00CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 414(JUD)                                                                                          
01 "An Act requiring mediation in a civil action against an architect, engineer, or                                        
02 land surveyor; amending Rule 100, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure; and                                                  
03 providing for an effective date."                                                                                       
04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
05    * Section 1.  AS 09.55 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                   
06 ARTICLE 9. MALPRACTICE ACTION AGAINST DESIGN PROFESSIONAL.                                                              
07  Sec. 09.55.700.  MANDATORY MEDIATION.  (a)  A civil action against a                                                  
08 design professional seeking damages resulting from professional negligence shall be                                     
09 submitted to mediation unless all the parties to the civil action agree to waive                                        
10 mediation.  The court shall order that mediation be conducted as provided under the                                     
11 Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, except that if the court requires the costs of                                         
12 mediation be paid by the party defending against the civil action, the provisions of this                               
13 section may be waived at the election of the party defending against the civil action.                                  
14 If a party to the mediation is determined by the court to be indigent, the court may                                    

01 impose the costs of mediation on another party.  If more than one party is defending                                    
02 against the civil action, waiver of mediation is not allowed unless all defending parties                               
03 agree to the waiver.  For purposes of waiver allowed under this subsection, "civil                                      
04 action" does not include a counterclaim, third-party claim, or cross claim.                                             
05  (b)  In this section,                                                                                                 
06   (1)  "design professional" means an architect, engineer, or land surveyor                                            
07 licensed in this state;                                                                                                 
08   (2) "professional negligence" means a negligent act or omission by a                                                 
09 design professional in providing professional services;                                                                 
10   (3)  "professional services" means services provided by a design                                                     
11 professional that are within the scope of the services for which the design professional                                
12 is licensed.                                                                                                            
13    * Sec. 2.  AS 09.55.700, enacted by sec. 1 of this Act, has the effect of amending Rule 100,                         
14 Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, by requiring the parties to request mediation and the court                            
15 to order mediation in a civil action against a design professional.                                                     
16    * Sec. 3.  This Act applies to causes of action that accrue on or after the effective date of                        
17 this Act.                                                                                                               
18    * Sec. 4.   This Act takes effect July 1, 1996.