Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120
03/14/2024 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
HB287 | |
HB101 | |
HB228 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | HB 234 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 287 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 101 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 228 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 287-PUBLIC NOTICE FOR DISPOSAL/LEASE 3:08:41 PM CHAIR SHAW announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 287, "An Act relating to public notice for certain state actions and public hearings; and providing for an effective date." 3:09:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE RAUSCHER, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 287, as prime sponsor He provided the sponsor statement for HB 287 [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: HB 287 proposes changes to certain public notice requirements relating to certain land and water usages. The bill changes the requirement for public notice by allowing an option to use the Alaska Online Public Notice System. This would provide a new means to the current requirement that notices be posted in a newspaper of general circulation in an affected area. The bill would update, but not substantively change, other requirements for notice by the appropriate commissioner to determine the rights of persons regarding related issues. By allowing for online public notice, it is possible to save applicants money as opposed to newspaper notice. The changes would utilize the state's online public notice system, which is available to most Alaskans to view at no cost. Public notices posted on this system are permanently retained for future reference, whereas newspaper notices are difficult to retrieve. Utilizing the online public notice system ensures that Alaskans have equal access to public notices rather than just newspaper subscribers or residents of certain areas. Finally, online public notice would eliminate coordinating issues with newspaper publications and reduce permit processing timeframes. 3:11:18 PM CHRISTY COLLES, Director, Central Office, Division of Mining, Land and Water, Department of Natural Resources, reported that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) supports HB 287. She said that the bill addresses the current requirements for water use applications to be posted in newspapers. She said that these requirements take significant time to coordinate. Costs to the applicant can range between $500-$1,500 per notice. The amendments proposed for HB 287 would align with other public notice requirements in statute, more widely distribute public notices, save money for the applicant, and save time and resources for the state. 3:12:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked about the current challenges in creating print publications, especially in rural communities. 3:13:25 PM RYAN MCKEE, Staff, Representative George Rauscher, Alaska State Legislature, responded that some challenges include the time spent coordinating with publications to determine which ones are accessed in remote areas. Another challenge is the cost to the applicant; a single newspaper advertisement can cost between $500-$1,500 per day. A single day advertisement is a limited window of time to provide notice. A public notice system on the state website would make it easier to notify the public for longer periods of time with no cost. REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK referenced page 5, line 24 of the bill, which read "published or broadcast", and asked if this bill helps to provide notice to communities who lack newspaper coverage. MS. COLLES responded that notices are put in the closest newspaper available to the community. She said if there is not a nearby newspaper, notices are put in conspicuous locations such as post offices in addition to the online public notice website. The newspaper requirement is difficult to coordinate. REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked what efforts will be made by the department for communities without access to online resources. MS. COLLES answered that an assessment would need to be made based on community information. 3:18:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON asked if the notice would still need to be in a newspaper of usual circulation. MS. COLLES affirmed that there is currently a requirement to put a notice in a newspaper of general circulation. The bill is written to say that the department must put a notice on the Alaska public notice system and may also choose to include it in a newspaper of circulation. REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON asked for a definition of a "newspaper of general circulation". MS. COLLES responded with her understanding that a "newspaper of general circulation" would be a newspaper within a delivery area. 3:19:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER referred to page 7, lines 22-24, which stated that notices may be published in "other appropriate information media". REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON offered his understanding as a former newspaper publisher that a "newspaper of general circulation" indicates certified circulation of over 5,000, which eliminates many small-town newspapers. He expressed his concern that perhaps the only way to reach some small communities is through online resources. 3:20:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed her concern for areas with limited or no broadband. She asked how the department ensures that notices are adequately posted in rural communities without Internet access. She asked for a list of areas in the state that are without broadband. MS. COLLES responded that the department doesn't have a list of areas without broadband service. She noted other options of notifying the public such as posting notices in community centers, libraries, and post offices. REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked how notices are documented to ensure community members have received adequate notice. MS. COLLES stated that the department does its best, though she noted the difficulty of reaching the entire community. She stated her belief that the online notification system can help to close the gaps. REPRESENTATIVE STORY requested a list of areas that lack broadband access for the purpose of receiving notifications from the department. 3:23:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD asked if areas with limited broadband also have limited newspaper delivery. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER suggested that it may be more difficult to find a newspaper in an area that lacks broadband. He echoed Ms. COlles' statement that post offices are an option for posting notices. MS. COLLES responded that there are plenty of areas that lack general circulation newspapers. In those cases the department takes extra measures to post notices in post offices and community centers. REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD offered her support for HB 287. She commented that many folks in Alaska are isolated for personal reasons and prefer not to be contacted. REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK noted that the flexibility of the legislation is valuable and reiterated the challenge with reaching out with notices to communities that lack broadband and newspaper circulation. She asked if DNR has reached out to other departments that experience similar challenges and may benefit from similar legislation. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER responded with his expectation that other departments would find this bill of interest. MR. MCKEE noted that the Department of Environmental Conservation is looking into electronic notice requirement flexibility. REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK said there are entities aside from state departments that also have notice requirements that could benefit from the type of flexibility offered in HB 287. 3:27:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON acknowledged that there are several statewide newspapers but asked if publishing notices in newspapers with low circulation would qualify as notification. MS. COLLES responded that if it is the only newspaper available, it would be used to fulfill the statutory requirement. REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON stated that there are more people with broadband access than people who subscribe to larger state-wide newspapers. He offered his support of HB 287. 3:29:16 PM CHAIR SHAW announced that HB 287 was held over.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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HB 287 Sectional Analysis .pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/4/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 287 |
HB 287 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/4/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 287 |
HB0287A.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/4/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 287 |
HB0101A Full Text 011524.PDF |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
HB 101A Supporting Document - the 19th.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
HB101 Sectional Analysis 01152024.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
HB101 Sponsor Statement 01152024.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
HB101 Ver A Supporting Document - Time.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
HB101 Ver A Supporting Document-Vox Media 5.11.2018.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
HB 228 Sponsor Statement Version P.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
HB 228 Version P.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
HB228 Fiscal Note - DCCED.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
HB 228 Sectional Analysis Version P.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
HB228 Presentation - STA.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM HSTA 4/2/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 228 |
HB101 Support Doc - Campaign Funds for Childcare Report.pdf |
HSTA 3/14/2024 3:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |