SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE March 14, 2018 9:01 a.m. 9:01:31 AM CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair MacKinnon called the Senate Finance Committee meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair Senator Anna MacKinnon, Co-Chair Senator Click Bishop, Vice-Chair Senator Peter Micciche Senator Donny Olson Senator Gary Stevens Senator Natasha von Imhof MEMBERS ABSENT None ALSO PRESENT Representative Sam Kito, Sponsor; Deborah Kelly, Director, Division of Labor and Standards, Department of Labor and Workforce Development. SUMMARY HB 114 BOILER/PRESSURE VESSEL INSPECTION REPORTS HB 114 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. HOUSE BILL NO. 114 "An Act relating to boiler and unfired pressure vessel inspection reports and fees." 9:02:32 AM REPRESENTATIVE SAM KITO, SPONSOR, introduced the legislation. DEBORAH KELLY, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF LABOR AND STANDARDS, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, discussed the Sectional Analysis (copy on file): Section 1 Reduces the time allowed to submit boiler and pressure vessel inspection reports from the current 30 days following an inspection to 15 days. Section 2 Adds a new subsection directing reports to be filed online via the department's electronic inspection report system or pay a $10 fee for filing reports on non-electronic forms. Also specifies that filing fees shall be deposited in the building safety account. Section 3 Clarifies that the filing fee charged in Section 2 of this bill is separate from any inspection fee that may be charged under AS 18.60.360 Inspection fees. Section 4 Amends the Definition of program receipts and non-general fund program receipts AS 37.05.146(c)(53) to specify that boiler/pressure vessel inspection report filing fees shall be deposited in the building safety account. Section 5 Establishes that this Act applies to inspections begun on or after the effective date of this Act. Senator Stevens surmised that there was no additional charge to file online. He remarked that everyone would need to comply to the 15 days. Ms. Kelly agreed. She stated that the emailed pdf reports would also be charged a fee. The online direct-entry system would not have a fee. She added that the reduced time frame would apply to everyone. Senator Stevens surmised that the changes were not an onerous requirement. Ms. Kelly replied that most of the reports were submitted soon after the actual inspection. Senator von Imhof wondered whether the length of the report was substantial. Ms. Kelly replied that she believed that the report was one or two pages. 9:06:54 AM Senator von Imhof felt that some may believe that any electronic submission would require a fee. She hoped that the differentiating language would be clear. She wondered whether it would be difficult to collect that ten-dollar fee. Ms. Kelly replied that she did not anticipate a problem, because most report submissions were by larger insurance companies. She stated that the outreach would be relatively simple. Senator Olson queried any opposition to the bill. Ms. Kelly replied that she was not aware of any obligation to the legislation. Senator Olson wondered whether there were inspections in rural Alaska, which may be more difficult than the more urban areas. Ms. Kelly responded that many of the boiler inspections in the rural communities were conducted by the state inspectors. She stated that internet access was needed to submit the report. Vice-Chair Bishop remarked that the bill specifically targeted a third party. Ms. Kelly replied in the affirmative. The boilers were either inspected by the department or a third party. Vice-Chair Bishop surmised that the reports were expected to be submitted in a timely fashion. Ms. Kelly agreed. Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered whether the legislation referred to a non-paper filing. Ms. Kelly agreed. She stated that the fee would also apply to a paper filing. Vice-Chair Bishop asked whether there were still annual inspections. Ms. Kelly replied that boilers were inspected on a cycle of between two and five years. 9:11:33 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon OPENED and CLOSED public testimony. Vice-Chair Bishop discussed the fiscal note from Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Co-Chair MacKinnon stated that amendments were due by 5:00pm the upcoming Friday, and discussed the week's schedule. HB 114 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. ADJOURNMENT 9:15:04 AM The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 a.m.