Legislature(2017 - 2018)HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/22/2017 01:30 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB48 | |
| HB24 | |
| HB57 || HB59 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 48 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 57 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 59 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HOUSE BILL NO. 48
"An Act relating to the composition of the State Board
of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land
Surveyors; extending the termination date of the State
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and
Land Surveyors; and providing for an effective date."
1:35:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SAM KITO III, SPONSOR, introduced himself
and offered a potential conflict of interest. He noted that
he was currently a licensed civil engineer and his practice
of engineering was governed by the board HB 48 would
extend. The bill would extend the sunset on the Architects,
Engineers and Land Surveyors (AELS) Board. He detailed that
since 1998 there had been a landscape architect position on
the board as a non-voting member. The bill recommended
extending the board in accordance with the recommendations
by the Division of Legislative Audit and to make the
temporary non-voting position a permanent voting position.
The change would mean the number of board members would
increase from 10 to 11, but it merely recognized that the
temporary non-voting member would become a permanent board
member. The bill did not remove any other representation
from the board and it added a landscape architect as a full
voting member. The bill would enable the individual
representing landscape architects to fully engage in their
position and participate as a voting member on the board.
Currently the individual reviewed applications for
landscape architecture in the state and was performing
duties as a full board member with the exception of being
able to vote. He relayed that the Division of Legislative
Audit and individuals from the Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development (DCCED) were available
to address the committee.
1:38:30 PM
Representative Thompson asked if there was a statutory
requirement for the board to meet in person.
Representative Kito replied as far as he knew there was no
statutory requirement, but he deferred to the department
for verification. There were opportunities for telephonic
meetings; however, applications were typically presented in
paper form and reviewed in person. He detailed that board
members broke up by licensing division and reviewed the
applications for the director. He concluded there were
reasons for having the meetings in person.
Representative Kawasaki looked at the fiscal note and
remarked that adding the 11th member did not change any
travel and per diem. He asked for verification that the
individual had already been allowed to claim travel and per
diem as a non-voting member.
Representative Kito answered there would be no additional
costs related to the 11th member who was already receiving
financial support for travel and per diem. There was a
recognition as a sunset that there would be costs to the
board, but they were existing costs.
Representative Kawasaki looked at the information in the
fiscal note from Legislative Audit that mentioned the
number of new registrations of landscape architects existed
over FY 13 to FY 15 - he observed it looked like only two
or three. He asked how many licensed landscape architects
there were in Alaska.
Representative Kito replied there were about 50.
1:40:50 PM
KRIS CURTIS, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, ALASKA DIVISION OF
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, relayed the division had conducted a
sunset audit with the purpose of determining whether the
board was serving the public's interest and whether it
should be extended. Overall, the division had determined
that the board was serving the public's interest by
effectively registering and regulating architects,
engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects. The
division recommended the maximum eight-year board extension
allowable in statute. The division did not have an
additional recommendation. She noted that the audit
included some information that may be helpful as the
committee considered the bill. She referred to page 7 of
the audit and pointed out that the board had a deficit in
the end of FY 13 of approximately $260,000 and fees had
been increased. At the end of FY 15 the board had a surplus
of over $740,000 at which point the fees had been
decreased. A schedule of the fees was on page 8 of the
audit.
Ms. Curtis continued that the audit also addressed board
composition. A temporary, non-voting member position had
been created in 1998 and authorized in uncodified law as
temporary. The position did act like a voting member in all
regards except it did not vote. The original intent of the
position was to assist the board in drafting regulations in
representing the landscape architect profession. The
division had interviewed seven board members as part of the
audit and all had been in support of making the position
permanent.
Co-Chair Seaton asked DCCED to address its fiscal note.
1:43:17 PM
JANEY HOVENDEN, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS,
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, she explained
the bill did not ask for any additional funding for the
board. The note included funding to allow the board to
continue functioning. There was $27,800 for one staff and
eleven members to travel to four board meetings per year,
$200 for advertising and public notice, $1,000 for board
member training and conference fees, $500 for honorariums
and stipends for board meetings, and $100 for commission
sales for the booking of board meetings. The items were
paid for with receipt supported services provided by
licensees.
Co-Chair Seaton OPENED public testimony.
MICHELE ELFERS, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC
WORKS DEPARTMENT, CITY OF JUNEAU, spoke in support of the
legislation. She shared that she was also a member of the
Alaska Professional Design Council - the group represented
architects, engineers, landscape surveyors, and landscape
architects through member organization throughout the
state. The board supported the bill including the extension
of the sunset and the creation of a permanent voting board
seat for landscape architects.
1:45:54 PM
COLIN MAYNARD, BOARD OF ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, AND LAND
SURVEYORS, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in
support of the bill. The board unanimously approved with
the bill in its entirety. He detailed that the landscape
architect board member represented the board at the
National Organization of Landscape Architect Registration
Boards and provided an essential part of the AELS's
mission. He did not believe the board was required to meet
face-to-face; however, in the past there had been efforts
to teleconference, but there had been situations when some
members could not hear very well. Additionally, it was very
hard to do an application review when two board members had
to review and discuss an application. The board had found
it was much easier to meet in person.
Co-Chair Seaton noted Vice-Chair Gara had joined the
meeting.
Co-Chair Seaton CLOSED public testimony.
Vice-Chair Gara addressed the fiscal note from DCCED. There
was a $29,600 cost in FY 18 extending through FY 23. The
costs would be paid with designated general funds.
1:49:05 PM
Representative Wilson MOVED to REPORT HB 48 out of
committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
HB 48 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with one previously published fiscal
note: FN1 (CED).
1:49:44 PM
AT EASE
1:52:17 PM
RECONVENED