Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
03/29/2011 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
HB101 | |
HB182 | |
HB204 | |
HB205 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ | HB 101 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 182 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 204 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 205 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 182-ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION OF AGENCY REPORTS 8:35:31 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the next order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 182, "An Act relating to distribution of annual reports by state agencies." 8:36:00 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 182 as sponsor. He explained that currently statutes mandate that state departments disseminate printed copies of their annual reports, which he said made him question if the state was keeping up with available technology. He said he considered the idea of requiring every piece of paper published to be instead sent electronically, with paper copies sent out only upon request; however, he was told by Legislative Legal and Research Services that doing so would require months of work by an attorney to find all the references to print requirements in statute. He said Legislative Legal and Research Services recommended that the scope of the bill be narrowed to include annual reports, and to write the language so that it "encompasses everything rather than specifically going to each individual chapter." Representative Johansen said he had the bill drafted using that recommendation, but was torn in making that decision and would value the committee's feedback. REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN indicated that the proposed legislation could save the state a few million dollars, and he ventured that it would result in agency staff having more time for other tasks. He acknowledged that there may be some concerns about people who do not have access to computers, but said he thinks the idea is worth discussing. He related that a librarian told him that HB 182 could result in many more people requesting copies made at the library, but he offered his understanding that many of the reports are those given solely to the legislature that the public may not even wish to print. For example, he noted that Title 29 is printed annually, and he offered his understanding that the cost for printing 400 copies of it this year was approximately $4,900. He further related that printed on the front of those copies is a message saying that the actual statutes are not enclosed but can be accessed on line. He said most of the reports are already being published on line, while printed copies are still being made because of statutory requirement. 8:44:20 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER thanked Representative Johansen for bringing the bill forward, and he talked about the chaos of filing all the paperwork that is received. He asked the sponsor if he is open to an amendment to build a web page linked to a legislative home page that would have links to all the reports. 8:46:35 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN answered yes. He said he does not know if the executive branch has a system like that currently. 8:47:35 AM REED HARRIS, Staff, Representative Kyle Johansen, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Johansen, sponsor of HB 182, told Representative Keller that currently the Alaska on line public notice system, set up under AS 44.62.175, is similar to a public records clearing house, and could be used as an example in drafting an amendment. REPRESENTATIVE KELLER said [the executive branch] is developing that system, and he concurred that it would be a good starting point toward creating a system that held all reports. REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said he thinks that would be a good starting point. 8:49:04 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG related that during the Sixteenth Alaska State Legislature, legislation was passed that required all the departments to include a disclaimer as to the cost of making each publication. He said mandating such a disclosure may provide helpful information to the House Finance Committee when it comes time to pass the budget. He suggested HB 182 could be amended to make that happen. 8:51:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG directed attention to page 2, lines 6- 9, which provide the definition of "state agency", and asked the sponsor to consider adding the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation and the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC). Next he suggested compiling a list of all the publications being considered for conversion to electronic publication to determine if some of them may be publications people would still want to have printed in hard copy. He named the annual report of the state as one such publication. 8:53:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN noted that there are "thresholds and triggers" in statute related to how many reports there are and how much those reports cost. He said the Office of Management and Budget's fiscal note is indeterminate, because the cost depends on the number of copies printed. He then noted that Representative Hawker, who is on the House Finance Committee, signed on as a co-sponsor of HB 182. He said he has confidence in the work the House Finance Committee will do on the bill. He acknowledged that the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation has had some concerns related to the bill, and he said he would work with the corporation to iron out those issues. 