02/01/2012 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY

         HB 291 - PUBLIC NOTICES POSTED AT POST OFFICES                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:05:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GATTO announced  that the first order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 291, "An Act  relating to the posting  of notices                                                               
at United  States post  offices; and  providing for  an effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:05:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PAMELA FINLEY,  Revisor of  Statutes, Legislative  Legal Counsel,                                                               
Legislative  Legal  and  Research Services,  Legislative  Affairs                                                               
Agency (LAA), explained  that HB 291 would  delete four statutory                                                               
references to posting  certain notices at post  offices - thereby                                                               
addressing  the  fact that  since  2007,  the federal  government                                                               
hasn't allowed the posting of such  notices at post offices - but                                                               
would not delete the statutory  requirement to post those notices                                                               
altogether.   The four specific  statutes HB 291 is  proposing to                                                               
alter are  AS 03.35.030, which  pertains to  petitions concerning                                                               
controlled livestock  districts; AS 34.35.175(d),  which pertains                                                               
to personal property lien sales;  AS 34.45.050(b), which pertains                                                               
to  consignee  and bailee  lien  sales;  and AS  43.20.270(d)(2),                                                               
which  pertains to  tax lien  sales.   These  proposed changes  -                                                               
mirroring one  made in  2010 to AS  09.35.140, which  pertains to                                                               
sales on  execution - aren't  being included in a  revisor's bill                                                               
in case the  committee wishes to address the issue  in some other                                                               
fashion.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. FINLEY,  in response to  questions and comments,  offered her                                                               
belief that HB 291 wouldn't  have any negative effects, but would                                                               
help people  who currently can't  comply with  the aforementioned                                                               
state  laws simply  because those  laws conflict  with a  federal                                                               
restriction; mentioned  that members'  packets include a  copy of                                                               
that  federal restriction;  surmised  that  because the  proposed                                                               
changes aren't being  included in a revisor's bill,  HB 291 would                                                               
probably be  subject to the legislature's  "single subject" rule;                                                               
and relayed that she knows of  no other issues that could also be                                                               
addressed via  HB 291.   In response  to a further  question, she                                                               
said  she didn't  know  why the  federal  government changed  its                                                               
policy regarding posting notices at post offices.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  GATTO,  after ascertaining  that  no  one else  wished  to                                                               
testify, closed public testimony on HB 291.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:14:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON moved  to report HB 291  out of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There being no objection,  HB 291 was reported  from the                                                               
House Judiciary Standing Committee.