03/29/2025 01:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS

             HB 58-OPA: PUBLIC ADVOCATE APPOINTMENT                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:02:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CARRICK  announced that the  first order of  business would                                                               
be HOUSE  BILL NO. 58, "An  Act relating to the  office of public                                                               
advocacy; and relating to the public advocate."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:02:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COURTNEY OWEN,  Staff, Representative  Zack Fields,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of Representative Fields,  prime sponsor,                                                               
gave  a recap  of  HB 58.    She  said the  bill  would make  the                                                               
selection  process for  public advocates  the same  as those  for                                                               
public defenders.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:03:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CARRICK  opened   public  testimony  on  HB   58.    After                                                               
ascertaining that  there was  no one who  wished to  testify, she                                                               
closed public testimony on HB 58.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:03:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CARRICK announced that HB 58 was held over.