00 HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 241(RLS) am H 01 "An Act extending the March 11, 2020, governor's declaration of a public health 02 disaster emergency in response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic; 03 relating to the COVID-19 outbreak; relating to a financing plan; relating to standing 04 orders of the chief medical officer; relating to occupational and professional licensing; 05 relating to telemedicine and telehealth; relating to fingerprinting requirements; relating 06 to elections in calendar year 2020; relating to permanent fund dividend applications; 07 relating to automatic voter registration; relating to tax filings, payments, and penalties; 08 relating to shareholder meetings; relating to corporations; relating to municipal 09 government deadlines; relating to the Alaska regional economic assistance program; 10 establishing a conclusive presumption that COVID-19 is an occupational disease for 11 firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, peace officers, and health care 12 providers; relating to allowable absences for the permanent fund dividend; relating to 01 the Department of Health and Social Services; relating to retail sellers; tolling deadlines 02 for action by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska; relating to disconnection of utility 03 service for nonpayment; relating to power cost equalization; relating to regulatory assets 04 of a utility; relating to evictions; and providing for an effective date." 05 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 06  * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 07 to read: 08 FINDINGS. (a) The legislature finds that 09 (1) in December 2019, a novel coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory 10 syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei province, 11 People's Republic of China, leading to outbreaks of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) 12 that have now spread globally; 13 (2) on January 31, 2020, the United States Secretary of Health and Human 14 Services declared a public health emergency under 42 U.S.C. 247d (Public Health Service 15 Act); 16 (3) to date, 50 states have confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 17 confirmation of community transmission of COVID-19; 18 (4) on March 11, 2020, the commissioner of health and social services 19 certified to the governor that there is a high probability that COVID-19 presents a credible 20 threat of an imminent outbreak of the disease in the state, meeting the definition of disaster 21 under AS 26.23.900(2)(E); 22 (5) on March 11, 2020, the governor issued a declaration of a public health 23 disaster emergency under AS 26.23.020 in anticipation of the spread of COVID-19 to the 24 state; 25 (6) in the disaster declaration issued March 11, 2020, the governor found that 26 a statewide response under AS 18.15.390 is required to address the public health disaster 27 emergency and authorized the commissioner of health and social services and the adjutant 28 general of military and veterans' affairs to take all actions necessary to address the public 29 health disaster emergency; 01 (7) on March 12, 2020, the Department of Health and Social Services and the 02 governor announced that the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in an individual in 03 Anchorage; 04 (8) additional cases of COVID-19 are being diagnosed across the state; 05 (9) the chief medical officer in the Department of Health and Social Services 06 and the commissioner of health and social services have determined that it will take months of 07 monitoring and active public health management, including closing public facilities, limiting 08 public events, and establishing quarantine and isolation protocols and enforcement under 09 AS 18.15.390, to contain the spread of COVID-19; 10 (10) the adjutant general of the Alaska organized militia has determined that it 11 may be necessary for the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, under the guidance of 12 the commissioner of health and social services, to use personnel and other resources of the 13 Department of Health and Social Services to institute actions under AS 26.23.020, including 14 provisions to perform or facilitate performance of disaster emergency services. 15 (b) Based on the findings in (a) of this section, the legislature finds that it is in the 16 best interest of the state to extend the public health disaster emergency declaration issued by 17 the governor on March 11, 2020, and all the powers granted under AS 18.15.390 and 18 AS 26.23.020, until November 15, 2020. 19  * Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 20 read: 21 PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTER EMERGENCY; EXTENSION OF DISASTER 22 EMERGENCY. (a) Under AS 26.23.020(c), the Alaska State Legislature extends to 23 November 15, 2020, the declaration of a public health disaster emergency issued by the 24 governor on March 11, 2020. The extension under this subsection includes an order, 25 proclamation, or regulation issued under AS 26.23.020 and an action taken by the Department 26 of Health and Social Services under the authority granted to the Department of Health and 27 Social Services under AS 18.15.390. 