00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 310                                                                          
01 "An Act tolling deadlines for action by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska during the                                  
02 public health emergency declaration; relating to disconnection of utility service for                                   
03 nonpayment; relating to regulatory assets of a utility; relating to evictions; relating to                              
04 foreclosures; 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       TOLLING DEADLINES FOR ACTION BY THE REGULATORY COMMISSION                                                         
09 OF ALASKA DURING THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19)                                                               
10 OUTBREAK. Notwithstanding a contrary provision of AS 42, including a provision of                                       
11 AS 42.05 or AS 42.08, during the public health disaster emergency declared by the governor                              
12 on March 11, 2020, and an extension of that emergency declaration by the Alaska State                                   
13 Legislature, all statutory and regulatory deadlines for action by the Regulatory Commission of                          
14 Alaska are tolled and failure by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to act on a filing does                            

01 not constitute approval or dismissal by the commission.                                                                 
02    * Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
03 read:                                                                                                                   
04 MORATORIUM ON DISCONNECTION OF RESIDENTIAL UTILITY SERVICE.                                                             
05 During the public health disaster emergency declared by the governor on March 11, 2020, and                             
06 an extension of that emergency declaration by the Alaska State Legislature, a public utility as                         
07 defined in AS 42.05.990 may not disconnect residential utility service for nonpayment. A                                
08 public utility shall make reasonable efforts to reconnect utility service to an occupied dwelling                       
09 that is disconnected for nonpayment on or after March 11, 2020.                                                         
10    * Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
11 read:                                                                                                                   
12 REGULATORY ASSETS FOR UNPAID UTILITY BILLS. A utility certificated                                                    
13 under AS 42.05 may create regulatory assets for residential utility bills that are not paid                             
14 during the public health disaster emergency declared by the governor on March 11, 2020, and                             
15 an extension of that emergency declaration by the Alaska State Legislature.                                             
16    * Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
17 read:                                                                                                                   
18 MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT. (a)                                                                     
19 Notwithstanding a contrary provision of AS 34.03 or another law, during the public health                               
20 disaster emergency declared by the governor on March 11, 2020, and an extension of that                                 
21 emergency declaration by the Alaska State Legislature, a landlord may not evict a person                                
22 experiencing financial hardship from a property for nonpayment of rent.                                                 
23 (b)  A person seeking protection under (a) of this section shall, before the emergency                                  
24 declaration expires, provide to the landlord an affidavit, under penalty of perjury, that the                           
25 person is experiencing financial hardship.                                                                              
26    * Sec. 5. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
27 read:                                                                                                                   
28 MORATORIUM ON FORECLOSURES. (a) Notwithstanding a contrary provision of                                                 
29 AS 09.45, AS 34.35, or another law, during the public health disaster emergency declared by                             
30 the governor on March 11, 2020, and an extension of that emergency declaration by the                                   
31 Alaska State Legislature, a person may not foreclose on the property of a person experiencing                           

01 financial hardship.                                                                                                     
02       (b)  A person seeking protection under (a) of this section shall, before the emergency                            
03 declaration expires, provide to the financial institution seeking foreclosure an affidavit, under                       
04 penalty of perjury, that the person is experiencing financial hardship.                                                 
05    * Sec. 6. This Act is repealed April 30, 2021.                                                                   
06    * Sec. 7. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).