Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
02/26/2024 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB385 | |
| HB237 | |
| HB290 | |
| HB200 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 385 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 200 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 289 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 179 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 290 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 237 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 385-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING FEES
[Contains discussion of HB 314.]
3:17:57 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 385, "An Act relating to occupational licensing
fees."
3:18:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID EASTMAN, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 385. He referred to a PowerPoint
presentation, entitled "HB 385 Occupational License Fees" [hard
copy included in the committee packet], and began on slide 2,
"The Problem," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
• High Volatility of License Fees as a
Barrier to Entry
• Excessive License Fees are a Detriment to Recruitment
and Retention for the affected licensed career field
• Military Spouses Also Impacted
3:21:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN continued to slide 3, "Solutions HB 385,"
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
PROS
• Reduction of Excessive Costs For Some
• Volatility of License Fees Reduced
CONS
• No Fees For Those Who Do Not Practice
Others Bear This Additional Burden
Through Increased Fees
• Personalized/Paper License Applications
• Additional Staff Time To Process
• Additional Costs Born By Department
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN contrasted HB 385 with HB 314 on slide 4,
"Solutions HB 314," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
PROS
• Reduction of Excessive Costs Due To Investigations
• More Certain Fee Environment
CONS
• Costs of Investigations Shifted To The Department
• Potential Moral Hazard
3:25:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK observed that the cap would be 20 percent
- or one-fifth - of total gross income. She asked how the bill
sponsor arrived at that number.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN opined that anything higher than 20
percent would be obviously excessive and would discourage
licensees from engaging in the occupation.
3:25:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE asked whether the 20 percent cap would
be a voluntary submission of gross income, such as a tax return.
For example, if a licensee earned $100,00 per year, he asked
whether the license fee would be assessed at $20,000.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN clarified that [the 20 percent would be
calculated from] only the portion of income that relates to the
license, which could not be assessed from a simple tax return.
He suggested that the department could create a form for
licensees to determine the dollar amount for their license-
generated income. He pointed out that this option would only be
exercised if the existing fee was in excess of that mount.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE asked which license types would be most
affected by the bill outside of midwives.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN said the target is career fields with
excessive license [fees] and small applicant pools.
3:29:22 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that HB 385 would be held over.