Legislature(2003 - 2004)

05/04/2004 01:55 PM Senate L&C

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
          SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                        
                          May 4, 2004                                                                                           
                           1:55 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
TAPE(S) 04-38                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Con Bunde, Chair                                                                                                        
Senator Ralph Seekins, Vice Chair                                                                                               
Senator Gary Stevens                                                                                                            
Senator Bettye Davis                                                                                                            
Senator Hollis French                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARING                                                                                                       
^Board of Marine Pilots                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Jack G. Poulson, Esq.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 91(FIN)                                                                                                   
"An Act relating to medical benefits for retired peace officers                                                                 
after 20 years of credited service."                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     MOVED SCS CSHB 91(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 418(FIN)                                                                                                  
"An  Act  extending  the  termination date  of  the  Real  Estate                                                               
Commission;   relating  to   real   estate;   relating  to   home                                                               
inspectors; relating to real estate  licensees; and providing for                                                               
an effective date."                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     MOVED SCS CSHB 418(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 540(L&C)                                                                                                  
"An Act relating to workers' compensation insurance rates; and                                                                  
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     MOVED CSHB 540(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 32(EDT) am                                                                               
Relating  to  information  infrastructure  and  establishing  the                                                               
Alaska Information Infrastructure Policy Task Force.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     MOVED CSHCR 32(EDT) am OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 490(JUD) am                                                                                               
"An Act relating  to the release of  employment security records,                                                               
to the  binding effect of determinations  and decisions regarding                                                               
unemployment   compensation  benefits,   and  to   contributions,                                                               
interest,  penalties, and  payments under  the Alaska  Employment                                                               
Security   Act;  providing   that  property   under  the   Alaska                                                               
Employment Security Act  is not subject to  the Uniform Unclaimed                                                               
Property Act; and providing for an effective date."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     MOVED CSHB 490(JUD) am OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 559 am                                                                                                           
"An  Act extending  the  termination of  the  state training  and                                                               
employment program; and providing for an effective date."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     MOVED HB 559 am OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 512(FIN)                                                                                                  
"An  Act  establishing the  Hydrogen  Energy  Partnership in  the                                                               
Department of  Community and Economic Development;  requiring the                                                               
commissioner  of  community  and  economic  development  to  seek                                                               
public  and private  funding for  the partnership;  providing for                                                               
the contingent repeal of an  effective date; and providing for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     MOVED CSHB 512(FIN) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 272(STA) AM                                                                                               
"An Act relating to the  advertising of motor vehicles, including                                                               
trailers,  for sale  by motor  vehicle dealers;  relating to  the                                                               
financing of  motor vehicle purchases; relating  to motor vehicle                                                               
sales contracts; relating to the  disclosures required to be made                                                               
by motor  vehicle dealers when selling  motor vehicles, including                                                               
trailers,  or when  their service  employees work  on commission;                                                               
relating to a motor vehicle dealer's  selling as a new or current                                                               
model vehicle,  a motor vehicle  required to be  registered under                                                               
AS 28.10;  relating to  a motor  vehicle dealer's  advertising an                                                               
offer  for the  sale,  lease,  or purchase  of  a motor  vehicle,                                                               
including  a  trailer; relating    to  a motor  vehicle  dealer's                                                               
conditioning the sale and delivery  of a motor vehicle, including                                                               
a trailer, on  the buyer's purchase of other  items; and relating                                                               
to the return of a buyer's trade-in by a motor vehicle dealer."                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     MOVED SCS CSHB 272(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 542(RLS)                                                                                                  
"An  Act reducing  to $5,000  the  ceiling for  a contract  price                                                               
allowed   under  one   construction   contractor  exemption   and                                                               
expanding the  work that  a specialty  contractor may  perform to                                                               
include,  in  addition to  work  requiring  not more  than  three                                                               
trades, work  under that  construction contractor  exemption; and                                                               
changing the definition  of specialty contractor to  refer to the                                                               
work that a specialty contractor may perform."                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     MOVED CSHB 542(RLS) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 421(JUD)                                                                                                  
"An Act relating to reconveyances of deeds of trust."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     MOVED CSHB 421(JUD) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 91                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: RETIRED PEACE OFFICER'S MEDICAL BENEFITS                                                                           
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) ANDERSON                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
02/12/03       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/12/03       (H)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
02/21/03       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
02/21/03       (H)       Moved Out of Committee                                                                                 
02/21/03       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
02/24/03       (H)       L&C RPT 4DP 1NR                                                                                        
02/24/03       (H)       DP: GATTO, CRAWFORD, GUTTENBERG,                                                                       
02/24/03       (H)       ANDERSON; NR: ROKEBERG                                                                                 
03/18/03       (H)       FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
03/18/03       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/18/03       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
02/17/04       (H)       FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
02/17/04       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/17/04       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
02/19/04       (H)       FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
02/19/04       (H)       Moved CSHB 91(FIN) Out of Committee                                                                    
02/19/04       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
02/23/04       (H)       FIN RPT CS(FIN) NT 3DP 7NR                                                                             
02/23/04       (H)       DP: CROFT, FATE, WILLIAMS; NR: MEYER,                                                                  
02/23/04       (H)       HAWKER, JOULE, MOSES, CHENAULT, FOSTER,                                                                
02/23/04       (H)       HARRIS                                                                                                 
03/04/04       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
03/04/04       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 91(FIN)                                                                                  
03/05/04       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/05/04       (S)       STA, L&C, FIN                                                                                          
03/18/04       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
03/18/04       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/18/04       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
04/01/04       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
04/01/04       (S)       Moved CSHB  91(STA) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/01/04       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
04/02/04       (S)       STA RPT SCS   3NR            SAME TITLE                                                                
04/02/04       (S)       NR: STEVENS G, COWDERY, STEDMAN                                                                        
04/13/04       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
04/13/04       (S)       -- Meeting Canceled --                                                                                 
04/15/04       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
04/15/04       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/15/04       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/04/04       (S)       L&C AT 2:00 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 418                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: REAL ESTATE COM'N/LICENSEE/HOME INSPECT                                                                            
SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
02/02/04       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/02/04       (H)       L&C                                                                                                    