28 (b) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, if the commissioner of health and social 29 services certifies to the governor that there is no longer a present outbreak of novel 30 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or a credible threat of an imminent outbreak of COVID-19, 31 the governor shall issue a proclamation that the public health disaster emergency identified in 01 the declaration issued by the governor on March 11, 2020, no longer exists as of a date 02 determined by the governor. The certification must be based on specific information received 03 from a state or federal agency or another source that the commissioner determines to be 04 reliable. 05 (c) The governor shall submit a proclamation issued under (b) of this section to the 06 revisor of statutes, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and 07 the lieutenant governor. 08  * Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 09 read: 10 PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTER EMERGENCY; FINANCING PLAN. (a) Under 11 AS 26.23.020(k), the Alaska State Legislature approves this financing plan for the declaration 12 of a public health disaster emergency issued by the governor on March 11, 2020, as extended 13 by sec. 2 of this Act, and provides that the following appropriations and authorizations may be 14 used to cope with the public health disaster emergency: 15 (1) the appropriations made in sec. 8, ch. 2, SLA 2020; 16 (2) the appropriations made in sec. 10, SCS CSHB 234(FIN), Department of 17 Health and Social Services, Thirty-First Alaska State Legislature; 18 (3) the authorization made in sec. 1, CCS HB 205, Department of Health and 19 Social Services, Thirty-First Alaska State Legislature, allowing for up to $20,000,000 in 20 transfers between all appropriations made in the Department of Health and Social Services, 21 except for transfers from the Medicaid services appropriation; 22 (4) the appropriations made in CCS HB 205, Department of Health and Social 23 Services, Thirty-First Alaska State Legislature, 24 (A) of federal receipts received during the fiscal year ending June 30, 25 2021, for Medicaid services; and 26 (B) to the Department of Health and Social Services public health 27 emergency response for the purpose of responding to the COVID-19 public health 28 disaster emergency; and 29 (5) the appropriation made in CCS HB 205, Thirty-First Alaska State 30 Legislature, to the disaster relief fund under AS 26.23.300(a). 31 (b) The governor may not expend more than a cumulative total of $10,000,000 of the 01 assets of the disaster relief fund under AS 26.23.020(h) - (k) or 26.23.300(b) in response to 02 the declaration of a public health disaster emergency issued by the governor on March 11, 03 2020, as extended by sec. 2 of this Act. 04 (c) Notwithstanding AS 26.23.050(b), the expenditure of state funds to cope with the 05 effects of the declaration of a public health disaster emergency issued by the governor on 06 March 11, 2020, as extended by sec. 2 of this Act, is limited to the appropriations and 07 expenditure authority identified in (a) and (b) of this section. 08  * Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 09 read: 10 STANDING ORDERS. (a) The chief medical officer in the Department of Health and 11 Social Services, or, if the chief medical officer is incapacitated, the chief medical officer's 12 designee, shall issue standing orders for public health agents and health care providers related 13 to essential public health services and functions and in response to conditions of public health 14 importance that are related to novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Standing orders shall 15 be effective until retracted or for the duration of the public health disaster emergency 16 declaration issued by the governor on March 11, 2020, as extended by sec. 2 of this Act. 17 (b) The chief medical officer in the Department of Health and Social Services is not 18 liable for civil damages resulting from an act or omission in issuing a standing order 19 authorized under this section if 20 (1) the standing order 21 (A) is issued to health care providers; 22 (B) is required to mitigate the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) 23 public health disaster emergency; and 24 (C) contains sufficient information in support of the need for a 25 standing order; and 26 (2) the chief medical officer provides sufficient education or training required 27 to properly implement the standing order, including training manuals, video recordings, and 28 other reasonable means of implementing the standing order. 29 (c) Except as provided in (d) of this section, a public health agent or health care 30 provider who takes action based on a standing order issued by the chief medical officer is not 31 liable for civil damages resulting from an act or omission in implementing the standing order. 01 (d) Nothing in this section precludes liability for civil damages as a result of gross 02 negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. 03 (e) In this section, "essential public health services and functions," "health care 04 provider," and "public health agent" have the meanings given in AS 18.15.395. 05  * Sec. 5. