2020-01-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 1537
SB 157                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 157 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
       "An Act relating to professional licensing; relating to                                                                  
       temporary licenses for some professions; relating to                                                                     
       audiologists and speech-language pathologists; relating to                                                               
       the regulation of hair braiding; relating to the                                                                         
       demonstration of traditional Alaska Native tattoo                                                                        
       techniques; relating to home inspector licensing; relating                                                               
       to collection agency licensing; relating to hearing aid                                                                  
       dealer licensing; repealing requirements for certification                                                               
       of professional geologists; repealing the requirements for                                                               
       registration of concert promoters; repealing the athletic                                                                
       commission; relating to boxing, sparring and wrestling                                                                   
       contests, matches, and exhibitions; relating to dental                                                                   
       radiological equipment; repealing certain oil and gas                                                                    
       business bonding and cash deposit requirements; and                                                                      
       providing for an effective date."                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce,                                                                 
Health and Social Services, Resources and Finance Committees.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Natural Resources                                                                       
 Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Natural Resources                                                                       
 Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Health and Social Services                                                                    
 Fiscal Note No. 4, Department of Commerce, Community, and                                                                      
          Economic Development                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                

2020-01-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 1538
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 21:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Giessel:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill regarding professional licensing                                                         
reform.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
This bill would streamline professional licensing provisions and                                                                
increase the efficiency of the Department of Commerce, Community,                                                               
and Economic Development, as well as multiple boards that oversee                                                               
professional licensing. This bill would eliminate outdated                                                                      
requirements, align requirements with federal law, and eliminate                                                                
burdensome regulation.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The bill addresses current inconsistencies in the rules regarding                                                               
temporary professional licenses and reworks language to institute one                                                           
clear, fair, and responsible standard for allowing qualified persons to                                                         
begin practice under a temporary license. This will ensure efficiency,                                                          
remove barriers to workforce entry and improve availability of                                                                  
licensed professionals, while protecting public safety.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Amendments clarify when a previous brush with the law would                                                                     
disqualify a person from entering a licensed profession. The bill also                                                          
repeals many obsolete statutes, including the Athletic Commission, a                                                            
body that has not been funded or active for many years.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Finally, this bill addresses areas, such as the oversight of dental                                                             
radiological equipment, by moving oversight to the Department of                                                                
Health and Social Services, an agency much more appropriate for this                                                            
task.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Together, we can keep our citizens safe, but allow a streamlined,                                                               
efficient, and robust professional licensing. This bill is an important                                                         
first step towards that goal.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor