04/11/2012 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

         HB 182-ELECTRONIC DISTRIB. OF REPORTS/NOTICES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:18:49 AM                                                                                                                   
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced that the next bill before the                                                                      
committee would be HB 182, which would allow state departments                                                                  
to electronically publish reports for ease of viewing online.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REID HARRIS, staff to Representative Kyle Johansen, presented HB
 on behalf of the sponsor. The bill was written in order to                                                                  
save money on publishing legislative reports. The Office of                                                                     
Budget and Management reported that $1.6 million was being spent                                                                
on printing reports each year.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
He explained the two sections of the bill. He began by                                                                          
describing page 3, line 29, which provides for electronic                                                                       
production and distribution of agency reports. It requires that                                                                 
the reports be posted on a web site for one year or until                                                                       
superseded by another report. It creates exceptions for those                                                                   
reports that are required by law to be printed. The end of the                                                                  
bill lists state agencies involved.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
He drew attention to a concern from the Municipality of                                                                         
Anchorage regarding the expense of printing foreclosure notices.                                                                
They requested being added to the bill. The first three pages of                                                                
the bill contain language about electronic filing of foreclosure                                                                
notices.  He noted they still must mail a foreclosure notice to                                                                 
the last known owner of a property.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:23:41 AM                                                                                                                   
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI opened public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
TENA WILLIAMS, Owner, Ketchikan Daily News, testified in                                                                        
opposition to HB 182. She noted her testimony represents many                                                                   
newspapers throughout Alaska. She said she opposes the part of                                                                  
the bill which prohibits foreclosure notices in newspapers                                                                      
because it would result in a less informed public. She described                                                                
the role of newspapers. She recommended eliminating the language                                                                
about the foreclosures.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI closed public testimony and set HB 182 aside.