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 06 read: 07 REPORTS. Beginning May 1, 2020, the governor shall electronically submit, on the 08 first day of each month, a report to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of 09 representatives that lists the expenditures used to cope with the public health disaster 10 emergency declared by the governor on March 11, 2020, as extended by sec. 2 of this Act, 11 and identifies all actions taken by the governor, the Department of Health and Social Services, 12 the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, and other state agencies directly related to 13 the prevention, control, and status of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the 14 state. The report must include an explanation, made without disclosing information that would 15 identify individuals, of any activities related to the isolation or quarantine of individuals to 16 contain the spread of COVID-19. The governor shall submit a final report not later than 17 January 15, 2021, or 60 days after the date the governor determines, under sec. 2 of this Act, 18 that the public health disaster emergency no longer exists, whichever is earlier. Each report 19 submitted under this section must include cumulative information. 20  * Sec. 6. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 21 read: 22 PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING. (a) Notwithstanding any 23 other provision of law, during the public health disaster emergency declared by the governor 24 under AS 26.23.020 on March 11, 2020, as extended by sec. 2 of this Act, a professional or 25 occupational licensing board listed in AS 08.01.010, or the director, with respect to a 26 profession regulated by the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic 27 Development, may grant a license, permit, or certificate on an expedited basis to an individual 28 who holds a corresponding license, permit, or certificate in good standing in another 29 jurisdiction to the extent necessary to respond to the public health disaster emergency. A 30 license expedited under this section expires on the earlier of 31 (1) November 15, 2020; or 01 (2) the date the governor determines, under sec. 2 of this Act, that the public 02 health disaster emergency no longer exists. 03 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and to the extent necessary to respond 04 to the public health disaster emergency, a board listed in AS 08.01.010, the commissioner of 05 commerce, community, and economic development, or the director, as applicable, may take 06 additional action necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare, including 07 (1) temporarily waiving or modifying the continuing education requirements 08 required for licensees to renew a professional license, permit, or certificate in calendar year 09 2020; 10 (2) regulating the scope and duration of any license, permit, or certificate 11 issued under this section; 12 (3) requiring any individual granted a license, permit, or certificate under this 13 section to arrange and agree to supervision, in-person or by other means, by an individual who 14 holds a license, permit, or certificate in good standing for the applicable profession or by an 15 administrator of a facility licensed under AS 47.32; 16 (4) not increasing licensing fees. 17 (c) An individual seeking or holding an expedited license, permit, or certificate under 18 this section who travels to the state from outside the state must comply with travel restrictions 19 ordered or guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 United States Department of Health and Human Services that are in effect at the time the 21 individual arrives in the state. 22 (d) In this section, "director" means the director of the division in the Department of 23 Commerce, Community, and Economic Development responsible for business and 24 professional licensing. 25  * Sec. 7. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 26 read: 27 TELEMEDICINE AND TELEHEALTH. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of 28 law, during the public health disaster emergency declared by the governor under 29 AS 26.23.020 on March 11, 2020, as extended by sec. 2 of this Act, the provisions of 30 AS 08.64.170 and AS 08.68.160 do not apply to a health care provider who is providing 31 treatment, rendering a diagnosis, or prescribing, dispensing, or administering a prescription, 01 excluding a controlled substance listed under AS 11.71.140 - 11.71.190, through telehealth as 02 defined in AS 47.05.270(e), without first conducting an in-person physical examination, if 03 (1) the health care provider is licensed, permitted, or certified to provide 04 health care services in another jurisdiction and is in good standing in the jurisdiction that 05 issued the license, permit, or certification; 06 (2) the health care services provided without an in-person physical 07 examination are within the provider's authorized scope of practice in the jurisdiction that 08 issued the provider's license, permit, or certification; 09 (3) in the event that the health care provider determines that the encounter will 10 extend beyond the scope of practice or scope of services described in this section, the health 11 care provider advises the patient that the health care provider is not authorized to provide the 12 services to the patient, recommends that a patient contact a health care provider licensed in 13 the state, and terminates the encounter. 14 (b) The amount charged by a health care provider for services provided under this 15 section must be reasonable and consistent with the ordinary fees typically charged for that 16 service and may not be more than five percent above the ordinary fees typically charged for 17 that service. A health care provider who is required to terminate an encounter under (a)(3) of 18 this section may not charge for any services provided during the encounter. 