Legislature(2025 - 2026)SENATE FINANCE 532

03/27/2025 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

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.

Download Mp3. <- Right click and save file as

* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= SB 30 STATE PARK PERMITS FOR DISABLED VETERANS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+= SB 54 EXT ARCH, ENG, SURVEY BRD; REG INT DESIGN TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+= SB 61 ELECTRONIC DEVICE RECYCLING TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
SENATE BILL NO. 54                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
   "An Act  relating to  registered  interior designers  and                                                                    
   interior design;  extending the  termination date  of the                                                                    
   State Board  of Registration  for Architects,  Engineers,                                                                    
   and Land  Surveyors;  relating  to  the  State  Board  of                                                                    
   Registration  for   Architects,   Engineers,   and   Land                                                                    
   Surveyors; establishing requirements for  the practice of                                                                    
   registered interior design;  relating to the  practice of                                                                    
   architecture,  engineering,  land   surveying,  landscape                                                                    
   architecture,   and   registered   interior   design   by                                                                    
   partnerships; relating  to liens  for labor  or materials                                                                    
   furnished;  relating  to  the  procurement  of  landscape                                                                    
   architectural and interior design services; and providing                                                                    
   for an effective date."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:11:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MATT CLAMAN, SPONSOR, introduced the bill. He read                                                                      
from prepared remarks:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Senate Bill 54 will  extend the statutory authorization                                                                    
     for  the  Board  of  Architects,  Engineers,  and  Land                                                                    
     Surveyors   (AELS  Board),   add  Registered   Interior                                                                    
     Designers  to   the  board's  jurisdiction,   and  make                                                                    
     statutory  changes requested  by the  board. This  bill                                                                    
     will  allow the  AELS Board  to continue  the important                                                                    
     work of  regulating design professionals in  Alaska and                                                                    
     add a qualified interior designer to the board.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     The 2024 Sunset Audit of  the AELS Board concluded that                                                                    
     the board served the  public's interest and recommended                                                                    
     that we  extend it for  eight years. In this  bill, the                                                                    
     AELS  Board   is  taking  the  opportunity   to  update                                                                    
     outdated  language based  on their  analysis since  the                                                                    
     last sunset audit.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Another important part of SB  54 is the opportunity for                                                                    
     qualified interior designers to  register with the AELS                                                                    
     Board.  Those wishing  to practice  registered interior                                                                    
     design  in  buildings  of  public  occupancy  within  a                                                                    
     regulated  scope of  services impacting  public health,                                                                    
     safety,  or   welfare  will  now  have   a  pathway  to                                                                    
     registration. SB 54 will  allow designers practicing in                                                                    
     public occupancy  buildings to  be qualified to  do so,                                                                    
     providing another  measure of public  safety protection                                                                    
     and risk-mitigation  for commercial buildings.  It will                                                                    
     increase  the amount  of design  professionals able  to                                                                    
     work  independently within  the commercial  real estate                                                                    
     industry.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     The National Council  of Interior Design Qualifications                                                                    
     (NCIDQ) Exam is a  three-part, 11-hour examination that                                                                    
     was   established    to   identify    interior   design                                                                    
     professionals with  the skills  and experience  to take                                                                    
     on additional responsibility. This  test is designed to                                                                    
     assess  the competency  of  candidates  to protect  the                                                                    
     public  through the  practice of  interior design,  and                                                                    
     covers subjects  such as  fire safety,  ADA compliance,                                                                    
     emergency   egress,   and  material   flammability.   A                                                                    
     candidate unable  to prove their understanding  of life                                                                    
     safety, codes, and standards would  be unlikely to pass                                                                    
     the exam.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     The goal  is not to  measure Interior Designers  by the                                                                    
     standards used  by architects.  While there  are shared                                                                    
     skillsets  between architects  and interior  designers,                                                                    
     interior designers  focus on a narrower  scope of work.                                                                    
     By   comparison,   there    are   different   licensing                                                                    
     requirements for nurse  practitioners and doctors, even                                                                    
