03/11/1997 01:47 PM Senate L&C

                                                                               
            SB  87 ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS & SURVEYORS                          
                                                                              
  CHAIRMAN LEMAN  said that completed everyone they were able to reach         
 and announced  SB 87  to be up for consideration.                             
                                                                               
  MS. KREITZER,  Staff to Senate Labor and Commerce Committee,                 
 explained the CS which was a result of conversations between the              
 Division of Occupational Licensing, the Alaska Professional Design            
 Council, and the AELS Board.  The only element this Committee made            
 clear they did not agree with was the sunset date which remains at            
 2001, not at 2003.  She said they might want to note on page 2,               
 under Organizations and Meetings, the title of President is changed           
 to Chairman and Vice President is changed to Vice Chairman.                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR KELLY  said he thought they would eventually add landscape           
 architects to this Board.  If they do that, he noted that there was           
 room for someone to be appointed.                                             
                                                                               
  SENATOR MILLER  moved to adopt the CS to SB 87.  There were no               
 objections and it was so ordered.                                             
                                                                               
  MR. MERLE JANTZ,  President, AELS Board, said the Board had worked           
 hard and focused on public health, safety, and welfare.  He said              
 they support the CS to SB 87.  It addresses all the issues the                
 Board was concerned about except they are in favor of the year 2003           
 as the sunset date.  He clarified that they elected the Chairman,             
 the Vice Chairman, and the Secretary.                                         
                                                                               
 Number 250                                                                    
  SENATOR MACKIE  moved on page 2, line 5 to delete "president" and            
 insert "chair;" delete "vice president" and insert "vice chair."              
 There were no objections and it was so ordered.                               
                                                                               
      MR. DWAYNE ADAMS,  Alaska Professional Design Council, said this         
 one of the most important pieces of legislation they will review              
 for the protection of the health and safety of Alaskans.                      
 Continuance of the licensing of architects assures our buildings              
 work, meet safety codes, and are accessible.  Continuance of                  
 licensing of engineers insures our water is clean, our buildings              
 are safe, and their mechanical and electrical systems meet the                
 needs of our unique climate in our urban and rural conditions.                
 Continuance of the licensure of our surveyors insures the ability             
 to conduct commerce under clearly defined lines and patterns of               
 ownership.  He said they support this bill, but recommend that the            
 2001 be changed to 2003, because the value of these professionals             
 for maintenance of health and safety is self evident.                         
                                                                               
 Number 297                                                                    
                                                                               
  MR. MIKE TAURIANIEN,  Board of Architects, Engineers, and Land               
 Surveyors, said he has served for seven years.  Bringing the number           
 of surveyors to two is important for the efficient operation of the           
 Board.  They make up a significant portion of their work load.                
                                                                               
  SENATOR KELLY  said he supported the bill and asked if anyone                
 opposed licensing landscape architects.  MR. TAURIANIEN said the              
 Board has generally been in favor of it, although it's been a split           
 vote.  His main concern is showing a compelling reason for                    
 protection of the public.  SENATOR KELLY asked him if he didn't               
 think the fact that 43 other states do was enough of a reason.  MR.           
 TAURIANIEN replied not at all.                                                
                                                                               
 SENATOR KELLY asked why he thought it was compelling to license               
 him.  MR. TAURIANIEN said he wouldn't argue with him if the                   
 legislature decided not to.  He thought they went overboard in                
 registration of many professions.                                             
                                                                               
  MR. JANTZ  said the Board in a teleconference about a week ago               
 considered the issue of including landscape architects and voted in           
 favor of removing them because there weren't enough to justify an             
 additional position for licensing them at this time.                          
                                                                               
  MR. KALEN  said the draft legislation the Board reviewed proposed to         
 add a landscape architect to the Board.   VICE CHAIRMAN MACKIE  noted         
 that Senator Leman had to leave and that they would have this issue           
 before the Committee in another bill.                                         
                                                                               
  SENATOR MILLER  said he wasn't sure why the fiscal notes coming from         
 the Department are written to show fiscal impact when these funds             
 are already built into the budget.  A fiscal note means another               
 Finance Committee referral.   MS. REARDON,  Director, Division of             
 Occupational Licensing, said the only reason they do the fiscal               
 notes that way is because they were directed by the legislature               
 several years ago to show the on-going costs so they would know               
 what they would save by eliminating the licensing program.  She               
 said she would be very happy to do the fiscal notes any way the               
 legislature wants them.                                                       
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER said if it's money that's already being collected,             
 he would rather see them reflect either additional money that would           
 be used or if there was a subtraction.                                        
                                                                               
  SENATOR MILLER  moved to zero out the fiscal note to make it                 
 accurate.  There were no objections and it was so ordered.                    
                                                                               
 MS. REARDON added that the draft CS adds a member to the Board                
 which would have a small fiscal impact of the money needed to                 
 travel to the Board meetings for that person.  She anticipated                
 about $2,500 per year.                                                        
                                                                               
 Number 420                                                                    
                                                                               
  SENATOR MILLER  moved to pass CSSB87(L&C)am from committee with              
 individual recommendations with a $0 fiscal note.  There were no              
 objections and it was so ordered.