2017-03-08                     Senate Journal                      Page 0454
substantiated, place the employee, contractor, or volunteer on the civil                                                        
registry. Currently State law only allows the Department to investigate                                                         
and issue findings against an entity, not against individuals who work                                                          
for the entity.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Additionally, changes were made to AS 47.32.150(b), allowing a                                                                  
person subject to a civil fine as an enforcement action to have the right                                                       
to appeal the fine. The bill would allow the Department to share, on a                                                          
confidential basis, licensing information with a law enforcement                                                                
agency upon request, further strengthening protections for vulnerable                                                           
citizens. The bill would also address limitations in current law that                                                           
limit sharing and access to the Divisions of Public Health and Public                                                           
Assistance by amending AS 47.32.190 to allow any division of the                                                                
Department that is responsible for licensing to share and gather                                                                
information in order to implement the protections of AS 47.32,                                                                  
centralized licensing. This change is needed because licensing is done                                                          
by the Office of Children's Services, Division of Health Care Services,                                                         
and Division of Public Assistance. This amendment simply allows                                                                 
those divisions who are responsible for licensing to share and access                                                           
information to implement this chapter without reference to specific                                                             
divisions. This provides the Department with flexibility to implement                                                           
the chapter when they make organizational changes in the future.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This bill will improve the background check process and protect our                                                             
vulnerable citizens. Additionally, it will add the necessary safeguards                                                         
to allow persons to challenge or request a variance from the provisions                                                         
that would otherwise bar individuals from certain employment. In                                                                
order to protect vulnerable Alaskans yet offer due process and                                                                  
confidentiality protections to individuals, I am transmitting this bill                                                         
and urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SB 82                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 82 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                                
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: