Legislature(2017 - 2018)BARNES 124
02/08/2017 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB48 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 48 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 48-ARCHITECTS,ENGINEERS,SURVEYORS: EXTEND BD
3:19:18 PM
CHAIR KITO announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 48, "An Act relating to the composition of the
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land
Surveyors; extending the termination date of the State Board of
Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; and
providing for an effective date."
3:20:07 PM
BIANCA CARPENETI, Staff, Representative Sam Kito, Alaska State
Legislature, presented HB 48 on behalf of Representative Kito,
prime sponsor. She stated that HB 48 extends the termination
date of the State Board of Registration for Architects,
Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS), and changes the status of
the current landscape architect board member from a non-voting
to a voting member. The bill reflects the recommendations of
the Division of Legislative Audit and AELS.
CHAIR KITO added that a revised fiscal note would be coming out
soon.
3:21:37 PM
KRIS CURTIS, Legislative Auditor, Legislative Audit Division,
Legislative Agencies and Offices, stated that the April 2016
Sunset Audit [included in the committee packed] found that AELS
is serving the public's interests. The board registers and
regulates architects, engineers, and land surveyors. The board
monitors registrants and works to ensure that only qualified
individuals practice in Alaska. The board develops and adopts
regulations to improve the occupations. She stated that the
division recommends the eight-year maximum extension and has no
recommendations [for improvement]. She drew attention to a
schedule of expenditures on page seven of the audit, which shows
that at the end of fiscal year 2013 (FY 13), the board had a
deficit of approximately $260,000. At that point, the board
raised its fees. At the end of FY 15, the board had a surplus
of $740,000 and decreased fees. She noted that the board's
composition represents all licensed professions except for
landscape architects. In 1998, a temporary, non-voting
landscape architect board position was created in uncodified law
and has been reauthorized in every extension of the board. The
original intent of the position was to help the board regulate
the landscape architect profession. Seven out of the ten board
members were asked if they were in support of making it a
permanent position and all seven stated their support.
3:24:32 PM
DALE NELSON, Chairman, Legislative Liaison Committee, Alaska
Professional Design Council, LLC (APDC), testified in support of
HB 48. He stated that he is a registered professional civil
engineer of more than 40 years. He stated that both AELS and
APDC support HB 48, as presented. He emphasized the need and
value of the board's extension.
3:26:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH asked what enforcement actions have been
taken in the last year.
MR. NELSON stated that APDC supported having an investigator
work specifically for AELS. He mentioned that professional
engineers, architects, land surveyors, and landscape architects
must sign that [they work] for the safety, health, and welfare
of the public.
3:28:09 PM
MICHELE ELFERS, Chief Landscape Architect, Engineering
Department, City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ), testified in
support of HB 48. As a member of the APDC board, she stated the
board's support of the bill. She relayed that the AELS board
ensures a high quality standard for safe and functional
infrastructure. She stated her support and the board's support
of making the landscape architect position a permanent and
voting position.
3:29:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP asked why the position has never been a
voting position.
MS. ELFERS stated her understanding that the seat was originally
a temporary seat when landscape architects were first becoming
licensed in Alaska. She stated that she is not sure why it was
not made a voting position when the profession became licensed.
3:30:02 PM
CHAIR KITO asked if the role of the landscape architect
currently [on the board] is to provide advice and support
concerning other landscape architects in the state when
reviewing licensure applications.
MS. ELFERS answered yes.
CHAIR KITO observed that the non-voting position has been useful
but landscape architects have not been fully represented.
MS. ELFERS stated that she agrees. She added that HB 48 would
provide equal representation for all practicing professions.
