2024-02-09                     House Journal                      Page 1461
HB 314                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 314 by the House Rules Committee by Request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to occupational licensing fees; and providing for                                                         
     an effective date."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce                                                                    
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Fiscal, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic                                                                             
     Development                                                                                                                

2024-02-09                     House Journal                      Page 1462
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 8 follows:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Tilton:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill which eliminates the costs                                                               
associated with professional discipline and unlicensed practice                                                                 
investigations from the calculation of annual professional licensing                                                            
fees. This bill will make the investigation and legal costs associated                                                          
with these cases overhead costs for the Division of Corporations,                                                               
Business, and Professional Licensing (CBPL).                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Under current law, CBPL is required to assess a number of fees                                                                  
against individuals seeking professional licensing, including fees for                                                          
investigative costs. Pursuant to statute, investigatory costs are                                                               
distributed essentially pro rata across all members of a particular                                                             
profession. This pro rata distribution creates an uncertain fee                                                                 
environment where fees fluctuate on a regular basis depending on the                                                            
profession's investigatory burden. This bill amends the professional                                                            
licensing statutes to remove the requirement that licensees pay                                                                 
investigation fees.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"