19 (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the public health disaster 20 emergency declared by the governor under AS 26.23.020 on March 11, 2020, as extended by 21 sec. 2 of this Act, the commissioner of health and social services may waive any state law or 22 regulation if compliance would substantially prevent or impede the provision of health care 23 services under this section. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to abrogate authority 24 granted to the commissioner of health and social services under AS 18.15.390. 25 (d) In this section, "health care provider" has the meaning given in AS 18.15.395. 26  * Sec. 8. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 27 read: 28 FINGERPRINTING. For the duration of the public health disaster emergency 29 declaration issued by the governor on March 11, 2020, as extended by sec. 2 of this Act, the 30 Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development shall coordinate with the 31 Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Public Safety to expedite the 01 process for applicants under AS 08.29, AS 08.36, AS 08.64, AS 08.68, AS 08.71, AS 08.72, 02 AS 08.80, AS 08.84, and AS 08.86 to submit fingerprints. 03  * Sec. 9. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 04 read: 05 ELECTIONS: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. (a) Notwithstanding any provision in 06 AS 15.15 or AS 15.20 to the contrary, for the duration of the public health disaster emergency 07 declaration issued by the governor on March 11, 2020, the director of the division of elections 08 may conduct all elections in the same manner as an election by mail under AS 15.20.800. 09 (b) The director of the division of elections may adopt regulations necessary to 10 implement this section, including emergency regulations. The director shall inform Alaskans 11 if the calendar year 2020 elections will be held in the same manner as an election by mail 12 under AS 15.20.800. The means to inform Alaskans include, but are not limited to, mail, 13 email, phone calls, social media, public service announcements, radio advertisements, 14 television advertisements, web announcements, or print media. 15  * Sec. 10. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 16 read: 17 PERMANENT FUND DIVIDENDS: APPLICATIONS. Notwithstanding 18 AS 43.23.011(a), the application period for a 2020 dividend ends April 30, 2020. 19  * Sec. 11. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 20 read: 21 TAX FILINGS, PAYMENTS, AND PENALTIES. Except for any tax return, report, 22 or payment required under AS 43.55 or AS 43.56, a taxpayer required to file a tax return, 23 including an amended return or an information return or report, to the Department of Revenue 24 or to make a payment to the Department of Revenue for a tax, fee, or other charge under 25 AS 05.15, AS 16.10.455, AS 16.51, or AS 43, on or after the effective date of this Act and 26 before July 15, 2020, shall automatically receive an extension of time until July 15, 2020, to 27 file the return, report, or payment. Because of the application of the extensions in this section, 28 a penalty or interest will not be assessed if the taxpayer complies with the filing and payment 29 requirements on or before July 15, 2020. An extension under this section does not apply to a 30 taxpayer for any return or report required to be filed before the effective date of this Act and 31 any payment of tax, interest, penalty, or other charge due before the effective date of this Act. 01  * Sec. 12. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 02 read: 03 MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS; NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS; 04 CORPORATIONS. (a) Notwithstanding AS 10.06.405, a meeting of shareholders may be 05 held by electronic communication to the extent the corporation's board authorizes and adopts 06 guidelines to govern an electronic meeting. 07 (b) Notwithstanding AS 10.06.410, a corporation that has or is planning to, on the 08 effective date of this Act, distribute a proxy statement and notice of annual meeting to its 09 shareholders may renotice or notice the annual meeting so that the annual meeting may be 10 held by electronic communication authorized under (a) of this section. 11 (c) Notwithstanding AS 10.20.061 - 10.20.076, a meeting of the members of a 12 nonprofit corporation organized under AS 10.20, including meeting notice and determination 13 of a quorum, may be held by telecommunication to the extent the corporation's board adopts 14 or amends bylaws to allow for an electronic meeting. 15 (d) Notwithstanding AS 10.20.061 - 10.20.076, a meeting, including the notice of the 16 meeting and determination of a quorum, of the members of a corporation subject to AS 10.20, 17 including a village corporation organized under 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. (Alaska Native Claims 18 Settlement Act) and a Native corporation formed under AS 10.20, may be held by electronic 19 communication and telecommunication to the extent the corporation's board authorizes and 20 adopts guidelines to govern an electronic meeting. 21  * Sec. 13. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 22 read: 23 MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT DEADLINES. Notwithstanding any provision in 24 AS 29 to the contrary, a deadline established under AS 29 that occurs on or after the effective 25 date of this Act is extended until the earlier of 26 (1) November 15, 2020; or 27 (2) the date the governor determines, under sec. 2 of this Act, that the public 28 health disaster emergency no longer exists. 29  * Sec. 14. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 30 read: 31 ALASKA REGIONAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. (a) 01 Notwithstanding AS 44.33.896, the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic 02 Development may make grants to organizations for distribution as financial assistance to 03 businesses with operating expenses during the COVID-19 disaster. The Department of 04 Commerce, Community, and Economic Development shall distribute grants under this 05 subsection among qualified organizations based on regional population. 06 (b) An organization that receives a grant under (a) of this section shall 07 (1) develop an application procedure for a business to apply for financial 08 assistance; 09 (2) determine the amount of financial assistance for distribution to a business 10 based on the size, assets, resources, financial history, and needs of the business; and 11 (3) provide information requested by the Department of Commerce, 12 Community, and Economic Development for purposes of the report compiled under 13 AS 44.33.896(e). 14 (c) In this section, "organization" has the meaning given in AS 44.33.896.  15  * Sec. 15. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 16 read: 17 WORKERS' COMPENSATION PRESUMPTION OF COMPENSABILITY. (a) 18 Notwithstanding AS 23.30.121, 23.30.395(2), and 23.30.395(24), an employee who contracts 19 the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is conclusively presumed to have contracted an 20 occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment if, during the public 21 health disaster emergency declared by the governor under AS 26.23.020 on March 11, 2020, 22 as extended by sec. 2 of this Act, the employee 23 (1) is employed as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, 24 peace officer, or health care provider; 25 (2) is exposed to COVID-19 in the course of employment; and 26 (3) receives a 27 (A) COVID-19 diagnosis by a physician; 28 (B) presumptive positive COVID-19 test result; or 29 (C) laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. 30 (b) In this section, 31 (1) "emergency medical technician" has the meaning given in AS 18.08.200; 01 (2) "firefighter" means 02 (A) a person employed by a state or municipal fire department or who 03 is a member of a volunteer fire department registered with the state fire marshal; or 04 (B) a person registered for purposes of workers' compensation with the 05 state fire marshal as a member of a volunteer fire department; 06 (3) "health care provider" has the meaning given in AS 13.52.390; 07 (4) "paramedic" has the meaning given in AS 12.55.185; 08 (5) "peace officer" has the meaning given in AS 11.81.900.  09  * Sec. 16. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 10 read: 11 ALLOWABLE ABSENCE FOR THE PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND. 12 Notwithstanding AS 43.23.005(a)(4) and 43.23.008(d), during the public health disaster 13 emergency declared by the governor under AS 26.23.020 on March 11, 2020, as extended by 14 sec. 2 of this Act, an individual otherwise eligible for a permanent fund dividend who has 15 notified the commissioner of revenue or the commissioner's designee that the individual 16 expects to be absent from the state for a continuous period beginning on or after March 11, 17 2020, remains eligible to receive a permanent fund dividend if the only reason the individual 18 would be ineligible to receive a permanent fund dividend is that the individual was absent 19 from the state because of conduct, including maintaining a voluntary or compulsory 20 quarantine, related to avoiding or preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 21 (COVID-19). 22  * Sec. 17. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 23 read: 24 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES; RETAIL SELLERS. 25 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the duration of the public health disaster 26 emergency declared by the governor under AS 26.23.020 on March 11, 2020, as extended by 27 sec. 2 of this Act, the Department of Health and Social Services may, in coordination with the 28 Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, establish sanitation procedures for retail sellers. 29 In this section, "retail seller" includes a market, grocery store, convenience store, drug store, 30 or similar establishment that 31 (1) is located in a permanent building; and 01 (2) sells to consumers household supplies, perishable items, or food 02 merchandise, including meat, produce, dairy products, or snack foods. 03  * Sec. 18. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 04 read: 05 TOLLING DEADLINES FOR ACTION BY THE REGULATORY COMMISSION 06 OF ALASKA DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK. Notwithstanding a contrary 07 provision of AS 42, including a provision of AS 42.05 or AS 42.08, during the novel 08 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) public health disaster emergency declared by the governor 09 on March 11, 2020, as extended by sec. 2 of this Act, all statutory and regulatory deadlines for 10 action by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska are tolled and failure by the Regulatory 11 Commission of Alaska to act on a filing does not constitute approval or dismissal by the 12 commission. This section does not apply to a statutory or regulatory deadline extended by the 13 commission before March 11, 2020, for good cause under AS 42.05.175(f). 