscher (R, SD-O)
- Cathy Tilton (R, SD-M)
Latest actions
- : (H) PERMANENTLY FILED 9/22 LEGIS RESOLVE 29
- : (H) 8:57 A.M. 5/13/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR
- : (H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)
- : (S) VERSION: HJR 38
- : (S) RETURN TO (H), TRANSMIT TO GOVERNOR NEXT
- : (S) DUNBAR
- : (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): RAUSCHER, TILTON, CLAMAN, CRONK, YUNDT, MERRICK, BJORKMAN,
- : (S) PASSED Y19 N- E1
- : (S) READ THE THIRD TIME HJR 38
- : (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/8 CAL
Votes
- PASSED (May 8, 2026): 19 yea, 0 nay, passed
- PASSED (March 30, 2026): 38 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES, COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRE PROTECTION, MEDICAL CARE
Common questions
- What is HJR38?
- HJR38 is a bill in the Alaska Legislature (34th Legislature): PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS.
- What does HJR38 do?
- In its own words: A resolution Urging the United States Congress to recognize public safety telecommunicators as first responders; and urging the United States Congress to pass the Enhancing First Response Act.
- What is the status of HJR38?
- Passed both chambers as of September 22, 2026. Latest action: (H) PERMANENTLY FILED 9/22 LEGIS RESOLVE 29 (September 30, 2026).
- Who sponsored HJR38?
- Carolyn Hall (D, HD-016), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HJR38?
- On the Alaska Legislature website: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HJR 38
Source: official Alaska record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.