02/16/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
02/16/04       (H)       Scheduled But Not Heard                                                                                
02/23/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
02/23/04       (H)       Moved CSHB 418(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
02/23/04       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
02/26/04       (H)       L&C RPT CS(L&C) NT 5DP 1NR                                                                             
02/26/04       (H)       DP: LYNN, GATTO, ROKEBERG, DAHLSTROM,                                                                  
02/26/04       (H)       ANDERSON; NR: GUTTENBERG                                                                               
02/26/04       (H)       FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C                                                                           
04/13/04       (H)       FIN AT 3:00 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
04/13/04       (H)       Moved CSHB 418(FIN) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/13/04       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
04/14/04       (H)       FIN RPT CS(FIN) NT 7DP 3NR                                                                             
04/14/04       (H)       DP: MEYER, HAWKER, CHENAULT, FATE,                                                                     
04/14/04       (H)       FOSTER, HARRIS, WILLIAMS; NR: STOLTZE,                                                                 
04/14/04       (H)       JOULE, CROFT                                                                                           
04/21/04       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/21/04       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 418(FIN)                                                                                 
04/22/04       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/22/04       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
04/29/04       (S)       L&C AT 2:45 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
04/29/04       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/29/04       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/04/04       (S)       L&C AT 2:00 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 540                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE RATES                                                                              
SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
03/22/04       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/22/04       (H)       L&C                                                                                                    
03/31/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
03/31/04       (H)       <Bill Hearing Postponed to Fri. 4/2/04>                                                                
04/02/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
04/02/04       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/02/04       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/14/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
04/14/04       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/14/04       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/16/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
04/16/04       (H)       Scheduled But Not Heard                                                                                
04/19/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
04/19/04       (H)       Moved CSHB 540(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/19/04       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/22/04       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
04/22/04       (S)       <Pending Referral>                                                                                     
04/23/04       (H)       L&C RPT CS(L&C) 3DP 4NR                                                                                
04/23/04       (H)       DP: GATTO, ROKEBERG, ANDERSON;                                                                         
04/23/04       (H)       NR: CRAWFORD, LYNN, DAHLSTROM,                                                                         
04/23/04       (H)       GUTTENBERG                                                                                             
04/27/04       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
04/27/04       (S)       <Pending Referral>                                                                                     
04/28/04       (H)       MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR                                                                            
04/28/04       (H)       NOT TAKEN UP 4/28 - ON 4/29 CALENDAR                                                                   
04/29/04       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/29/04       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 540(L&C)                                                                                 
05/01/04       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/01/04       (S)       L&C                                                                                                    
05/04/04       (S)       L&C AT 2:00 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HCR 32                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: AK INFO INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY TASK FORCE                                                                           
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KOTT                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
02/16/04       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/16/04       (H)       EDT, FIN                                                                                               
02/26/04       (H)       EDT AT 5:15 PM CAPITOL 120                                                                             
02/26/04       (H)       -- Meeting Canceled --                                                                                 
03/02/04       (H)       EDT AT 10:00 AM CAPITOL 120                                                                            
03/02/04       (H)       Moved CSHCR 32(EDT) Out of Committee                                                                   
03/02/04       (H)       MINUTE(EDT)                                                                                            
03/03/04       (H)       EDT RPT CS(EDT) 5DP                                                                                    
03/03/04       (H)       DP: KOTT, KOHRING, CRAWFORD, CISSNA,                                                                   
03/03/04       (H)       HEINZE                                                                                                 
04/01/04       (H)       FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
04/01/04       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/01/04       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
04/20/04       (H)       FIN AT 8:30 AM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
04/20/04       (H)       Moved CSHCR 32(EDT) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/20/04       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
04/21/04       (H)       FIN RPT CS(EDT) 5DP 4NR                                                                                
04/21/04       (H)       DP: MOSES, CHENAULT, FATE, FOSTER,                                                                     
04/21/04       (H)       WILLIAMS; NR: MEYER, HAWKER, STOLTZE,                                                                  
04/21/04       (H)       HARRIS                                                                                                 
04/23/04       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/23/04       (H)       VERSION: CSHCR 32(EDT) AM                                                                              
04/26/04       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/26/04       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
05/04/04       (S)       L&C AT 2:00 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 490                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: EMPLOYMENT SECURITY ACT AMENDMENTS                                                                                 
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
02/16/04       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/16/04       (H)       L&C, JUD                                                                                               
03/22/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
03/22/04       (H)       Scheduled But Not Heard                                                                                
03/24/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
03/24/04       (H)       Moved Out of Committee                                                                                 
03/24/04       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/25/04       (H)       L&C RPT 4DP 3NR                                                                                        
03/25/04       (H)       DP: LYNN, GATTO, DAHLSTROM, ANDERSON;                                                                  
03/25/04       (H)       NR: CRAWFORD, ROKEBERG, GUTTENBERG                                                                     
04/07/04       (H)       JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120                                                                             
04/07/04       (H)       Moved CSHB 490(JUD) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/07/04       (H)       MINUTE(JUD)                                                                                            
04/14/04       (H)       JUD RPT CS(JUD) NT 5NR                                                                                 
04/14/04       (H)       NR: SAMUELS, HOLM, GARA, GRUENBERG,                                                                    
04/14/04       (H)       MCGUIRE                                                                                                
04/21/04       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/21/04       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 490(JUD) AM                                                                              
04/22/04       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/22/04       (S)       STA, L&C                                                                                               
05/01/04       (S)       STA AT 0:00 AM BELTZ 211                                                                               
05/01/04       (S)       Moved CSHB 490(JUD) am Out of Committee                                                                
05/01/04       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
05/02/04       (S)       STA RPT 4NR                                                                                            
05/02/04       (S)       NR: STEVENS G, COWDERY, STEDMAN, GUESS                                                                 
05/04/04       (S)       L&C AT 2:00 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 559                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: DELAY REPEAL OF STEP PROGRAM                                                                                       
SPONSOR(s): FINANCE                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
04/22/04       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/22/04       (H)       FIN                                                                                                    
04/26/04       (H)       FIN RPT 6DP 1NR                                                                                        
04/26/04       (H)       DP: JOULE, MOSES, CHENAULT, FATE,                                                                      
04/26/04       (H)       FOSTER, MEYER; NR: STOLTZE                                                                             
04/26/04       (H)       FIN AT 8:30 AM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
04/26/04       (H)       Moved Out of Committee                                                                                 
04/26/04       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
05/01/04       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
05/01/04       (H)       VERSION: HB 559 AM                                                                                     
05/02/04       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/02/04       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