     though they sometimes perform similar activities.                                                                          
     Currently, there is no state  licensing of the interior                                                                    
     design profession  in Alaska.  One consequence  of this                                                                    
     licensing gap is that  Registered Interior designers do                                                                    
     not  have access  to a  construction  stamp that  would                                                                    
     allow them to submit their work for permitting.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Passage  of  SB 54  will  allow  Alaska to  join  other                                                                    
     forward-looking  states  in  providing  a  construction                                                                    
     document stamp  to allow registered  interior designers                                                                    
     to submit their own work for permitting.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     SB  54  does not  restrict  the  requirements or  daily                                                                    
     practice  for  any  other  professional  in  design  or                                                                    
     construction    including     architects,    engineers,                                                                    
     contractors, trades people,  decorators, or residential                                                                    
     designers.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     SB 54 is  intended to be cost neutral to  the State, as                                                                    
     it is  self-funded within  the AELS  Registration Board                                                                    
     through  application, registration,  and renewal  fees.                                                                    
     As shown  in the attached  fiscal note, the  passage of                                                                    
     this bill  would enable the AELS  Registration Board to                                                                    
     hire  a  much-needed additional  Occupational  Licensee                                                                    
     Examiner, and  the cost per  licensee would only  be an                                                                    
     additional $50 every two years.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     We  often talk  of  making Alaska  open  and ready  for                                                                    
     business. This  bill turns those words  into action and                                                                    
     will make Alaska a better  place to do business. Please                                                                    
     join me in supporting SB 54.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:16:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SARENA HACKENMILLER, STAFF, SENATOR MATT CLAMAN, addressed                                                                      
a Sectional Analysis (copy on file):                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Section   1  AS   08.03.010.   Termination  dates   for                                                                    
     regulatory   boards.    Extends   the    AELS   Board's                                                                    
     termination date by eight years to June 30, 2033.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section  2 AS  08.48.011(b).  Board  created. Adds  two                                                                    
     seats to the  AELS board: one for  an interior designer                                                                    
     and  one  additional  engineering seat.  This  addition                                                                    
     creates  separate seats  for electrical  and mechanical                                                                    
     engineering,  which currently  share  a  seat. It  also                                                                    
     modifies the seat held by  a mining engineer to include                                                                    
     the option of either a  mining engineer, or a petroleum                                                                    
     engineer, or a chemical engineer.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section 3 AS 08.48.011(b).  Board created. This section                                                                    
     affects  the  same statutes  as  Sec.  2. The  interior                                                                    
     designer sitting  on the board must  be registered once                                                                    
     this act and  board regulations go into  place per Sec.                                                                    
     37.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section 4  AS 08.48.055(b). Executive  administrator of                                                                    
     the  board; investigator.  Amends to  add to  statute a                                                                    
     Range  23   salary  for  the  AELS   Board's  Executive                                                                    
     Administrator.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Section 5  AS 08.48.071(f).  Records and  reports. Adds                                                                    
     registered   interior   designers   to  the   list   of                                                                    
     professions about  which the department  shall assemble                                                                    
    statistics relating to staff and board performance.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Section 6  AS 08.48.101. Regulations;  policy guidance;                                                                    
     bylaws;  code  of ethics.  Adds  a  new subsection  (c)                                                                    
     authorizing    the   board    to   adopt    regulations                                                                    
     establishing a  definition of  interior design  for the                                                                    
     purpose  of   this  chapter   and  requires   that  the                                                                    
     definition     include     non-loadbearing     interior                                                                    
     construction,  space  planning, finish  materials,  and                                                                    
     furnishings.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Section 7  AS 08.48.111.  Power to revoke,  suspend, or                                                                    
     reissue  certificate. Adds  registered interior  design                                                                    
     to a list of professions  that the board may suspend or                                                                    
     refuse to  renew, or whose certificate  may be revoked,                                                                    
     or who  may be  reprimanded if  found guilty  of fraud,                                                                    
     gross  negligence,   incompetence,  or   misconduct  in                                                                    