8:55:38 AM REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN said he likes the concept of reducing paper work. In response to Representative Petersen's previous remark about the librarian's comment, he suggested that one copy of each report could be sent to the library for people to see there as a reference material. REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said he thinks the concern that under HB 182 some people may not have access to reports is valid, but said he does not think giving a copy of all the reports to libraries is a good idea. He ventured that most reports are accessed by those with computers in their offices. 8:58:18 AM MR. HARRIS pointed out that the language on page 2, lines 1-5, allows a member of the public to order printed copies of annual reports from state agencies, and further allows those state agencies to waive the fees if they determine that to do so is in the public interest. REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said he envisions having a public list of all copies made and waivers granted. He said he thinks the aforementioned language would address Representative Petersen's previously stated concern. 8:59:58 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON opined that the annual revenue source book is vital to the functioning of the legislature and should continue to be made available in hard copy. Another issue he asked the sponsor to consider is that often charts and graphs, which often designate certain statistics through color coding, do not read well when printed in black and white. He said he would like there to be some way to guarantee that reports with such color charts and graphs are legible for those people who have black and white printers and want to print those reports from the on line source. 9:02:05 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER referred again to the previously mentioned Alaska On Line Public Notice System, and talked about many ways to conduct searches on the system. He indicated that the system uses Really Simple Syndication (RSS), and he explained that people can get the RSS feed on their computers. 9:03:51 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG opined that there is merit in "looking into the suggestion that this bill makes." He related that the many parts of the district he represents are among the poorest in Anchorage. He said a few years ago, the Federation of Community Councils wanted to switch to 100 percent electronic distribution of community council newsletters, but that would not work in his district where most people do not own a computer. He said he sent out a survey in a newsletter, and noted that a majority of those who did respond did not do so on line. He said the librarians in his district are "spread very thin" already, and he expressed concern that under HB 182, there would be "more requests on librarians" with no extra funds offered, which would result in an unfunded mandate. CHAIR LYNN said he cannot imagine a "run on libraries." REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said the chair might be surprised. 9:06:39 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON questioned Mr. Harris' previous statement that the Alaska State Archives is required to make four copies of [reports]. She explained that that is difficult to believe because of the amount of storage space that would require. MR. HARRIS said he does not know the exact statute, but confirmed he read that requirement in statute. REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON opined that the committee should consider this issue in conjunction with HB 182. 9:08:51 AM CHAIR LYNN said he likes HB 182. He asked the sponsor what he wants to do with the bill before moving it out of committee. 9:09:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN, regarding Representative Seaton's concern about charts and graphs printed on black and white printers, said he thinks there is a way to figure out that issue. He said Representative Wilson made a valid point about the storage of archives, and recalled a recent flood at the Alaska State Archive building in Juneau, when people had to scramble to save historical documents. He asked the committee members to contemplate the changes needed in HB 182, and said he would send his staff to members' offices to work on solutions. He expressed his willingness to work on the bill over the next year. CHAIR LYNN reiterated that he likes HB 182. 9:11:58 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that HB 182 was held over.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
---|---|---|
01 CS HB 101 ( ).pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 101 |
02 HB0101A.PDF |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 101 |
03 HB 101 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 101 |
04 Senator Ted Stevens Day Proclamation HB 101.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 101 |
05 Ted Stevens Citation HB 101.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 101 |
06 Fiscal Note HB 101 - Nov 18 - Ted Stevens Day.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 101 |
01 HB 182.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 182 |
02 HB 182 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM SSTA 4/11/2012 9:00:00 AM |
HB 182 |
03 HB 182 - Backup Leg Research 2005.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM SSTA 4/11/2012 9:00:00 AM |
HB 182 |
04 HB 182 - Backup Leg Research 2011.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 182 |
05 HB 182 - Backup Publication Spreadsheet.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM SSTA 4/11/2012 9:00:00 AM |
HB 182 |
06 HB182-GOV-OMB-3-27-11.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM SSTA 4/11/2012 9:00:00 AM |
HB 182 |
01 HB 204.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 204 |
02 HB 204 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 204 |
03 HB 204 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 204 |
04 HB204-DOA-PUR-3-23-11.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 204 |
01 HB 205.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 205 |
02 HB 205 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 205 |
03 HB 205 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 205 |
04 HB205-DOA-PUR-03-23-11.pdf |
HSTA 3/29/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 205 |