00 SENATE BILL NO. 103 01 "An Act relating to hearings before and authorizing fees for the State 02 Commission for Human Rights; and providing for an effective date." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. AS 18.80.060(b) is amended to read: 05  (b) In addition to other powers and duties prescribed by this chapter, the 06 commission may 07  (1) delegate to the executive director all powers and duties given it by 08 this chapter except the duties and powers given it by AS 18.80.120 and 18.80.130; 09  (2) call upon the departments and agencies of the state, with the 10 approval of the governor, for cooperation and assistance in carrying out this chapter; 11  (3) hold hearings under AS 18.80.120; 12   (4) establish the amount and manner of payment of fees for services, 13 information, and materials that the commission provides to public and private 14 organizations and other persons. 01 * Sec. 2. AS 18.80.120 is amended to read: 02  Sec. 18.80.120. Hearing. If the informal efforts to eliminate the alleged 03 discrimination are unsuccessful, the executive director shall inform the commission of 04 the failure, and the commission shall provide the respondent and the complainant with 05 notice of the failure and shall serve written notice together with a copy of the 06 complaint, requiring the person, employer, labor organization, or employment agency 07 charged in the complaint to answer the allegations of the complaint at a hearing before 08 the commission. The hearing shall be held by the commission at the commission 09 office unless a party [PLACE WHERE THE UNLAWFUL CONDUCT IS ALLEGED 10 TO HAVE OCCURRED UNLESS THE PERSON, EMPLOYER, LABOR 11 ORGANIZATION, OR EMPLOYMENT AGENCY] requests a change of venue for 12 good cause shown and the commission grants the request. The case in support of 13 the complaint shall be presented before the commission by the executive director or 14 a designee who shall be a bona fide resident of the state. The person charged in the 15 complaint may file a written answer to the complaint and may appear at the hearing 16 in person or otherwise, with or without counsel, and submit testimony. The executive 17 director has the power reasonably and fairly to amend the complaint, and the person 18 charged has the power reasonably and fairly to amend the answer. The commission 19 is not bound by the strict rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity. The 20 testimony taken at the hearing shall be under oath and shall be recorded 21 [TRANSCRIBED AT THE REQUEST OF ANY PARTY TO THE HEARING]. 22 * Sec. 3. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).