04/11/2000 01:55 PM Senate L&C

            HB 130-ARCHITECTS/ENGINEERS/LAND SURVEYORS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN MACKIE announced HB 130 to be up for consideration.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. JANET  SEITZ, aide  to Representative  Norman Rokeberg,  said HB
  makes  additions to  the  statutes  regarding  the Architects,                                                             
Engineers, Land  Surveyors and Landscape Architecture  (AELS) Board.                                                            
In  addition  to individual  licenses,  this  particular  board  has                                                            
requirements  that  certain  businesses  can  register  and  have  a                                                            
license as  long as they have a designated  person in charge.   Over                                                            
the  years   the  Legislature  has   authorized  limited   liability                                                            
companies (LLC)  and limited liability  partnerships (LLP)  as forms                                                            
of businesses.   The Department of Law (DOL) advised  the Department                                                            
of  Community  and Economic  Development  (DCED)  that  DCED  cannot                                                            
register  these types  of LLCs under  current law.   HB 130  permits                                                            
DCED to  allow those businesses  to practice  in the same manner  as                                                            
corporations  do.  Consumer  protection  and license accountability                                                             
are  maintained.   In  addition,  when  the landscape  architecture                                                             
language was added to the  AELS Board, language was not picked up in                                                            
the contract section  of AS 36.90.100.  Section 11  adds them to the                                                            
section.    The bill  is  supported  by  the Board  and  The  Alaska                                                            
Professional Design Council.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  MACKIE  noted  a  Senate  Labor  and  Commerce   Committee                                                            
substitute  (CS)  was  prepared.    He  noted  the  Board  requested                                                            
statutory language  that requires  a licensed architect or  engineer                                                            
do  project review,  inspection  or  approval.   The  Department  of                                                            
Public  Safety has  also requested  a similar  change  for the  Fire                                                            
Marshall's  Office.    Finally,  he  received   some  interest  from                                                            
municipal  building  inspectors.    He  noted  the  corrections  are                                                            
located in  Section (13)  on page 9.  The  Division of Occupational                                                             
Licensing  and the  Fire Marshall's  Office support  this  addition.                                                            
The change  has been  circulated  to all other  entities  expressing                                                            
interest in the bill and all were in agreement.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. SEITZ said  that Representative Rokeberg supports  the committee                                                            
substitute.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LEMAN  noted that  on page 9, line  19, the word  "relating"                                                            
should be "related" and they should send a note to the drafter.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LEMAN  moved to adopt the CS.  There were  no objections and                                                            
it was so ordered.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LEMAN  moved to  report SCSHB 139(L&C)  from committee  with                                                            
individual recommendations.  There were no objections  and it was so                                                            
ordered.