05/04/04       (S)       L&C AT 2:00 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 512                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: HYDROGEN ENERGY RESEARCH PROGRAM                                                                                   
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CRAWFORD                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
02/16/04       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/16/04       (H)       EDT, FIN                                                                                               
02/24/04       (H)       EDT AT 5:15 PM CAPITOL 120                                                                             
02/24/04       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/24/04       (H)       MINUTE(EDT)                                                                                            
03/02/04       (H)       EDT AT 10:00 AM CAPITOL 120                                                                            
03/02/04       (H)       Moved Out of Committee                                                                                 
03/02/04       (H)       MINUTE(EDT)                                                                                            
03/03/04       (H)       EDT RPT 4DP 1AM                                                                                        
03/03/04       (H)       DP: CRAWFORD, CISSNA, KOTT, HEINZE;                                                                    
03/03/04       (H)       AM: KOHRING                                                                                            
04/14/04       (H)       FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
04/14/04       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/14/04       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
04/22/04       (H)       FIN AT 8:30 AM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
04/22/04       (H)       Moved CSHB 512(FIN) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/22/04       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
04/23/04       (H)       FIN RPT CS(FIN) 6DP                                                                                    
04/23/04       (H)       DP: JOULE, MOSES, CHENAULT, FATE,                                                                      
04/23/04       (H)       FOSTER, WILLIAMS                                                                                       
04/30/04       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/30/04       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 512(FIN)                                                                                 
05/01/04       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/01/04       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
05/04/04       (S)       L&C AT 2:00 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 272                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERS/SALES/ADS                                                                                    
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) WEYHRAUCH                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
04/16/03       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/16/03       (H)       L&C, STA                                                                                               
04/28/03       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
04/28/03       (H)       Scheduled But Not Heard                                                                                
04/30/03       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
04/30/03       (H)       Scheduled But Not Heard                                                                                
05/01/03       (H)       STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102                                                                             
05/01/03       (H)       Scheduled But Not Heard                                                                                
05/05/03       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
05/05/03       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/05/03       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/07/03       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
05/07/03       (H)       <Bill Hearing Postponed to Fri. 5/9/3>                                                                 
05/09/03       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
05/09/03       (H)       Moved CSHB 272(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
05/09/03       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/12/03       (H)       L&C RPT CS(L&C) 6DP 1AM                                                                                
05/12/03       (H)       DP: LYNN, GATTO, CRAWFORD, DAHLSTROM,                                                                  
05/12/03       (H)       ROKEBERG, ANDERSON; AM: GUTTENBERG                                                                     
05/13/03       (H)       STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102                                                                             
05/13/03       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/13/03       (H)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
05/14/03       (H)       STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102                                                                             
05/14/03       (H)       Moved CSHB 272(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
05/14/03       (H)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
05/15/03       (H)       STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102                                                                             
05/15/03       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/15/03       (H)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
05/16/03       (H)       STA RPT CS(STA) FORTHCOMING 3DP 1NR 3AM                                                                
05/16/03       (H)       DP: CRAWFORD, LYNN, WEYHRAUCH;                                                                         
05/16/03       (H)       NR: HOLM; AM: DAHLSTROM, GRUENBERG,                                                                    
05/16/03       (H)       SEATON                                                                                                 
05/16/03       (H)       STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102                                                                             
05/16/03       (H)       Moved CSHB 272(STA) Out of Committee                                                                   
05/16/03       (H)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
05/17/03       (H)       MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR                                                                            
05/17/03       (H)       CS(STA) RECEIVED                                                                                       
05/17/03       (H)       BEFORE THE HOUSE                                                                                       
05/18/03       (H)       TAKE UP SAME DAY FAILED Y25 N11 E4                                                                     
05/19/03       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
05/19/03       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 272(STA) AM                                                                              
05/19/03       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/19/03       (S)       TRA, L&C                                                                                               
05/03/04       (S)       TRA AT 2:00 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
05/03/04       (S)       Moved   SCS   CSHB   272(TRA)   Out   of                                                               
                         Committee                                                                                              
05/03/04       (S)       MINUTE(TRA)                                                                                            
05/04/04       (S)       L&C AT 2:00 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 542                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS                                                                                           
SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
03/24/04       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/24/04       (H)       L&C                                                                                                    
04/02/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
04/02/04       (H)       Scheduled But Not Heard                                                                                
04/07/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
04/07/04       (H)       Moved Out of Committee                                                                                 
04/07/04       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/13/04       (H)       L&C RPT 7DP                                                                                            
04/13/04       (H)       DP: CRAWFORD, LYNN, GATTO, ROKEBERG,                                                                   
04/13/04       (H)       DAHLSTROM, GUTTENBERG, ANDERSON                                                                        
04/15/04       (H)       RLS AT 9:00 AM FAHRENKAMP 203                                                                          
04/15/04       (H)       Scheduled But Not Heard                                                                                
04/29/04       (H)       RLS AT 9:00 AM FAHRENKAMP 203                                                                          
04/29/04       (H)       Moved CSHB 542(RLS) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/29/04       (H)       MINUTE(RLS)                                                                                            
04/30/04       (H)       RLS RPT CS(RLS) NT 4DP 3NR                                                                             
04/30/04       (H)       DP: COGHILL, KOTT, MCGUIRE, ROKEBERG;                                                                  
04/30/04       (H)       NR: BERKOWITZ, MORGAN, KERTTULA                                                                        
04/30/04       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/30/04       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 542(RLS)                                                                                 
05/01/04       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/01/04       (S)       L&C                                                                                                    
05/04/04       (S)       L&C AT 2:00 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 421                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: DEED OF TRUST RECONVEYANCE                                                                                         
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) ANDERSON                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
02/02/04       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/02/04       (H)       L&C, JUD                                                                                               
03/19/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
03/19/04       (H)       Scheduled But Not Heard                                                                                
03/24/04       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
03/24/04       (H)       Moved CSHB 421(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
03/24/04       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/25/04       (H)       L&C RPT CS(L&C) 7DP                                                                                    
03/25/04       (H)       DP: CRAWFORD, LYNN, GATTO, ROKEBERG,                                                                   
03/25/04       (H)       DAHLSTROM, GUTTENBERG, ANDERSON                                                                        
04/21/04       (H)       JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120                                                                             
04/21/04       (H)       Moved CSHB 421(JUD) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/21/04       (H)       MINUTE(JUD)                                                                                            
04/22/04       (H)       JUD RPT CS(JUD) 2DP 4NR                                                                                
04/22/04       (H)       DP: GRUENBERG, MCGUIRE; NR: HOLM,                                                                      