     accordance  with a  code of  ethics as  adopted by  the                                                                    
     board. This  section also removes the  requirement that                                                                    
     the code of  ethics be distributed in  writing to every                                                                    
     registrant and applicant.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Hackenmiller relayed that Section 8 through Section 12                                                                      
were conforming changes. She continued to address the                                                                           
Sectional Analysis:                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Section 13                                                                                                                 
     AS 08.48.215(a). Retired status registration.                                                                              
     Distinguishes   that  retirement   status  under   this                                                                    
     chapter is available  only for professional architects,                                                                    
    engineers, land surveyors, or landscape architects.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Section 14                                                                                                                 
    AS 08.48.218. Untitled practice of interior design.                                                                         
     Adds new section  stating that unregistered individuals                                                                    
     may  practice interior  design but  shall refrain  from                                                                    
     using the title "registered interior designer."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Hackenmiller relayed that Section 15 through Section 21                                                                     
were conforming changes. She continued to address the                                                                           
Sectional Analysis:                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Section 22                                                                                                                 
     AS 08.48.281. Prohibited practice.                                                                                         
     Adds  a new  subsection  (c) specifying  that a  person                                                                    
     that is not  registered with the board may  not use the                                                                    
     title "registered interior designer."                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 23                                                                                                                 
     AS 08.48.291. Violations and penalties.                                                                                    
     Specifies  that a  person who  practices  or offers  to                                                                    
     practice  registered  interior   design  in  the  state                                                                    
     without being  registered or authorized to  practice is                                                                    
     guilty  of   a  misdemeanor  and  upon   conviction  is                                                                    
     punishable by  a fine of  not more than $10,000,  or by                                                                    
     imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Hackenmiller relayed that Section 22 through Section 25                                                                     
were conforming changes. She continued with Section 26:                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Section 26                                                                                                                 
     AS  08.48.321(b).  Evidence  of practice.  Adds  a  new                                                                    
     subsection   (b)   stating   that   using   the   title                                                                    
     "registered interior designer"  implies that the person                                                                    
     is registered with the board.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Section  27  AS  08.48.331. Exemptions.  New  paragraph                                                                    
     (15)  aligns   AS  08.48  with  Alaska   Department  of                                                                    
     Environmental  Conservation  (ADEC)  statutes  allowing                                                                    
     certain ADEC employees who  are authorized to construct                                                                    
     conventional  onsite   wastewater  systems  to   do  so                                                                    
     without  a  professional   license  if  the  wastewater                                                                    
     system has  a design flow  of less than 500  gallons of                                                                    
     wastewater a day.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section  28  AS  08.48.331.  Exemptions.  In  paragraph                                                                    
     (11), adds  the construction  of natural  gas pipelines                                                                    
     to the conditions in which  an employee or officer of a                                                                    
     company operating  in Alaska  must have  a professional                                                                    
     license.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Section 29                                                                                                                 
     AS 08.48.331. Exemptions.                                                                                                  
     Adds  new subsection  (c)  allowing  the Department  of                                                                    
     Environmental   Conservation   to   adopt   regulations                                                                    
     limiting the locations in the  state where exemption 15                                                                    
     may  apply.  Adds  new   subsection  (d)  defining  the                                                                    
     requirements  that a  utility company  must meet  to be                                                                    
     exempted from having a  professional license to operate                                                                    
     under exemption 15.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section 30                                                                                                                 
     AS 08.48.341(4). Definitions.                                                                                              
     Adds registered  interior design  to the  definition of                                                                    
     "certificate of authorization."                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Section 31                                                                                                                 
     AS 08.48.341(23). Definitions.                                                                                             
