Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/25/1994 01:15 PM House JUD
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
Number 142
HB 518 - EXTEND ALASKA BAR ASSOCIATION
PHILIP VOLLAND, President of the Board of Governors of the
Alaska Bar Association, testified in support of HB 517 and
stated that HB 517 reflects the recommendation of the
Legislative Budget and Audit Committee that the function of
the Alaska Bar Association continue for another four years.
He further testified that by statute, disciplinary,
admission assessment, fee assessments, continuing legal
education, pro bono services, all are designed to enhance
public perception and their confidence in how attorney's
serve the interests of clients. The Budget and Audit
Committee found that the bar fulfills this function
effectively and at no cost to the state. The board is able
to function because of its power to assess fees against
every lawyer in the state and those fees cover the
activities of the board.
Number 256
REP. GREEN inquired how the bar handles complaints that come
before them and where these complaints originate.
Number 270
MR. VOLLAND responded principally by complaints by clients
or other lawyers. The discipline council of the Bar
Association has authority to bring action on his or her own
based upon information the council may receive and that that
happens occasionally. But by and large most of the
complaints are by either clients or other lawyers. The
council then works up a series of hearings depending on how
significant the complaint may be. Sometimes a complaint is
disposed of by the lawyer agreeing to a private discipline.
Other times it goes to a hearing committee, which is a
committee composed of lawyers and members of the public.
Lawyers can then appeal that and go to the Board of
Governors which can act as an independent board hearing the
same evidence and depending on the level of sanction, all
significant discipline has to approved by the Supreme Court
which can review the record entirely on its own.
Number 295
REP. GREEN inquired if the bar's hammer is that if they call
Johnson in and he doesn't show then the bar can make a
pretty harsh recommendation.
Number 300
MR. VOLLAND responded that they could.
Number 310
REP. PHILLIPS inquired whether all other states have a Board
of Governors and when was Alaska's established.
Number 315
MR. VOLLAND responded that Alaska's Board of Governors was
established in 1955.
Number 338
REP. NORDLUND inquired what the bar's response has been to
the Legislative Budget and Audit report.
Number 345
MR. VOLLAND responded that some of the recommendations they
agree with, but Audit found that one of their board terms is
out of sync with the statutory rotation and the bar is
taking action to change that.
Number 420
REP. NORDLUND inquired as to the recommendation that the Bar
Association establish a toll free complaint line.
Number 429
MR. VOLLAND responded that that recommendation was under
review and the bar may very well adopt it.
Number 432
REP. GREEN recommended that the committee move HB 518 from
committee with individual recommendations and accompanying
zero fiscal note.
Number 435
CHAIRMAN PORTER, hearing no objection, declared HB 517 moved
from committee and next brought SB 151 before the committee.
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