04/22/04       (H)       GARA, SAMUELS, OGG                                                                                     
04/28/04       (H)       MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR                                                                            
04/28/04       (H)       NOT TAKEN UP 4/28 - ON 4/29 CALENDAR                                                                   
04/30/04       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/30/04       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 421(JUD)                                                                                 
05/01/04       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/01/04       (S)       L&C, JUD                                                                                               
05/04/04       (S)       L&C AT 2:00 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Janet Seitz                                                                                                                 
Staff to Representative Rokeberg                                                                                                
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 418 for sponsor.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pat Davidson                                                                                                                
Legislative Audit Division                                                                                                      
PO Box 113300                                                                                                                   
Juneau AK 99811-3300                                                                                                            
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 418.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Josh Applebee                                                                                                               
Staff to Representative Tom Anderson                                                                                            
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 540 and HB 421 for the                                                                    
sponsor.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Charlie Miller                                                                                                              
Alaska National Insurance Company                                                                                               
PO Box 102286                                                                                                                   
Anchorage AK 99510                                                                                                              
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports HB 540.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sarah McNair Grove                                                                                                          
Division of Insurance                                                                                                           
Department of Community & Economic Development                                                                                  
PO Box 110800                                                                                                                   
Juneau, AK 99811-0800                                                                                                           
POSITION STATEMENT:  Supports HB 540.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sue Stancliff                                                                                                               
Staff to Speaker Pete Kott                                                                                                      
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HCR 32 and HB 542 for the                                                                    
sponsor.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Stan Herrera                                                                                                                
Chief Technology Officer                                                                                                        
Department of Administration                                                                                                    
PO Box 110200                                                                                                                   
Juneau, AK  99811-0200                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports amending HCR 32.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Wynetta Ayers, Executive Director                                                                                           
Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference (SWAMC)                                                                                   
No address provided                                                                                                             
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports HCR 32.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Tom Nelson, Director                                                                                                        
Division of Employment Security                                                                                                 
Department of Labor & Workforce                                                                                                 
  Development                                                                                                                   
PO Box 21149                                                                                                                    
Juneau, AK 99802-1149                                                                                                           
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 490 for sponsor.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Toby Steinberger, Assistant Attorney General                                                                                
Department of Law                                                                                                               
PO Box 110300                                                                                                                   
Juneau, AK  99811-0300                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 490.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Tom Wright                                                                                                                  
Staff to Representative John Harris                                                                                             
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 559 for the sponsor.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Harry Crawford                                                                                                   
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 512.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Jay Hardenbrook                                                                                                             
Staff to Representative Harry Crawford                                                                                          
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 512.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Jerry McCutcheon                                                                                                            
Anchorage AK                                                                                                                    
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports HB 512.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Linda Sylvester                                                                                                             
Staff to Representative Bruce Weyhrauch                                                                                         
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 272 for the sponsor.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Ed Sniffen, Assistant Attorney General                                                                                      
Department of Law                                                                                                               
PO Box 110300                                                                                                                   
Juneau, AK  99811-0300                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 272.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steve Allwine                                                                                                               
Alaska Automobile Dealers' Association                                                                                          
8725 Mallard St.                                                                                                                
Juneau AK 99801                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports HB 272.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Eden Larson, President and CEO                                                                                              
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)                                                                                       
Anchorage AK                                                                                                                    
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports HB 542.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Rick Urion, Director                                                                                                        
Division of Occupational Licensing                                                                                              
Department of Community & Economic Development                                                                                  
PO Box 110800                                                                                                                   
Juneau, AK 99811-0800                                                                                                           
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports HB 542.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Bryan Merrell                                                                                                               
State Agency Manager Underwriter                                                                                                
First American Title Insurance Company                                                                                          
Anchorage AK                                                                                                                    
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports HB 542.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
TAPE 04-38, SIDE A                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CON  BUNDE called  the Senate  Labor and  Commerce Standing                                                               
Committee meeting  to order  at 1:55  p.m. Present  were Senators                                                               
Seekins, Gary Stevens, Bettye Davis  and Chair Con Bunde. Senator                                                               
French arrived at  1:55 p.m. The first order of  business to come                                                               
before  the  committee  was the  confirmation  hearing  for  Jack                                                               
Poulson,  Esq. to  the  Board  of Marine  Pilots.  There were  no                                                               
objections to moving his name forward and it was so done.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
   SCS CSHB 91(STA)-RETIRED PEACE OFFICER'S MEDICAL BENEFITS                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CON BUNDE announced HB 91 to be up for consideration.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  RALPH  SEEKINS  moved  to pass  SCS  CSHB  91(STA)  from                                                               
committee  with  individual   recommendations  and  the  attached                                                               
fiscal  note. Senators  Davis, Gary  Stevens,  and Seekins  voted                                                               
