00 SENATE BILL NO. 172                                                                                                     
01 "An Act relating to the awarding of attorney fees and costs in civil actions to                                         
02 effectuate or vindicate a public policy of the state; and amending Alaska Rules                                         
03 of Civil Procedure 79 and 82."                                                                                          
04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
05    * Section 1.  AS 09.60.010 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                            
06  (b)  Notwithstanding (a) of this section, in a civil action to effectuate or                                          
07 vindicate a public policy of the state, a prevailing party is entitled to an award of                                   
08 attorney fees and costs under the Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, notwithstanding a                                    
09 determination by a court that the losing party is a public interest litigant.                                           
10    * Sec. 2.  AS 09.60.010(b), added by sec. 1 of this Act, has the effect of amending Alaska                           
11 Rules of Civil Procedure 79 and 82 relating to awards of attorney fees and costs, by providing                          
12 that a prevailing party in a civil action to effectuate or vindicate a public policy of the state,                      
13 is entitled to an award of attorney fees and costs, notwithstanding a determination by a court                          
14 that the losing party is a public interest litigant.