04/28/2005 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

     CSHB 181(L&C)-WAIVE CONTINUING EDUC. REQ FOR MILITARY                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
3:47:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   GENE  THERRIAULT   announced  HB   181  to   be  up   for                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOHN COGHILL,  Sponsor,  said HB  181 provides  a                                                               
continuing education waiver  for members of the  armed forces who                                                               
are away on active duty. This  is a partial exemption that allows                                                               
the license holder  to fulfill the requirements  when they return                                                               
to  Alaska without  risking the  loss of  their license  for non-                                                               
compliance.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  THERRIAULT  outlined  an  example and  asked  how  long  a                                                               
licensee could  take to fulfill  the requirement  after returning                                                               
to Alaska.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL  said the bill allows  flexibility because                                                               
occupational licensing renewals range considerably.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:50:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KAREN LIDSTER,  Staff to  Representative John  Coghill, explained                                                               
that  the various  boards  and commissions  have  the ability  to                                                               
waive the requirement or set  the timeframes according to what it                                                               
believes is best for a particular profession.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  CHARLIE HUGGINS  restated that  it creates  a mechanism,                                                               
but  there  is  no  requirement.  The  board  or  commission  has                                                               
latitude to make the decision.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. LIDSTER said that's correct.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGGINS said he likes the idea.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   COGHILL  advised   that  the   original  version                                                               
referenced  just the  active war  zone, but  the current  version                                                               
provides greater  flexibility and  opportunity for the  boards or                                                               
commissions to make individual determinations.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:54:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR THERRIAULT noted there were  no further questions and asked                                                               
for the will of the committee.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WAGONER motioned  to report  CSHB 181,  \S version,  and                                                               
attached   fiscal   notes    from   committee   with   individual                                                               
recommendations.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR THERRIAULT announced that  without objection, CSHB 181(L&C)                                                               
would move to the next committee of referral.