yea.  Senator Bunde  voted nay  and SCS  CSHB 91(STA)  moved from                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     CSHB 418(FIN)-REAL ESTATE COM'N/LICENSEE/HOME INSPECT                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CON   BUNDE  announced   CSHB  418(FIN)   to  be   up  for                                                               
consideration. He  moved to  adopt Amendment  1 and  objected for                                                               
discussion  purposes and  explained  that  Legislative Audit  had                                                               
suggested having  mobile homes fall  under real  estate licenses,                                                               
but that issue  is currently under discussion by  the Real Estate                                                               
Board and doesn't need to be addressed now.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                    23-LS1548\I.3                                                               
                       A M E N D M E N T                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
OFFERED IN THE SENATE                          BY SENATOR BUNDE                                                                 
     TO:  CSHB 418(FIN)                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Page 3, following line 11:                                                                                                      
     Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                         
   "*Sec. 6.  AS 08.88.470 is amended to read:                                                                                  
          Sec. 08.88.470.  Findings and payment.  At the                                                                        
     conclusion  of the  commission's  consideration  of a  claim                                                               
     made under AS 08.88.460, it shall  make written findings and                                                               
     conclusions on the  evidence.  If the  commission finds that                                                               
     the  claimant  has   suffered  a  loss  in   a  real  estate                                                               
     transaction  as   a  result  of   fraud,  misrepresentation,                                                               
     deceit, or the  conversion of trust funds  or the conversion                                                               
     of  community association  accounts under  the control  of a                                                               
     community association manager  on the part of  a real estate                                                               
     licensee, the commission may  award a claimant reimbursement                                                               
     from the real estate surety  fund for the claimant's loss up                                                               
     to $20,000 [$10,000].   Not more than  $20,000 [$10,000] may                                                           
     be paid  for each  transaction regardless  of the  number of                                                               
     persons  injured or  the number  of parcels  of real  estate                                                               
     involved in the transaction."                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH arrived at 1:55 p.m.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  BUNDE  continued explaining  that  the  other concern  was                                                               
raising the loss limit from $10,000 to $20,000.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. JANET SEITZ, staff to  Representative Rokeberg, sponsor, said                                                               
that  he did  not  support  raising the  limit  because it  could                                                               
impact the licensing fees for the  real estate agents and also he                                                               
believes that anything above $10,000 should be taken to court.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR RALPH  SEEKINS asked how  many past claims  above $10,000                                                               
had been taken to court.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SEITZ said  that the  audit indicated  that recent  payments                                                               
were all above $10,000 and more into the $20,000 range.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  BUNDE  showed   the  committee  a  list   of  states  that                                                               
administer a real  estate recovery fund and Alaska  at $10,000 is                                                               
joined  by four  other  states. The  rest of  the  states are  at                                                               
$15,000 - $50,000.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. PAT  DAVIDSON, Division of Legislative  Audit, explained that                                                               
her audit  found five disbursements  out of the surety  fund over                                                               
the  last  four  years.  All   the  actual  claims  reported  and                                                               
substantiated by the  hearing officers were in  excess of $10,000                                                               
and  one was  in excess  of  $20,000, which  is one  of the  main                                                               
reasons she recommended changing the threshold.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR SEEKINS asked what the size of the fund is now.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. DAVIDSON  answered that it was  $467,000 at the end  of FY03.                                                               
It has  a floor  of $250,000 and  was supposed to  have a  cap of                                                               
$500,000 originally. Statute also provides  a $125 cap that could                                                               
be paid into  the surety fund per licensee. Right  now it is $60.                                                               
In  summary, the  fund  is close  to its  cap  and licensees  are                                                               
making substantially  less than the maximum  contributions to the                                                               
fund.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  SEEKINS  noted   that  there  didn't  seem   to  be  any                                                               
foreseeable shrinkage of  the size of the fund based  on the last                                                               
four years history.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. DAVIDSON responded that the  funds appear to be adequate, but                                                               
individual claims  run differently  and don't have  a predictable                                                               
nature.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BUNDE asked when the $10,000 cap was set.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS.  DAVIDSON   answered  in  1974   when  the  fund   was  first                                                               
established in  statute. If one  used the CPI for  inflation, the                                                               
cap would be over $30,000.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BUNDE asked how much real estate licenses would go up.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. DAVIDSON replied that statutes  were amended in 1998 limiting                                                               
the fee to no  more than $125. The current fee is  set at $30 per                                                               
licensee.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR FRENCH  noted a  conflict of  interest as  his wife  is a                                                               
real estate professional.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BUNDE noted it and  then removed his objection to Amendment                                                               
1. There were no other objections and Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR SEEKINS  moved to pass  SCS CSHB 418(L&C)  from committee                                                               
with  individual   recommendations  and  attached   fiscal  note.                                                               
Senators  Gary Stevens,  Bettye  Davis, Seekins  and Chair  Bunde                                                               
voted yea and SCS CSHB 418(L&C) moved from committee.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
      CSHB 540(L&C)-WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE RATES                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CON BUNDE announced HB 540 to be up for consideration.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  JOSH   APPLEBEE,  staff  to  Representative   Tom  Anderson,                                                               
sponsor,  explained that  the  CS  to HB  540  addresses a  long-                                                               
standing  problem with  Alaska  Workers'  Compensation loss  cost                                                               
filing. It makes the statute  a more open and transparent process                                                               
that gives  stakeholders in the  system an opportunity  for input                                                               
and  understanding  of  the  "loss cost"  filings,  which  are  a                                                               
fundamental building  block of  the workers'  compensation rates.                                                               
Initially, the  Division of  Insurance voiced  concerns regarding                                                               
timeline and  process issues.  At the  request of  the committee,                                                               
the company  who brought  the issue forward  and the  Division of                                                               
Insurance  worked together  to produce  the committee  substitute                                                               
before them now. It has their full support.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR.  CHARLIE MILLER,  Alaska National  Insurance Company  (ANIC),                                                               
said  that loss  costs are  the basic  component of  what becomes                                                               
workers'  compensation  rates.  The  rating  agency  reviews  the                                                               
previous data and tries to project  what the loss cost will be in                                                               
the  upcoming rate  year.  It's an  actuarial  exercise and  ANIC                                                               
hoped to  be able  to participate  more in  setting the  rate. He                                                               
supported the committee substitute.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. SARAH  MCNAIR GROVE, Property  Casualty Actuary,  Division of                                                               
Insurance, said  the CS has a  good process that meets  the needs                                                               
of all  the participants, including  the insurer.  Currently, the                                                               
National Council  on Compensation Insurance (NCCI)  sets the rate                                                               
that is then reviewed by the  division. Now the insurer will have                                                               
a seat at the table.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  FRENCH commented  that  some people  might view  raising                                                               
rates as a way of making up for past losses.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. GROVE denied that was the  intent of this bill. The intent is                                                               
to  give more  stakeholders the  ability to  raise questions  and                                                               