     Distinguishes    existing     registrant    types    as                                                                    
     "professional"    and    adds   "registered    interior                                                                    
     designers" to the definition of "registrant."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Hackenmiller relayed that  Section 33 through Section 38                                                                    
were  conforming under  other titles  outside AS  08.48. She                                                                    
continued to address the Sectional Analysis:                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Section 39                                                                                                                 
     AS 08.48.011. Board created.                                                                                               
     Subsection (c) is repealed. Subsection (c) is related                                                                      
     to board seats which no longer apply due to Sections 2                                                                     
     and 3 of this bill.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms.   Hackenmiller  specified   that  Section   40  and   41                                                                    
established  the   effective  date  and  grace   period  for                                                                    
registration  of   interior  designers.  She   continued  to                                                                    
address the Sectional Analysis:                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section 42 Effective date Clarifies that Sections 28                                                                       
     and 29 take effect January 1, 2026.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section 43 Effective date Except as stated in Sections                                                                     
     41 and 42, this Act has an effective date of July 1,                                                                       
     2025.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:21:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl asked Ms. Hackenmiller  about a description of                                                                    
the items  that were considered "interior  design" under the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms.   Hackenmiller  identified   that   the  definition   of                                                                    
"registered  interior   design"  and   "registered  interior                                                                    
designer" were in Section 32.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl relayed  that Section 32 indicated  it was the                                                                    
practice of  interior design. He  asked if there was  a more                                                                    
specific definition.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Claman directed attention to  Section 6 of the bill,                                                                    
where directions were given to  the AELS board to define the                                                                    
scope of practice.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman asked what the AELS Board signified.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Claman relayed that it  was the Architects Engineers                                                                    
and Landscape  Surveying Board, for which  the bill extended                                                                    
authorization.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:23:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KRIS  CURTIS,   LEGISLATIVE  AUDITOR,  ALASKA   DIVISION  OF                                                                    
LEGISLATIVE  AUDIT,  directed  attention to  the  "A  Sunset                                                                    
Review  of  the  Department   of  Commerce,  Community,  and                                                                    
Economic  Development,  State   Board  of  Registration  for                                                                    
Architects, Engineers, and Land  Surveyors (board)" (copy on                                                                    
file).  She described  the  audit as  "very  clean" with  no                                                                    
recommendations   and  with   support   for  an   eight-year                                                                    
extension.  The audit  found that  the audit  concluded that                                                                    
the  board  served  the   public's  interest  by  conducting                                                                    
meetings   in  an   effective   manner;  actively   amending                                                                    
regulations  to   improve  the  registration   process;  and                                                                    
effectively   registering    architects,   engineers,   land                                                                    
surveyors, and landscape architects.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Curtis  directed attention  to the report  on page  6 on                                                                    
registration and  certificate activity. As of  January 2024,                                                                    
the  board had  6,628  active registrants.  The schedule  of                                                                    
revenues  and expenditures  was on  page 8,  which indicated                                                                    
that there  was a $1.2  million surplus as of  January 2024.                                                                    
She noted  that the  commissioner and  the board  chair both                                                                    
concurred with the report's conclusions.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:25:01 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COLIN MAYNARD,  ALASKA BOARD  OF ARCHITECTS,  ENGINEERS, AND                                                                    
LAND  SURVEYORS, ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference),  read from                                                                    
prepared testimony:                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     For  the record,  my  name  is Colin  Maynard,  I am  a                                                                    
     retired Civil  and Structural Engineer and  am a member                                                                    
     of  the Alaska  State Board  of Architects,  Engineers,                                                                    
     and Land  Surveyors (or AELS).  I am testifying  at the                                                                    
     direction  of  the  Board  as the  Chair  of  the  AELS                                                                    
     Legislative Liaison Committee.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     At our February 2025 meeting,  the AELS Board voted 7-2                                                                    
     to support  this bill.  I would like  to address  a few                                                                    
     provisions which have financial  impacts. First, I have                                                                    