14  * Sec. 19. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 15 read: 16 MORATORIUM ON DISCONNECTION OF RESIDENTIAL UTILITY SERVICE. 17 (a) During the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) public health disaster emergency 18 declared by the governor on March 11, 2020, as extended by sec. 2 of this Act, a public utility 19 as defined in AS 42.05.990 may not disconnect for nonpayment the residential utility service 20 of a person experiencing financial hardship related to the COVID-19 public health disaster 21 emergency. A public utility shall make reasonable efforts to reconnect utility service to a 22 dwelling that is occupied by a person experiencing financial hardship related to the COVID- 23 19 public health disaster emergency and that is disconnected for nonpayment on or after 24 March 11, 2020. 25 (b) A person seeking protection under (a) of this section shall, before the emergency 26 declaration expires, 27 (1) provide to the public utility a signed statement, sworn under penalty of 28 perjury, that the person is experiencing financial hardship related to the COVID-19 public 29 health disaster emergency; and 30 (2) negotiate and agree to a deferred payment arrangement with the utility. 31 (c) This section does not relieve a public utility customer of the obligation to pay for 01 utility service or restrict a public utility's ability to recover an amount due. 02 (d) A utility shall offer a person receiving protection under (a) of this section a 03 deferred payment option allowing repayment over a period of time not shorter than the period 04 of time of the public health disaster emergency declared by the governor on March 11, 2020, 05 as extended by sec. 2 of this Act. The utility may not impose interest or late fees on a person 06 receiving protection under (a) of this section who fulfills the terms of a deferred payment 07 agreement. 08 (e) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, the Regulatory Commission of 09 Alaska and the Alaska Energy Authority may not deny a utility otherwise eligible to receive 10 power cost equalization payments on behalf of a utility customer power cost equalization 11 payments for customers receiving protection under (a) of this section. 12 (f) In this section, "person" means a natural person. 13  * Sec. 20. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 14 read: 15 REGULATORY ASSETS FOR UNPAID UTILITY BILLS AND 16 EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES. A utility certificated under AS 42.05 may record 17 regulatory assets, to be recovered through future rates, for uncollectable residential utility bills 18 and extraordinary expenses that result from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) public 19 health disaster emergency declared by the governor on March 11, 2020, as extended by sec. 2 20 of this Act. The determination as to whether an extraordinary expense resulted from the 21 COVID-19 public health disaster emergency and the amortization periods for the regulatory 22 assets are subject to approval by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska before recovery 23 occurs through future rates. 24  * Sec. 21. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 25 read: 26 MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT. (a) During the 27 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) public health disaster emergency declared by the 28 governor on March 11, 2020, as extended by sec. 2 of this Act, the statutory cause of action 29 for forcible entry and detainer for nonpayment of rent under AS 09.45 and any other statutory 30 cause of action that could be used to evict or otherwise eject a person who is a residential 31 tenant for nonpayment of rent is suspended as applied to a person experiencing financial 01 hardship related to the COVID-19 public health disaster emergency. 02 (b) A person seeking protection under (a) of this section shall, before the emergency 03 declaration expires, provide to the landlord a signed statement, sworn under penalty of 04 perjury, that the person is experiencing financial hardship related to the COVID-19 public 05 health disaster emergency. 06 (c) Nothing in this section prevents evictions for misconduct, violations of law, or 07 violations of contracts outside of inability to pay rent; this section may not be construed to 08 increase civil liability in a court of law. 09 (d) This section does not relieve a person of the obligation to pay rent or restrict a 10 landlord's ability to recover rent due. 11 (e) In this section, "person" means a natural person.  12  * Sec. 22. Sections 1 - 4 and 6 - 20 of this Act are repealed on the earlier of 13 (1) November 15, 2020; or 14 (2) the date the governor determines, under sec. 2 of this Act, that the public 15 health disaster emergency declared by the governor under AS 26.23.020 on March 11, 2020, 16 as extended by sec. 2 of this Act, no longer exists. 17  * Sec. 23. Section 5 of this Act is repealed January 16, 2021. 18  * Sec. 24. Section 21 of this Act is repealed June 30, 2020. 19  * Sec. 25. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 20 read: 21 RETROACTIVITY. (a) If secs. 1 - 14 and 16 - 21 of this Act take effect after 22 April 10, 2020, secs. 1 - 14 and 16 - 21 of this Act are retroactive to April 10, 2020. 23 (b) Section 15 of this Act is retroactive to March 11, 2020. 24  * Sec. 26. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).