2005-01-28                     House Journal                      Page 0186
state and municipalities for attorney fees is capped at 20 percent of                               
reasonable actual attorney fees that were necessarily incurred in                                   
litigating issues on which the party prevailed.  These limits on liability                          
are very similar to the limits that courts have found for years to                                  
represent fair partial compensation to a prevailing party.  These                                   
limitations do not apply if the statutes provide differently, if the courts                         
determine it is appropriate to award attorney fees as a sanction for                                
misconduct by a party or the party's counsel, or in cases involving the                             
condemnation of property under the power of eminent domain.                                         
                                                                                                    
Section 3 of the bill would make the bill, if enacted into law,                                     
applicable only to civil actions or appeals initiated after it takes effect.                        
                                                                                                    
I urge your prompt consideration and passage of this bill.                                          
                                                                                                    
                                Sincerely yours,                                                    
                                /s/                                                                 
                                Frank H. Murkowski                                                  
                                 Governor"                                                         
                                                                                                    
HB 118                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 118 by Representatives Ramras and Samuels,                                           
entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                    
     "An Act relating to an address confidentiality program for victims                             
     of stalking, domestic violence, or sexual assault."                                            
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Judiciary                             
Committees.                                                                                         
                                                                                                    
HB 119                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 119 by the House Community & Regional Affairs                                        
Committee, entitled:                                                                                
                                                                                                    
     "An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska regional                                  
     economic assistance program; and providing for an effective                                    
     date."                                                                                         
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional                                    
Affairs and Finance Committees.