Representative Bynum withdraws amendment to cut trooper overtime after committee debate

Juneau — Representative Josiah Bynum, a member of the Alaska House Finance Committee, moved an amendment to the operating budget that would reduce a Department of Public Safety overtime increment allocated at 300 hours per position to 150 hours, then withdrew the proposal after extended committee discussion.

The amendment, offered during the April 1 committee session on HB 53 and HB 55, sought to cut the overtime increment on the grounds that the 300-hour figure—roughly two months of full-time work at 75 hours per week—was excessive and poorly justified. "I completely unequivocally support our law enforcement officers, but the 300 is the equivalence of 2 months, work and 75 hours a week," Representative Bynum said when presenting the measure.

Members questioned both the method and the data behind the overtime figure. Representative Stemp (as listed in the committee roll) and other members praised Department of Public Safety staff for providing a number that could be evaluated, but said the committee needed better context. "My hope is the rest of the departments will start to kind of fall suit because if we don't know the budgeted overtime hour number, it's really challenging for us to do what Representative Bynum is doing right now," Representative Stemp said.

Representative Hannon asked whether the 300‑hour figure reflected an average trooper overtime allocation and whether it represented baseline overtime or an additional increment on top of existing allocations. "If they're averaging that, we can't I can't envision how we continue with trooper capacity by slashing it a half," Hannon said.

Representative Jimmy argued against the cut on public‑safety grounds, saying overtime ensures troopers can respond at short notice and that cutting the increment would send the wrong message: "I cannot support this amendment because our state troopers do work in dangerous conditions, with their selves at risk. And not being able to provide public safety for the people of Alaska is a not a good statement, I would say. And overtime helps make, overtime pay helps make sure that they are ready to respond at short notice." Representative Bynum acknowledged the points raised about recruitment and retention and about how departments allocate other budget lines toward overtime.

After more than 30 minutes of discussion, Representative Bynum withdrew Amendment 82. The committee record shows no roll‑call vote on the amendment because it was removed by the author prior to a vote.

The committee resumed consideration of other pending amendments to the operating and mental‑health budgets.