provide information in the process.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR. BOB  LOHR testified in  support of the SCS  to HB 540  as the                                                               
former director for the Division  of Insurance. He explained that                                                               
the filings have  a detailed hearing process set out  by a rating                                                               
organization like the NCCI. However  he questioned whether the 20                                                               
- 25 day time-frame (on page 3)  in which to have a hearing after                                                               
receipt of a filing was an  adequate window to conduct a hearing.                                                               
Lines 15 - 16 on page 4  clarifies that the hearings are a public                                                               
record, which he supported.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Page 5,  line 18,  requires the rating  organization to  make the                                                               
information  available  as soon  as  possible  and he  asked  the                                                               
committee to consider making it  available immediately. The order                                                               
must  include details  of the  director's reasoning  and presumed                                                               
the order must  state the director's reasoning on line  22 and he                                                               
felt that it should just be stated.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
On  page  6,  lines  22  -   25,  the  final  definition  says  a                                                               
perspective  loss cost  filing  is a  term  defined, but  doesn't                                                               
label  it as  a filing  submitted  by a  rating organization.  He                                                               
thought it should explicitly state  that it is a filing submitted                                                               
by a rating organization.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  BUNDE  asked  Ms.  Grove   if  she  supported  Mr.  Lohr's                                                               
suggestions  about the  time-frame, the  soon as  possible versus                                                               
immediately issue and the definition.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. GROVE explained that 20 -25  days was the time-frame in which                                                               
it could be  determined that a hearing needed to  be held and she                                                               
was comfortable  with it. She  felt that  as-soon-as-possible and                                                               
immediately meant the same thing  and had discussed that with the                                                               
rating organization  that would have  a website on which  to post                                                               
the  information.   She  said  the  definition   section  mirrors                                                               
language  that is  already  in regulation  and  felt that  should                                                               
stay.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  RALPH  SEEKINS  moved  to  pass  SCS  HB  540(L&C)  from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note.  Senators French,  Gary Stevens,  Seekins, Davis  and Chair                                                               
Bunde voted yea and CSHB 540(L&C) moved from committee.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
    CSHCR 32(EDT)am-AK INFO INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY TASK FORCE                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CON  BUNDE  announced  CSHCR  32(EDT)  am  to  be  up  for                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. SUE STANCLIFF, staff to  Speaker Kott, sponsor, said that HCR
32 establishes the Alaska  Information Infrastructure Policy Task                                                               
Force, which will be charged  with consideration of Alaska's role                                                               
and    interest   in    long-term   information    infrastructure                                                               
development. In summary, the sponsor statement said:                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     It will  provide communities  with access  to broadband                                                                    
     connectivity   and   provide  for   telecommunications,                                                                    
     health care  education, homeland security  and economic                                                                    
     development  opportunities.   Access  to   fiber  optic                                                                    
     connectivity   will  help   bridge   the  divide   that                                                                    
    separates   rural   Alaska    and   the   benefits   of                                                                     
     technological advances realized in urban Alaska.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The Progressive  Policy Institute  has a  new economy  index that                                                               
shows where  Alaska is in  the new  economy. In 1999,  Alaska was                                                               
         th                                                                                                                     
ranked 13  most  competitive state; by 2002 it had dropped to the                                                               
  st                                                                                                                            
31   most  competitive state,  the  sharpest drop  among all  the                                                               
states. "We're losing  ground, Mr. Chairman, and  this task force                                                               
can  address  the  question  of   how  Alaska  can  get  back  on                                                               
track...."                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STAN  HERRERA,  Chief   Technology  Officer,  Department  of                                                               
Administration, said the resolution  identifies 13 members to the                                                               
task  force without  any representation  from  the Department  of                                                               
Administration.   The  Department   of  Enterprise   Technologies                                                               
Services  currently  provides  all centralized  data  processing,                                                               
data   communications  and   telecommunications  for   the  state                                                               
agencies  identified  by Alaska  statute.  He  has submitted  his                                                               
concerns to  the Speaker  of the House  and recommended  that the                                                               
Department of Administration be represented on the task force.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. STANCLIFF commented  that the sponsor did  not support adding                                                               
a representative from the Department of Administration.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BUNDE said he had  concerns about unequal representation in                                                               
the Legislature and  asked for an amendment to delete  one of the                                                               
members  of   the  Legislature  and   have  him  replaced   by  a                                                               
commissioner or designee of the Department of Administration.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH agreed with him.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR   GARY  STEVENS   conceptually   moved   to  reduce   the                                                               
legislative  members  to two  and  to  add  one member  from  the                                                               
Department of Administration.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BETTYE  DAVIS  said  that  although  she  supported  the                                                               
concept, it was  close to the end of session  and the sponsor did                                                               
not  support  the  amendment  and  felt  that  was  an  important                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS.   WYNETTA  AYERS,   Executive   Director,  Southwest   Alaska                                                               
Municipal Conference  (SWAMC), supported  HCR 32. The  task force                                                               
is  needed  to  develop  a   cohesive  strategy  for  information                                                               
technology and infrastructure in  Alaska. She related how several                                                               
other states  had successfully developed programs.  She hoped the                                                               
state's opportunities  could be leveraged in  Southwest Alaska to                                                               
develop its economy.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GARY STEVENS  said  he took  Senator  Davis' comment  to                                                               
heart and  didn't want to kill  this bill by dragging  it out and                                                               
withdrew his amendment.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BUNDE said he would let this  bill set until the end of the                                                               
meeting.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
       CSHB 490(JUD)am-EMPLOYMENT SECURITY ACT AMENDMENTS                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CON  BUNDE  announced  CSHB  490(JUD)  am  to  be  up  for                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR.  TOM  NELSON,  Director,  Division  of  Employment  Security,                                                               
Department of Labor and  Workforce Development (DOLWD), explained                                                               
that the changes are mainly  housekeeping measures and will align                                                               
state law with federal law  and will bring Alaska into compliance                                                               
with the  Unemployment Insurance  overpayment arrangement  it has                                                               
with other states.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BUNDE asked if anyone opposed the bill.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. NELSON replied that he hadn't heard of any opposition.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS.  TOBY STEINBERGER,  Assistant  Attorney  General, offered  to                                                               
explain sections 1 -  3 and 8. The changes in  sections 1- 3 deal                                                               
with employment  security records for criminal  investigation and                                                               
prosecution  purposes.  Locations   of  employment  of  suspects,                                                               
witnesses,  victims and  persons on  parole or  probation can  be                                                               
found.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
TAPE 04-38, SIDE B                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                              
MS. STEINBERGER  noted that the  Employment Security  Division is                                                               
heavily  federally  funded.  The  U.S. Department  of  Labor  has                                                               
required  that  its  records  be   kept  confidential  with  some                                                               
