2023-02-27                     House Journal                      Page 0275
HB 85                                                                                                                         
HOUSE BILL NO. 85 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                    
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to professional licensing; relating to temporary                                                          
     licenses for some professions; and providing for an effective                                                              
     date."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and                                                                
Finance Committees.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Fiscal, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic                                                                             
     Development                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 23 follows:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Tilton:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to temporary professional                                                       
licensing.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                

2023-02-27                     House Journal                      Page 0276
This bill would expedite and streamline professional licensing by                                                               
creating a new "temporary license" designation under AS 08.01. The                                                              
bill would repeal most temporary license types (e.g., courtesy licenses,                                                        
temporary courtesy licenses, temporary permits, etc.) that can be found                                                         
across the professional licensing statutes and replace them with the                                                            
universal temporary license, which would be administered by the                                                                 
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.                                                                    
The bill would allow the department to grant temporary licenses using                                                           
standard criteria to reduce board work and provide consistency to the                                                           
process.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
The universal temporary licensing provisions would not apply to all                                                             
professions. The bill creates exceptions for professions that are unique                                                        
to Alaska, such as big game guides and marine pilots. Additionally,                                                             
the new provisions would not change the temporary military courtesy                                                             
licenses available to United States Armed Forces service members and                                                            
their spouses. However, the temporary military courtesy license statute                                                         
is amended slightly to avoid confusion over the term "temporary                                                                 
license."                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Finally, a number of changes would be made to conform the Alaska                                                                
Statutes to the changes proposed under AS 08.01.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"