Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532

04/12/2008 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE


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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ HB 111 BUSINESS LICENSE FEE TELECONFERENCED
Moved SCS CSHB 111(FIN) Out of Committee
HJR 2 CONST.AM:NO GAMING WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL
Heard & Held
Uniform Rule 23 Waived
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
= HB 44 VETERAN INFO ON PFD APPLICATIONS
Moved CSHB 44(FIN) Out of Committee
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 111(FIN)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  decreasing the  fee  for a  business  license;                                                                   
     relating  to  a civil  fine  for  not having  a  current                                                                   
     business  license, to business  license penalties  under                                                                   
     certain   laws  relating   to  financial   institutions,                                                                   
     occupational   licensing,   employment   agencies,   and                                                                   
     taxation,  and  to  the  duration  of  certain  business                                                                   
     licenses; and providing for an effective date."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
11:17:50 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman cited this was  a first hearing for the bill                                                                   
with  the  intent  of  listening   to  public  testimony  and                                                                   
reporting the will of the Committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
11:18:21 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
TED  LEONARD, DEPUTY  COMMISSIONER,  DEPARTMENT OF  COMMERCE,                                                                   
COMMUNITY AND  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT presented an  overview of                                                                   
the  bill.  He  noted  the  bill   proposed  three  important                                                                   
functions: decrease the annual  license fee from $100 to $50,                                                                   
set a  standard civil,  not criminal, fine  for not  having a                                                                   
business license  to $300,  and allow  the department  in the                                                                   
future to  issue a professional  and business license  at the                                                                   
same time so that they would expire at the same time.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
11:19:49 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman MOVED to ADOPT Amendment #1.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Page 3, lines 4-10:                                                                                                             
     Delete "[, EXCEPT THAT THE FEE IS $50 IF                                                                                   
        (1)THE BUSINESS IS A SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP; AND                                                                           
        (2) THE SOLE PROPRIETOR IS 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER                                                                     
     WHEN  THE SOLE  PROPRIETOR  APPLIES FOR  THE LICENSE  OR                                                                   
     WILL REACH 65  YEARS OF AGE AT ANY TIME  DURING THE YEAR                                                                   
     FOR WHICH THE LICENSE IS ISSUED]"                                                                                          
     Insert ", except that the fee is $25 [$50] if                                                                              
        (1) the business is a sole proprietorship; and                                                                          
        (2) the sole proprietor is 65 years of age or older                                                                     
             when  the  sole   proprietor  applies   for  the                                                                   
             license or  will reach  65 years  of age at  any                                                                   
             time during  the year for  which the  license is                                                                   
             issues"                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Page 3, line 14:                                                                                                                
     Delete "2208"                                                                                                              
     Insert "2009"                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Page 3, line 15:                                                                                                                
     Delete "2008 and 2009"                                                                                                     
     Insert "2009 and 2010"                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Page 3, line 16:                                                                                                                
     Delete "2008"                                                                                                              
     Insert "2009"                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Page 3, line 17, following "$200":                                                                                              
     Insert", and a person who is required under AS                                                                             
43.70.030, as that section exists  before October 1, 2009, to                                                                   
pay $50  a year for  the license may  pay $75 for  a two-year                                                                   
license instead of $100.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Page 3, line 18:                                                                                                                
     Delete "2008"                                                                                                              
     Insert "2009"                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
11:20:23 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DARWIN  PETERSON,  STAFF,  SENATOR   STEDMAN  explained  that                                                                   
Amendment  #1  provides  a  fifty  percent  business  license                                                                   
reduction for senior  citizens who are sole  proprietors of a                                                                   
business. It also moves the year forward by one year.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   MOVED  a  Conceptual  Amendment   to  the                                                                   
Amendment.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Peterson  referred to page  2, lines 3-6  explaining this                                                                   
was  transition  language  inserted  into  the  amendment  to                                                                   
comply  to earlier transition  language  by the Governor  but                                                                   
after a discussion with the department,  the Chairman decided                                                                   
to delete lines 3-6.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman WITHDREW his OBJECTION.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  inquired if the  addition of lines  14-23 that                                                                   
change the  dates would  still comply  with the business  and                                                                   
professional licenses expiring at the same time.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Leonard responded that it should not affect it.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
11:23:01 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman  requested being  listed as a  co-sponsor to                                                                   
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  WITHDREW  his OBJECTION.  There  being  No                                                                   
further OBJECTION, Amendment # 1 was adopted.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
11:23:40 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman MOVED to ADOPT  Conceptual Amendment #2 that                                                                   
deletes  Section 9,  lines 11-17.  There  being NO  OBJECTION                                                                   
Conceptual Amendment #2 was adopted.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
11:25:33 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Elton requested a bill history.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
AT EASE: 11:25:54 AM                                                                                                          
RECONVENED: 11:26:27 AM                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
11:27:59 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  inquired who would have access  to business                                                                   
license database.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Leonard replied  this would  be  public information  for                                                                   
those who request it.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
11:28:57 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JENNIFER    STICKLER,    LICENSING   CHIEF,    DIVISION    OF                                                                   
CORPORATIONS,   BUSINESSES   AND    PROFESSIONAL   LICENSING,                                                                   
DEPARTMENT OF COMMENCE replied  that the division is mandated                                                                   
to make  a list of  licensees available  to the public.  This                                                                   
information  can  be  provided  in  several  ways,  including                                                                   
searching the  department web  site or requesting  a complete                                                                   
copy of database on a CD.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Elton speculated  if he made a request  for addresses                                                                   
could they be put on mailing labels.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Stickler  replied  that mailing  labels  with  addresses                                                                   
could be provided for a charge.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
11:30:38 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman  MOVED to REPORT  SCS CSHB 111 (FIN)  out of                                                                   
Committee  with individual  recommendations and  accompanying                                                                   
fiscal notes.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SCS CSHB  11 (FIN) was REPORTED  out of Committee with  a "do                                                                   
pass" recommendation  and accompanying new fiscal  notes from                                                                   
the   Department   of  Commerce,   Community   and   Economic                                                                   
Development.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AT EASE:       11:31:03 AM                                                                                                    
RECONVENED:    3:36:38 PM                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                

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