3:31:37 PM
COLIN MAYNARD, Member, State Board of Registration for
Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS), testified in
support of HB 48. He drew upon his previous experience with
APDC and stated that the main reason the [landscape architect
board] position was made temporary and non-voting initially was
due to the board's uncertainty of the future number of landscape
architects. Now there are close to 50 licensed landscape
architects. He stated that many competent people have filled
the non-voting position in the last 18 years and have
represented and served well. He offered his opinion that it's
time to make the position permanent. He said that in the past
there was one particular legislator who didn't like landscape
architects and prevented making the position permanent. He
stated that the design community has sought to make the position
permanent since the board's first sunset date. In response to
Representative Birch's previous question about the investigative
branch, he stated that the board rarely knows details of any
accusations until there is a consent agreement - the
investigative branch "deals with it." He stated that currently
there are 16 open cases; 14 have been closed since November. He
concluded that there is active enforcement of the licensure act,
and he offered his understanding that there has never been a
licensure act action against a landscape architect; [previous
actions] have always been against the other professions.
CHAIR KITO asked how many professionals are licensed by AELS.
MR. MAYNARD stated that there are approximately 7,000
[licensees], of which 5,000 are engineers - mostly civil
engineers.
3:34:42 PM
JANEY HOVENDEN, Director, Division of Corporations, Business,
and Professional Licensing (DCBPL), Department of Commerce,
Community & Economic Development (DCCED), introduced Alysia
Jones, the new Executive Administrator for AELS, and she noted
that the committee may be hearing from Ms. Jones in the future.
She stated that an updated fiscal note is forthcoming; DCBPL was
unaware of a previous fiscal note for the temporary board
member's travel expenses. She said the travel expenses would be
deleted from the new fiscal note.
3:35:57 PM
CHAIR KITO clarified that the forthcoming fiscal note will
reflect the fact that there is already money in the governor's
FY 18 budget for travel for the landscape architect on the
board. He asked if this is because the travel expenses were not
a standard budget item.
MS. HOVENDEN stated that the expenses were funded with a
separate bill, not as a complete board, which caused the
confusion.
3:36:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL noted that there is a fiscal note for
travel, but the audit lists travel expenses of $40,000 to
$50,000 per year. He asked why there is a fiscal note for a
budgetary item if travel is an expense incurred and paid for by
the board.
MS. HOVENDEN clarified that the division's receipt supported
services, while licensing fees pay for all the expenses to the
program, including board travel.
3:37:45 PM
CHAIR KITO stated that [the funding] will be reflected in the
updated fiscal note.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL stated that he had expected to see a zero
fiscal note because the board's fees more than covers its
expenses.
MS. HOVENDEN stated that the spending authority allows the
division to spend money on the board's behalf - it's a
continuation of what is already being spent on its behalf.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL noted the [approximate] $700,000 surplus and
7,000 licensees, and he asked if there will be a licensing fee
adjustment of $100 per person.
MS. HOVENDEN stated the board recently decreased its licensing
fees, and it will take a couple bienniums to spend the surplus.
3:39:50 PM
CHAIR KITO opened public testimony on HB 48.
3:40:17 PM
LUANNE URFER, Member, State Board of Registration for
Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS), encouraged the
committee to support HB 48. As a landscape architect, she
stated that it's important to represent her field, encourage
safety, and ensure that projects are done that allow for
opportunities for the public.
CHAIR KITO announced that HB 48 was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB048 Fiscal Note DCCED-CBPL 2.3.17.pdf |
HL&C 2/8/2017 3:15:00 PM |
HB 48 |
| HB048 Sponsor Statement 2.6.17.pdf |
HL&C 2/8/2017 3:15:00 PM HL&C 2/10/2017 3:15:00 PM |
HB 48 |
| HB048 Supporting Document-Sunset Audit 01.31.17.pdf |
HL&C 2/8/2017 3:15:00 PM HL&C 2/10/2017 3:15:00 PM |
HB 48 |
| HB048 Supporting Document-Letters of Support 2.6.17.pdf |
HL&C 2/8/2017 3:15:00 PM HL&C 2/10/2017 3:15:00 PM |
HB 48 |