2008-01-30                     Senate Journal                      Page 1720
SB 257                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 257 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                "An Act relating to distribution of the Alaska                                                                 
                Administrative Code and Alaska Administrative                                                                  
          Register; and providing for an effective date."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs Committee.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Office of the Governor                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 28:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Green:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am                                                      
transmitting a bill to change the Alaska Administrative Procedure Act                                                           
to provide for better and more cost-effective access to administrative                                                          
information.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                

2008-01-30                     Senate Journal                      Page 1721
The bill stems from requests of some local governments to stop                                                                  
receiving paper copies of the Alaska Administrative Code and the                                                                
Alaska Administrative Register. Space in some local government                                                                  
offices is limited and the storage and disposal of these documents can                                                          
be problematic.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Under current law, the Lieutenant Governor, at state expense, is                                                                
required to supply a complete set of the Alaska Administrative Code,                                                            
the Alaska Administrative Register, and each supplement to the code                                                             
or register to the clerk of each local government unit.  Many local                                                             
governments have indicated that paper copies of these publications are                                                          
neither utilized nor desired.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The bill allows the clerk of a local governmental unit to choose to                                                             
forego receipt of the paper copies.  Paper copies would continue to be                                                          
supplied to governmental units that do not request cessation of the                                                             
deliveries.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Because electronic access to the Alaska Administrative Code is                                                                  
currently available through the Legislature's website, and through links                                                        
to that website from various state agency websites, we anticipate that                                                          
many local governments would prefer this "no-cost" option for                                                                   
electronic access to the information, and paper copies would not be                                                             
needed.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
The bill also provides an easy method for the local government to "opt                                                          
back in" to start receiving paper copies of the documents if the local                                                          
government's needs changed.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt consideration and passage of this bill.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Sarah Palin                                                                                                                     
Governor