     to  say  that  the  Board  is proud  to  see  that  the                                                                    
     Legislative  Audit  found  that   the  Board  has  been                                                                    
     complying  with the  relevant statutes  and regulations                                                                    
     and is  performing its duty  to protect  public safety,                                                                    
     health, and  welfare. We believe  that an  extension of                                                                    
     eight years is warranted. Now to the financial issues:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2  Board makeup                                                                                                    
     o   Adding    petroleum   and    chemical   engineering                                                                    
     disciplines  to  the  mining  engineering  seat  as  an                                                                    
     option,  instead of  a fallback  position, expands  the                                                                    
     pool  of  possible  volunteers from  36  to  148  while                                                                    
     keeping the  seat in the resource  extraction industry.                                                                    
     This does not add any cost.                                                                                                
     o    Breaking    the   current    mechanical/electrical                                                                    
     engineering seat  into two  seats recognizes  that they                                                                    
     are  the  two  most   common  disciplines  after  civil                                                                    
     engineering,   even  more   than  architects   or  land                                                                    
     surveyors,  which   have  two   seats  each.   It  also                                                                    
     recognizes  that these  disciplines are  different from                                                                    
     each other  and expecting one person  to have expertise                                                                    
     in both is asking a bit much.                                                                                              
     o Adding  an Interior designer seat  will allow someone                                                                    
     with expertise in that field  to help craft regulations                                                                    
     regarding that new discipline.                                                                                             
     o We understand that we  are already one of the largest                                                                    
     State  licensing  Boards,  but  we  currently  regulate                                                                    
     eighteen  different disciplines  with more  registrants                                                                    
     than all but two Boards.  Most of our meetings are done                                                                    
     virtually and the  cost of travel is  minimal. The cost                                                                    
     of the Board is borne  by those registrants, not by the                                                                    
     public.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Section 4  Executive Administrator salary                                                                                  
     o  The Board  has  been having  problems retaining  our                                                                    
     Executive  Administrator. The  Board  has been  working                                                                    
     with the  Division and Department  to get an  Office of                                                                    
     Management and  Budget class evaluation for  years. The                                                                    
     fact that the  position is a class of one  has not made                                                                    
     that very  easy and it  has dragged out for  years. The                                                                    
     evaluation  finally started  last  fall,  still has  at                                                                    
     least  one  more  step  to  go,  and  may  not  have  a                                                                    
     conclusion  with which  the  Board  agrees. Before  the                                                                    
     evaluation started,  the Board decided to  request that                                                                    
     our   statute   specify   that   the   AELS   Executive                                                                    
     Administrator has  a salary in  Range 23.  Other Boards                                                                    
     that  have  a  similar  number of  registrants  have  a                                                                    
     similar provision.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Most of the  costs in the fiscal note are  based on the                                                                    
     addition  of a  licensing  examiner, thereby  expanding                                                                    
     the  Board's staff  from three  to  four: an  executive                                                                    
     administrator,   two   licensing  examiners,   and   an                                                                    
     investigator.  This is  necessary due  to the  existing                                                                    
     workload. The  addition of interior designers  will add                                                                    
     about 1% to the number of registrants. The costs will                                                                      
     be borne by the approximately 6700 active registrants                                                                      
     and 800 Corporations and Limited Liability Companies.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:28:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MATT BARUSCH,  GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS  AND ADVOCACY  COUNCIL FOR                                                                    
INTERIOR DESIGN QUALIFICATION  (via teleconference), relayed                                                                    
that  his organization  administered  the national  interior                                                                    
design certification examination, which  was regulated in 29                                                                    
states, plus  the District of  Columbia and Puerto  Rico. He                                                                    
explained that the interior  design profession was regulated                                                                    
because of  the direct  impact the work  had on  the health,                                                                    
safety,  and welfare  of the  public in  public spaces.  The                                                                    
bill  adopted  a framework  consistent  with  a majority  of                                                                    
