Legislature(2017 - 2018)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/21/2017 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB71 | |
| HB48 | |
| SB79 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HB 48 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 79 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 71 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 48-ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, SURVEYORS: EXTEND BD
1:36:22 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO brought the meeting back to order and announced
the first hearing of HB 48.
1:36:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SAM KITO, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SB
48, explained that the bill extends the termination date of the
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land
Surveyors (AELS) of which he is a licensee as a civil engineer.
The Division of Legislative Audit found that the AELS Board
meets the public need and recommends an eight-year extension. He
noted that the bill also changes the status of the current
landscape architect seat from a nonvoting temporary to a full,
voting member. The bill contains no additional costs.
1:38:47 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO welcomed Senator Gardner.
CHAIR HUGHES asked why the landscape architect seat has been a
non-voting member for 20 years.
REPRESENTATIVE KITO explained the interest in keeping that
position temporary until there were licensed landscape
architects in Alaska. He said the Board has tried twice to
change this provision since there are now about 50 landscape
architects in Alaska.
1:40:58 PM
SENATOR MEYER asked if the audit found a surplus in the Board's
budget.
REPRESENTATIVE KITO confirmed there is a surplus. The budget is
calculated annually, but adjusted every two years. The fees are
adjusted accordingly in that two-year cycle.
SENATOR MEYER suggested the fees could or should be reduced if
there actually is a $1.6 million surplus.
REPRESENTATIVE KITO said that is how it works. If there is a
surplus the subsequent biennium fee will be adjusted.
CHAIR COSTELLO noted those available to answer questions.
1:43:26 PM
KRIS CURTIS, Legislative Auditor, Legislative Audit Division,
explained the results of the sunset review dated April 2016. She
said, overall, the audit found that the Board is serving the
public's interest and they recommended an eight-year extension,
the maximum allowed. The audit had no recommendations.
She reported on the schedule of revenue expenditures on page 7
of the audit report, as of February 2016. At the end of FY13
there was a deficit and the fees were increased; at the end of
February 2016 there was a surplus of over $1.6 million. They
discussed this with the Division of Corporations, Business, and
Professional Licensing the decision was to re-evaluate the fees.
She referred to page 8 of the audit - the schedule of license
fees - and page 5 - a list of all occupations that are licensed
by the AELS Board and the count of the numbers of licensees or
registrants.
MS. CURTIS noted the audit also discussed Board composition. All
occupations that are licensed by the Board are represented
except for the landscape architect. They interviewed 7 of 10
Board members about that issue and found that all 7 were in
support of making the landscape architect position permanent.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked how many members are on the Board.
MS. CURTIS said 10.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if the even number of members is a problem.
MS. CURTIS said they did not have an opinion on that and did not
come out with a recommendation. She said it was a policy call.
She explained the reasons for interviewing 7 members.
1:46:51 PM
SENATOR GARDNER referred to page 7 of the audit and asked for
examples of other revenue sources. She also asked whether the
fluctuation in spending is related to the number of complaints
that are investigated.
MS. CURTIS said they did not have an explanation for the other
fund sources; that information comes from the agency. The
fluctuation is mainly in the area of services under direct
expenditures. The agency may be able to answer that question,
she said.
1:47:58 PM
SENATOR MEYER asked if Legislative Audit recommended an 8-year
extension because they are comfortable with the Board.
MS. CURTIS answered yes.
SENATOR MEYER asked about a concern on page 4 regarding
registrants completing continuing education.
MS. CURTIS said it is not a concern now due to a new licensing
system that includes continuing education documentation.
1:49:20 PM
ALYSIA JONES, Executive Administrator, Board of Registration for
Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors, Division of
Corporations, Businesses, and Professional Licensing, Department
of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED),
introduced herself.
SARA CHAMBERS, Operations Manager, Division of Corporations,
Businesses, and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development (DCCED), introduced herself.
SENATOR MEYER questioned the $1.6 million surplus.
1:50:30 PM
MS. CHAMBERS explained that all fees paid by registrants stay
with their boards. An annual review is done to adjust the fees
for the next biannual renewal. They try to keep the fees level
to limit investigative costs.
1:52:05 PM
SENATOR MEYER asked for examples of typical complaints.
MS. CHAMBERS shared several examples, such as violations of
licensing laws and the use of an inappropriate person for a job.
1:53:02 PM
MS. JONES listed several other examples, such as building
violations, or unlicensed persons.
SENATOR MEYER asked if it is a serious offense if a person
claims to be a professional engineer (PE) and is not.
MS. JONES said yes.
1:54:39 PM
CHAIR HUGHES said PEs are paying for the cost of investigation
of those who claim to be a PE and are not. She asked if there is
a way to recoup those costs.
MS. CHAMBERS replied that there is no provision currently in
statute to recoup those costs.
1:55:24 PM
SENATOR GARDNER referred to page 7, income licensing fees, and
asked what the other sources of income are.
1:55:42 PM
MS. CHAMBERS explained that those are third-party travel
reimbursements for associations that fund travel for Board
members and staff to maintain their education and for
collaboration with other state boards.
She said the latest financial information through the end of the
second quarter of this fiscal year lists the Board surplus as
$1.1 million.
1:56:15 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened public testimony on HB 48.
1:56:24 PM
COLIN MAYNARD, PE, SE, Alaska Board of Architects, Engineers,
and Land Surveyors, said he has been on the Board the last five
years and served as chair during the audit. The Board was
pleased with the audit results. He discussed the resolution of
the continuing education issue. He described an incident ten
years ago regarding internet renewals that caused a surplus and
another example that caused a deficit.
CHAIR COSTELLO noted that the audit suggested an eight-year
extension and posited that it may indicate that the concern
about fluctuating fees has been addressed.
2:00:46 PM
MICHELLE ALPERS, Landscape Architect, Engineering Public Works
Department, City and Borough of Juneau, Member, Alaska
Professional Design Council stated support for the provision in
SB 48 to make the seat on the Board for landscape architects a
permanent voting position.
2:02:31 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO closed public testimony and held HB 48 in
committee for further consideration.
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