exceptions.  Accordingly,  AS  23.20.110 has  allowed  for  these                                                               
exceptions, but none  of them allow for  releasing of information                                                               
for criminal  prosecution and  investigation purposes  other than                                                               
for  prosecuting cases  against claimants  who have  fraudulently                                                               
received  unemployment  compensation   benefits.  This  amendment                                                               
would  allow the  Criminal Division  to find  suspects, witnesses                                                               
and  victims since  the information  is so  up-to-date. Sometimes                                                               
people  move  by  the  time  the case  goes  to  trial  and  this                                                               
information will  help in finding  out where they work.  The U.S.                                                               
Department  of Labor  has reviewed  and  approved the  amendment.                                                               
Other  states -  Washington,  Iowa, Arkansas,  Georgia, Utah  and                                                               
Oklahoma  -  have been  allowed  to  release employment  security                                                               
information for criminal investigations and prosecutions.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR FRENCH  asked for a quick  review of what happens  in the                                                               
rest of the bill.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR.  NELSON  explained  that  sections   4  -  12  authorize  the                                                               
department to  adopt regulations  providing for  the distribution                                                               
of  unclaimed  excess contributions.  Sections  5  and 6  clarify                                                               
statute  by adding  the terms  "manager"  and "limited  liability                                                               
company"  to  the  definitions.  Section  7  brings  Alaska  into                                                               
conformity  with the  Interstate Reciprocal  Overpayment Recovery                                                               
Arrangement  that  it has  with  other  states and  provides  the                                                               
Employment Security Division the  ability to collect unemployment                                                               
insurance  overpayments on  behalf  of other  states for  reasons                                                               
other than fraud.  States in this agreement  already provide this                                                               
service to Alaska.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Section  8  adds a  definition  of  action  to  mean a  court  or                                                               
administrative proceeding  not brought  under this chapter  or in                                                               
arbitration proceeding.  Section 10  aligns Alaska  language with                                                               
federal  law by  clarifying which  health care  professionals are                                                               
excluded from  the definition of employment.  Only student nurses                                                               
and medical  interns are excluded. Section  11 clarifies language                                                               
that  provides an  exclusion  from the  definition  of wages  for                                                               
payments  or benefits  provided by  the employer  for educational                                                               
assistance to  its employees. Federal  law already  provides this                                                               
exclusion  from their  definition  of wages.  Section  13 is  the                                                               
immediate effective date clause.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  RALPH  SEEKINS  moved  to  pass  CSHB  490(JUD  am  from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note.  Senators Gary  Stevens, Davis,  French, Seekins  and Chair                                                               
Bunde vote yea; and CSHB 490(JUD) am moved from committee.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:45 - 2:46 - at ease                                                                                                           
             HB 559 am-DELAY REPEAL OF STEP PROGRAM                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CON BUNDE announced HB 559 am to be up for consideration.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. TOM  WRIGHT, staff to  Representative John Harris,  said this                                                               
bill reauthorizes the STEP program for another four years.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  RALPH SEEKINS  moved to  pass HB  559 am  from committee                                                               
with  individual   recommendations  and  attached   fiscal  note.                                                               
Senators  Davis, Seekins,  Gary Stevens,  French and  Chair Bunde                                                               
voted yea; and HB 559 am moved from committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
         CSHB 512(FIN)-HYDROGEN ENERGY RESEARCH PROGRAM                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CON   BUNDE  announced   CSHB  512(FIN)   to  be   up  for                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HARRY CRAWFORD,  sponsor, explained  that HB  512                                                               
sets  up an  hydrogen energy  partnership. He  related how  Wayne                                                               
Gretski, a great  hockey player, said the  difference between him                                                               
and all the other highly  talented skaters in the National Hockey                                                               
League is  that he  always tried  to skate  where he  thought the                                                               
puck  was going  to  be, not  where it  was.  Even though  Alaska                                                               
depends on  its natural gas and  oil now, the fuel  of the future                                                               
is going to be hydrogen - and Alaska has great potential.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BUNDE asked if he thought  this would undermine the need to                                                               
develop ANWR.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD  replied no.  He thought opening  ANWR is                                                               
necessary  now  to  address the  country's  energy  concerns  and                                                               
lessen  dependency  on  foreign   oil.  He  noted  that  Governor                                                               
Schwarzeneger  is putting  together a  network of  hydrogen pumps                                                               
that are no further than 20 miles apart in California.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR SEEKINS  asked what statute  paragraph 44 would  be added                                                               
to.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR. JAY  HARDENBROOK, staff  to Representative  Crawford, replied                                                               
that it  would be  placed under the  Department of  Community and                                                               
Economic Development.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR SEEKINS  asked if the state  was supposed to take  up the                                                               
slack in funding if it wasn't forthcoming.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR.  HARDENBROOK replied  that the  bill is  designed so  that if                                                               
funding is  not in place by  2009, the program will  go away. The                                                               
Department of Community & Economic  Development (DCED) set up the                                                               
fiscal note so that it would  be funded by program receipts and a                                                               
partnership  with   Alaska  Industrial  Development   and  Export                                                               
Authority (AIDEA).                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR. JERRY MCCUTCHEON, Anchorage,  supported the idea behind using                                                               
hydrogen as an energy source  in California, but noted that there                                                               
is  no hydrogen  in  the  state. It  takes  three  times as  much                                                               
natural  gas to  produce the  hydrogen to  run something  than it                                                               
would to  just use the natural  gas in the first  place. He said,                                                               
"Guess  what! Alaska  has the  only  game in  town." The  nearest                                                               
source  of  energy  for  California is  the  Susitna  project  in                                                               
Alaska.  He, therefore,  suggested  adding  California to  market                                                               
evaluation language on page 3.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD commented that he supported that idea.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR SEEKINS  said he  wasn't convinced  that hydrogen  is the                                                               
wave of the future in energy.  "If it was something that vital, I                                                               
think that private industry would take care of it."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS moved to  pass CSHB 512(FIN) from committee.                                                               
Senators French, Gary  Stevens, Davis and Chair  Bunde voted yea;                                                               
Senator  Seekins   voted  nay;  and  CSHB   512(FIN)  moved  from                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
    CSHCR 32(EDT)am-AK INFO INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY TASK FORCE                                                                
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR CON  BUNDE announced  CSHCR 32(EDT)  am to  be back  up for                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GARY  STEVENS  moved  to  pass  CSHCR  32(EDT)  am  from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
notes. Senators  Seekins, French,  Gary Stevens, Davis  and Chair                                                               
Bunde voted yea; and CSHCR 32(EDT) am moved from committee.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
       CSHB 272(STA) AM -MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERS/SALES/ADS                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CON  BUNDE  announced  CSHB  272(STA)  AM  to  be  up  for                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  RALPH  SEEKINS moved  to  adopt  the proposed  SCS  CSHB
272(L&C),  version \S,  as the  working document.  There were  no                                                               
objections and it was so ordered.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR SEEKINS noted that he is an automobile dealer.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BUNDE said it was noted.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS.  LINDA SYLVESTER,  staff to  Representative Bruce  Weyhrauch,                                                               
sponsor,  briefed  the committee  that  HB  272 addresses  a  few                                                               