states  that  regulated  the  profession.  His  organization                                                                    
supported  that bill  because it  would help  support public                                                                    
protection, and looked forward to  supporting the AELS Board                                                                    
as it implemented the legislation.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:29:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman OPENED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:29:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CASEY KEE,  SELF, ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference),  spoke in                                                                    
support of  the bill.  She was an  Anchorage resident  and a                                                                    
NCIDQ-certified interior designer.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:30:28 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BARBARA   CASH,   SELF,  ANCHORAGE   (via   teleconference),                                                                    
testified in  strong support  of the bill.  She was  a long-                                                                    
time  NCIDQ-qualified interior  designer  in Anchorage.  She                                                                    
contended that the bill  enabled registered Alaska designers                                                                    
for federal projects.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:31:24 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MELISSA TRIBYL, SELF,  ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke                                                                    
in support of the legislation.  She was a certified interior                                                                    
designer  with NCIDQ  and owned  an architectural  firm. She                                                                    
thought the bill would expand services.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:32:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RAMONA  SCHIMSCHEIMER, BOARD  MEMBER, AMERICAN  INSTITUTE OF                                                                    
ARCHITECTURE   ALASKA,   ANCHORAGE   (via   teleconference),                                                                    
testified  in opposition  to the  bill. She  was a  licensed                                                                    
architect.  She  shared  that   the  American  Institute  of                                                                    
Architecture  (AIA) Alaska  had worked  with the  sponsor to                                                                    
address concerns.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:33:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CATHERINE   FRITZ,   SELF,  JUNEAU   (via   teleconference),                                                                    
testified in opposition to the  bill. She had been an active                                                                    
member  of  the   Alaska  chapter  of  AIA.   She  had  been                                                                    
registered as  an architect  since 1990.  She had  served on                                                                    
the AELS Board for eight  years. She thought there were many                                                                    
aspects of  the bill that  would be difficult  and confusing                                                                    
to administer. She opposed the  expansion of the board to 13                                                                    
members  as proposed  in the  bill, and  contended that  the                                                                    
board was  already the  largest board  with 11  members. She                                                                    
noted that prior  to 2023, there was a  restriction that had                                                                    
now allowed mechanical and electrical  engineers to serve on                                                                    
the  board  simultaneously,  which   had  been  remedied  by                                                                    
legislation. She  contended that  there were fewer  than two                                                                    
dozen  interior designers  that were  qualified to  serve on                                                                    
the board.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Fritz shared the concern  that it was not appropriate to                                                                    
have  a  registered  interior designer  on  the  AELS  Board                                                                    
because  they would  not be  registered  and regulated.  She                                                                    
emphasized that  SB 54  was a  title act.  She noted  that a                                                                    
seat  on   the  board  would  allow   an  interior  designer                                                                    
authority  and  responsibility  to   act  on  the  regulated                                                                    
practices  of engineering  and architecture,  which she  did                                                                    
not think was  appropriate. She could not think  of a reason                                                                    
to  expand  the  board.  She mentioned  the  addition  of  a                                                                    
landscape  architect to  the board  as a  temporary seat  in                                                                    
1998. If the  bill passed, there would need to  be a limited                                                                    
amount  of regulation  developed.  She  thought a  temporary                                                                    
seat could add subject matter expertise if needed.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:37:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DANA  NUNN, CHAIR,  GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY  COMMITTEE, AMERICAN                                                                    
SOCIETY  OF INTERIOR  DESIGNERS,  ALASKA CHAPTER,  ANCHORAGE                                                                    
(via teleconference), spoke in support  of the bill. She was                                                                    
a  longtime   Anchorage  resident  and   an  NCIDQ-certified                                                                    
interior designer. She thought  SB 54 represented many years                                                                    
of  collaborative efforts.  She  thought  the bill  remained                                                                    
true to  the fundamental intent of  improving public health,                                                                    
safety, and  welfare while established means  of registering                                                                    
qualified  interior designers.  She urged  the committee  to                                                                    
pass the bill.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:39:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ELIZABETH  GOEBEL,  SELF,  ANCHORAGE  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
testified in support  of the bill. She relayed  that she was                                                                    
