HB 369 - PROCUREMENT PREF FOR DISABLED The first order of business to come before the House State Affairs Committee was HB 369. Number 0056 CHAIR JEANNETTE JAMES announced Walter Wilcox, Committee Aide, would present the sponsor statement for HB 369. WALTER WILCOX, Committee Aide, House State Affairs Committee, read the following sponsor statement into record. "This Bill allows 100% disabled owned corporations and partnerships to be eligible for a disabled bidder preference. "Current law allows disabled owned sole proprietorships to take advantage of the disabled bidder preference that excludes partnerships and corporations. This bill rectifies that." Number 0135 CHAIR JAMES asked if there were any questions or comments. She called on the first witness Stan Ridgeway, Deputy Director, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Number 0156 STAN RIDGEWAY, Deputy Director, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Education, said the division supported HB 369. He stated it would allow persons with disabilities who were sole owners of corporations to qualify for state bidders preference. CHAIR JAMES asked if there were any further questions or comments. Number 0240 REPRESENTATIVE IVAN IVAN enquired to what extend a person needed to be disabled to qualify for HB 369. Number 0264 MR. RIDGEWAY responded the Department of Education defined an individual severely disabled if a major life function was restricted. For veterans, he stated, it was defined as 50 percent and above of a major life function restricted. Mr. Ridgeway further cited examples of individuals blind, deaf or in a wheelchair as severely disabled. Number 0308 CHAIR JAMES announced the presence of Representatives Robinson, Green and Ogan. CHAIR JAMES asked if there were any further questions or comments. REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN said there was a similar bill passed and modified in the Senate last year then vetoed. He asked, for the record if those differences had been discussed. Number 0340 CHAIR JAMES responded HB 369 was written the same way the Senate bill was written before modification, and declared the Administration agreed to support it. She further stated she hoped the bill would move forward without modifications. Chair James called on Dugan Petty, Director, Department of Administration. Number 0392 DUGAN PETTY, Director, Division of General Services, Department of Administration, said the department did not object to HB 288 last year. Mr. Petty said HB 288 corrected the inequity by adding the qualifying entities of partnership and corporation for those with disabilities. CHAIR JAMES asked if there were any further questions or comments. Number 0476 REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN PORTER moved that HB 369 move from committee. Hearing no objection, HB 369 was moved from the House State Affairs Committee with the attached fiscal note and individual recommendations. Number 0569 CHAIR JAMES agreed to take further testimony despite the bill had been moved and passed from the committee. She called on Dave Gerke via teleconference in Anchorage. DAVE GERKE sole proprietor of Sunshine General said he had been disabled due to a heart attack since 1983. He announced he completely supported HB 369 and especially the qualifying entity of corporation. He thanked the committee for their efforts.