HB 319-RENEW MARIJUANA LICENSE:BACKGROUND CHECKS    [Contains discussion of HB 110.] 4:22:24 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 319, "An Act relating to criminal background checks for marijuana establishment registrations and renewals; and providing for an effective date." 4:22:45 PM MEGAN HOLLAND, Staff, Representative Andy Josephson, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Josephson, prime sponsor of HB 319, relayed that under current statute, for marijuana establishments to renew their registration, they must resubmit a new set of fingerprints annually. It is not standard protocol for other industries; the Board of Message Therapists is the only other board that requires this. She maintained that there is proposed legislation [HB 110] currently being heard in the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee to address the issue for that industry. MS. HOLLAND offered that the reason for changing the fingerprinting requirement is that submitting fresh fingerprints every year or every two years does not improve public safety. She maintained that it is an inconvenience for licensees and registration holders. She relayed that the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED) has a system in place under which it receives an alert, if there is any change in the criminal record of its licensees or registration holders. MS. HOLLAND relayed that HB 319 would change the fingerprinting requirements for the renewal of the marijuana establishment registration from an annual basis to once every three years. She maintained that this would not affect the annual requirement to renew registrations, which is addressed in regulation, not statute. She explained that the three-year requirement was suggested by members of the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office, who unanimously voted to pass a resolution urging the legislature to make the change. 4:25:36 PM MS. HOLLAND stated that the proposed legislation addresses a lack of clarity in the interpretation of statues regarding fingerprint background checks. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) was expecting an increase in fingerprint background check processing since they interpreted existing statutes to require registration holders to submit fingerprints only once and not again upon renewal. The DCCED interpreted the requirement as being on an annual basis. The proposed legislation would clarify this point. MS. HOLLAND mentioned that she researched other adult-use legal states to find out how they handled this issue. She stated that there are a few states that require new fingerprints to be submitted; however, most have statutory language stating that the relevant state department may require new fingerprints if there is a demonstrated investigative need. MS. HOLLAND summarized by saying that HB 319 would remove an unnecessary burden to both industry and the state without compromising public safety. 4:27:39 PM REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP suggested that the period between fingerprinting background checks for massage therapists was changed for the same reason [as Ms. Holland just related for marijuana establishment registrations and renewals]. He stated that he supports the proposed legislation; it would make the requirement consistent with the requirements for other boards and commissions in the renewal process. MS. HOLLAND responded that the requirement [for massage therapists] has not been changed yet; HB 110, if passed, would change that requirement. Under current statute, massage therapists are required to submit fingerprints every two years. 4:29:05 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened public testimony on HB 319. 4:29:24 PM CARROLL CARRIGAN, Executive Director, Alaska Marijuana Industry Association (AMIA), testified that he represents many retail, cultivation, and manufacturing businesses, as well as individual members. He referred to AMIA's statement, which is included in the committee packet, and expressed that the proposed legislation would relieve some of the financial burden on DPS for processing fingerprint background checks every year and keeping the fingerprints on file, as well as the cost to AMIA membership. 4:30:35 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS closed public testimony on HB 319 and HB 325 and announced that HB 319 would be held over.