HOUSE BILL NO. 123 "An Act relating to occupational licensing fees and receipts; extending the termination dates of the Boards of Barbers and Hairdressers, Social Work Examiners, Pharmacy, Professional Counselors, Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners, and Veterinary Examiners; relating to an exemption that allows one bill to continue more than one board, commission, or agency program; and providing for an effective date." RICK URION, DIRECTOR OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; offered to answer questions regarding HB 123. Co-Chair Meyer asked for an explanation of the $486,000 fiscal note. Mr. Urion reported that the fiscal note covers direct costs by the boards. Vice-Chair Stoltze inquired if that amount is already built into the budget. Mr. Urion replied that is correct. Co-Chair Meyer asked where the funds from the fines and penalties go. Mr. Urion explained that the fines went to the profession until a few years ago. It was discovered that fines are not covered in law, so new legislation was needed. He related that the fines do not generate revenue because it costs money to collect them. The bill addresses an issue of fairness when it allows fines and penalties collected by various occupations to be included with fee collections for the purpose of determining whether revenue collected approximately equals the total costs of regulation for an occupation or board. 1:46:28 PM Co-Chair Chenault asked how much the Department of Law actually spends on collecting the fines. Mr. Urion replied that he could look up the records. He added that there are five personnel alone that deal with occupational licensing issues. Representative Weyhrauch asked if licensing fines are determined on a case-by-case method. Mr. Urion replied that various boards have various methods of figuring out the fines. Representative Weyhrauch suggested that some cases might be technical violations, others fraud, which would require different fine amounts. Mr. Urion said that is correct. 1:49:11 PM Representative Hawker asked if there is unequal allocation of fine costs between occupations. Mr. Urion replied that would be handled at individual board levels. Costs from a profession will be borne by its own profession. He emphasized that every profession favors this bill. Co-Chair Meyer asked if licensing fees would decrease. Mr. Urion replied that the amount is miniscule. 1:51:44 PM Representative Hawker MOVED to adopt Amendment 3: Page 1, line 1  After "An act relating to" Delete "occupational licensing fees and receipts;" Page 1, line 7  Delete Section 1 Page 2, line 28  Delete Section 2 Page 3, line 9  Delete Section 3 Page 3, line 20  Delete Section 4 Page 4, line 22  Delete Section 11 Page 4, line 27  Delete Section 12 Renumber remaining sections accordingly. Co-Chair Meyer OBJECTED for discussion purposes. Representative Hawker explained that the Amendment 3 deletes all sections in the bill not related to the extensions of the boards. The committee has attempted in the past to keep board extensions clean and not cluttered with other issues, not mix policy with ministerial activities. He suggested that the committee would need to hear from all of the boards in order to know that they all are supportive of the new CS. Mr. Urion related that last year he was directed to write this bill in its current form. He expressed frustration about the turn of events with the addition of Amendment 3. Vice-Chair Stoltze noted that it is important to clean sunsets up. Co-Chair Meyer WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO OBJECTION, Amendment 3 was adopted. 1:55:46 PM JOHN WALSH, LOBBYIST, ALASKA PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, asked if Amendment 3 amends the bill as previously amended by Amendment 1. Representative Hawker responded that Amendment 3 amends Version Y, the Labor and Commerce CS. Representative Foster moved to report CSHB 123 (FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. CSHB 123 (FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "no recommendation" recommendation and with fiscal impact note #1 by the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. 1:59:10 PM