an interior  designer in Anchorage currently  working on her                                                                    
NCIDQ certification.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:39:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LARRY CASH,  SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),  spoke in                                                                    
support  of the  bill. He  relayed  that he  was an  Alaskan                                                                    
architect and  worked with qualified interior  designers for                                                                    
many   years.  He   supported   interior  designers'   state                                                                    
registration with  stamp and seal privileges  as provided in                                                                    
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:40:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl   addressed  a  new  fiscal   note  from  the                                                                    
Department of Commerce,  Community and Economic Development,                                                                    
Division   of  Corporations,   Business,  and   Professional                                                                    
Licensing, OMB  Component 2360. He expanded  that the fiscal                                                                    
note  showed an  increased FY  26 cost  of $172,600  and one                                                                    
position,  all  in  receipt-supported services.  The  fiscal                                                                    
note  also reflected  that  $263,900  of Designated  General                                                                    
Funds (DGF)  was included in  the governor's  request. There                                                                    
was $401,700  in receipt support services  and two positions                                                                    
from FY 27 going forward.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Claman thought the bill  was a positive step forward                                                                    
for the state.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SB  54  was   HEARD  and  HELD  in   committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:41:59 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:43:02 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 54 Legislative Legal Memo 1.5.2025 - Copy.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Sponsor Statement Version G 3.18.2025 - Copy.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Sectional Analysis Version G 3.18.2025 - Copy.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Supporting Document- Letter-ENSTAR 02.26.25 - Copy.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Supporting Document- Letters (Combined) - Copy.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Supporting Document-ASID Report 03.09.2023 - Copy.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Supporting Document-Sunset Review of AELS Board 04.07.2024 - Copy.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Supporting Document-USACE Contract Opportunity 01.31.2024 - Copy.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 AIA AK Position on 2.3.25.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Please Pass - Extend AELS Board; Register Interior Designers.msg SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 IIDA NPC Testimony.msg SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Testimony Killian.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Benoit Testimony.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 CIDQ Letter of Support- SB 54 (SF).pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 NCARB addressing AK SB 54.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Letter in Support_KConway_Olson.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 DCCED-CBPL-032125.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 61 (RES) Background Alaska Electronics Product Stewardship Summary.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 (RES) Background information - Denali Commission Letter for Support for Backhaul Alaska Program.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 (RES) Background Presentation Solid Waste Alaska Task Force.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 (RES) Supporting Document Alaska Business Magazine October 2024.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 (RES) Version I Explanation of Changes.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 (RES) Version I Sectional Analysis.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 (RES) Version I Sponsor Statement.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 (RES) Version I Support.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Electronics Recycling Opposition Letter SFIN 3.25.25.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 NEW DEC - EH - 02282025.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 30 Summary of Changes Ver A to Ver I.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 30
SB 30 Support Document DNR Response.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 30
SB 30 Supporting Document Hokenson Statement in Support.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 30
SB 30 Support Document Pawlowski Testimony in Support.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 30
SB 30 Ver I Sectional Analysis.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 30
SB 30 Ver I Sponsor Statement.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 30
SB 61 CTA_Opposition_SB61_3_26_25.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 54 Testimony Schmidt.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Testimony Goneau.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Testimony Fritz.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 SLC Amendments 3.26.2025.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Testimony Wiltfong.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 Testimony Cash.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 54 APDC 2025 SB 54 Letter of Support.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 4/11/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 54
SB 61 DeWilde.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Testimony Agnus.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Testimony Breuker.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Testimony Jeffers.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Testimony Edmund.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Testimony Silas.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 City of Emmonak suppor.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Comments Addressing CTA Opposition Letter- Zender Environmental.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 SWRAC Support Letter.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 SEASWA Support Letter.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Testimony Andrew.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Testimony Nowatak.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Angoon Community Association support.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Tesimony Horner.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Testimony Kassaiuli.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Testimony IGAP Manokotak Village Council.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Testimony Snowball.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Support Adams.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Support Bower.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 support Tuntutuliak.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61
SB 61 Support Wrangell Cooperative Association.pdf SFIN 3/27/2025 9:00:00 AM
SB 61