technical changes to the automobile  omnibus bill that was passed                                                               
in 2002.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GARY  STEVENS asked  what  problems  removing section  1                                                               
corrects.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR SEEKINS  related that current law  prohibits someone from                                                               
selling  a  vehicle  as  a  new vehicle  if  he  doesn't  have  a                                                               
franchise to sell that vehicle.  Problems arise with the date and                                                               
duration  of  warranties,  who   it  applies  to  and  associated                                                               
problems with service  contracts. An attempt was  made to clarify                                                               
this  issue with  a  new vehicle  definition.  However, used  car                                                               
dealers who sell new cars  without having a franchise have caused                                                               
a hubbub about it. So,  the Alaska Automobile Dealers Association                                                               
(AADA) said it would forego trying  to redefine a new vehicle for                                                               
now  and  just  asks  the   Department  of  Law  to  monitor  and                                                               
investigate  consumer and  enforcement  problems associated  with                                                               
the  current  law and  report  back  to  the next  legislature  -                                                               
providing better documentation of the concerns.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR.  ED SNIFFEN,  Department  of  Law (DOL),  said  the issue  is                                                               
whether or not  Alaska wants to allow used car  dealers to import                                                               
current year,  low mileage vehicles  and sell them as  used cars,                                                               
but at  the same time  compete with franchised new  cars dealers.                                                               
Alaska has  a law that  prevents any  dealer from selling  a used                                                               
car as  a new car unless  it has the manufacturer's  statement of                                                               
origin (MSO)  on it. In  effect, this  means that a  dealer could                                                               
not sell a new 2004 car until the  2005 models come out. So, if a                                                               
service man buys  a 2004 Dodge Ram,  has it for a  few months and                                                               
then  gets deployed  to  Iraq and  needs  to sell  it,  he has  a                                                               
difficult time  selling it  to a dealer  because no  dealer could                                                               
sell that car  until the 2005 model year  was available. However,                                                               
he was confident that he could  work with the AADA to resolve the                                                               
issue.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The other part  of the bill cleans up language  that didn't sound                                                               
right and  removes provisions that  don't apply in  Alaska. There                                                               
has been no opposition to those sections.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.   STEVE  ALLWINE,   Secretary,   Alaska  Automobile   Dealers                                                               
Association, supported  the previous comments and  felt that more                                                               
data was needed before a resolution was adopted.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  SEEKINS moved  to pass  SCS CSHB  272(L&C), version  \S,                                                               
from committee with  individual recommendations. Senators French,                                                               
Gary Stevens, Davis,  Seekins and Chair Bunde voted  yea; and SCS                                                               
CSHB 272(L&C) moved from committee.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
             CSHB 542(RLS)-CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CON   BUNDE  announced   CSHB  542(RLS)   to  be   up  for                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SUE STANCLIFF,  staff to  Speaker  Kott, sponsor,  explained                                                               
that  the bill  is meant  to provide  a solution  to the  growing                                                               
issue   of   unregistered  contractors   providing   construction                                                               
services  illegally  under  the  guise  of  a  handyman  license.                                                               
Current  law  states  minimum  requirements   for  a  person  who                                                               
represents  himself  as  either   a  contractor  or  a  specialty                                                               
contractor.  Instead  of   meeting  qualification  standards  and                                                               
insurance requirements, 1,600 business  licenses have been issued                                                               
to     these     construction-related,     exempt-from-contractor                                                               
registrations. This  bill lowers  the project limit  from $10,000                                                               
to $5,000  and expands the work  that can be done  by a specialty                                                               
contractor.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS.  EDEN  LARSON, President  and  CEO,  Associated Builders  and                                                               
Contractors, supported HB 542.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR.  RICK URION,  Director, Division  of Occupational  Licensing,                                                               
said his division had more  complaints in this area than anywhere                                                               
else. The  problem is  that unlicensed  people are  uninsured and                                                               
not bonded and the  consumer has no recourse if he  or she does a                                                               
bad  job. He  explained  that  a category  of  handyman has  been                                                               
created helping clarify the situation.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR FRENCH asked if a  handyman can be a specialty contractor                                                               
and asked what section 3 does.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. URION answered  that the way the law was  written they were a                                                               
specialty  contractor, but  they were  exempt from  construction.                                                               
Section 3 changes that.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  FRENCH asked  what problems  lowering the  project limit                                                               
from $10,000 to $5,000 would correct.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR.  URION replied  that it  would  keep handymen  in the  repair                                                               
business and out of the construction business.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR FRENCH  put on the  record that he owns  apartment houses                                                               
in  Anchorage and  couldn't get  along without  his handyman.  He                                                               
didn't want to threaten his ability to do work.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARY STEVENS asked if  this would possibly raise the cost                                                               
of  hiring a  handyman by  adding costs  to be  passed on  to the                                                               
consumer.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.  URION explained  that no  overhead  was being  added to  the                                                               
handyman category for projects under $5,000.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARY STEVENS  moved to pass CSHB  542(RLS) from committee                                                               
with  individual   recommendations  and  attached   fiscal  note.                                                               
Senators  French, Davis,  Seekins, Gary  Stevens and  Chair Bunde                                                               
voted yea and CSHB 542(RLS) moved from committee.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
            CSHB 421(JUD)-DEED OF TRUST RECONVEYANCE                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CON   BUNDE  announced   CSHB  421(JUD)   to  be   up  for                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR.  JOSH   APPLEBEE,  staff  to  Representative   Tom  Anderson,                                                               
sponsor,  said  that  the  Alaska  Land  Title  Association  came                                                               
forward with this  as a way to help people  clear titles to their                                                               
homes.   It  is   supported  by   the  Alaska   Mortgage  Bankers                                                               
Association  and the  Alaska State  Homebuilders Association  and                                                               
has been reviewed  by many housing sectors. Once a  loan is paid,                                                               
the bill  intends to make  sure it shows  the loan has  been paid                                                               
off. Most  banks in  Alaska don't  keep loans  for more  than 130                                                               
days and  sell them to  service companies located outside  of the                                                               
state. Once  that loan is paid  off, there is no  requirement for                                                               
the  mortgage servicer  to make  sure the  reconveyance is  taken                                                               
care of  at the  recorder's office.  One title  insurance company                                                               
testified   that  over   1,400  deeds   of  trust   were  pending                                                               
reconveyance.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BRYAN MERRELL  said he  is the  immediate past  president of                                                               
Alaska Land  Title Association  and is  the State  Agency Manager                                                               
Underwriter  for  First  American Title  Insurance  Company,  the                                                               
largest title  insurance company in  Alaska. He supported  HB 421                                                               
saying, "It's a good piece of consumer legislation."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS  moved to pass CSHB  421(JUD) from committee                                                               
with  individual recommendations.  Senators Gary  Stevens, Davis,                                                               
French, Seekins and Chair Bunde voted yea; and CSHB 421(JUD)                                                                    
moved from committee.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business to come before the committee,                                                                   
CHAIR BUNDE adjourned the meeting at 3:25 p.m.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                

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