00 HOUSE BILL NO. 333                                                                                                      
01 "An Act relating to licensure requirements for employees of the office of public                                        
02 advocacy and the Public Defender Agency."                                                                               
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 08.08.210(d) is amended to read:                                                                    
05  (d)  Employees of the Department of Law, the Public Defender Agency, and                                             
06 the office of public advocacy, whose activities would constitute the practice of law                                   
07 under this chapter and under Alaska Bar Rules are required to obtain a license to                                       
08 practice law in Alaska [,] no later than 10 months following the commencement of                                        
09 their employment.                                                                                                       
10    * Sec. 2.  AS 18.85.060 is amended to read:                                                                          
11  Sec. 18.85.060.  ELIGIBILITY.  A person is not eligible to be the public                                              
12 defender or an assistant public defender unless admitted to the practice of law in this                                 
13 state no later than 10 months following the commencement of the person's                                               
14 employment by the agency [OR, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF                                                        
01 GOVERNORS OF THE ALASKA BAR ASSOCIATION, IN ANOTHER STATE].                                                             
02    * Sec. 3.  AS 44.21.430(a) is amended to read:                                                                       
03  (a)  Only an attorney admitted to the practice of law in this state may be                                            
04 [EMPLOYED OR] retained under contract by the office of public advocacy to provide                                       
05 legal representation.  A person is not eligible to be an attorney employed by the                                      
06 office unless admitted to the practice of law in this state no later than 10 months                                     
07 following the commencement of the person's employment by the office.