2000-01-24                     House Journal                      Page 1988
HB 315                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 315 by the House Rules Committee by request of                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act relating to elimination of the Alaska Administrative                  
Journal and instituting public notice requirements on the Alaska               
Online Public Notice System; amending public notice publication                
requirements for certain regulations; and providing for an effective           
date."                                                                         
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs Committee.           
                                                                               
The following fiscal note applies:                                             
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note, Office of the Governor, 1/24/00                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 21, 2000, appears              
below:                                                                         
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                          
                                                                               
The state has made great effort and had much success in taking                 
advantage of today's electronic medium.  As part of our ongoing work           
to keep Alaska in step with the Internet age, this bill I transmit today       
eliminates the need for the hard copy publishing of the Alaska                 
Administrative Journal and replaces it with the new Alaska Online              
Public Notice System.                                                          
                                                                               

2000-01-24                     House Journal                      Page 1989
HB 315                                                                       
The Alaska Administrative Journal (journal) is a weekly public notice          
publication of the lieutenant governor's office.  It has been available in     
print by subscription as well as on the Internet.  With the increased          
efficiency and accessibility of the Internet by government agencies and        
the public, continuing to provide the journal in printed form by weekly        
subscription is neither time nor cost effective.  At this time, there are      
only 12 subscribers to the journal, a drop from about 125 in 1995.             
Only one remaining subscriber, a law firm, is based in Alaska.                 
                                                                               
The lieutenant governor will supervise use of the Alaska Online Public         
Notice System (system) and prescribe the form for agencies to post             
required notices on the system.  There is no change as to which notices        
are required to be posted.  However, under this bill, posting of public        
notices will be done directly by agencies, which means the system will         
be continually updated.  The system has an archiving function that will        
allow a person to locate a particular public notice and verify that it         
was posted as required.                                                        
                                                                               
For those who do not have personal computers, the system may be                
accessed on computers at most libraries and at other state agencies that       
provide a computer terminal for public use.  Additionally, a copy of a         
public notice that was posted on the system may be obtained from any           
designated state employee by requesting a printed copy.  Finally, the          
bill does not remove existing requirements for publication in other            
media.  State agencies will continue to be required to comply with             
those requirements relating to printing, posting, and distribution of          
public notices, such as newspaper notices for solicitations to bid and         
for meetings covered by the open meetings statutes.                            
                                                                               
                                                                               
As the result of an Administrative Order, the Alaska Online Public             
Notice System is already functioning and includes all the information          
now published in the journal.  I urge your prompt and favorable action         
on this measure.                                                               
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"