Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/02/2025 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB170 | |
| SB89 | |
| SB99 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 170 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 89 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 136 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 99 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 99-CPA AS PRIVATE PROFESSIONAL CONSERVATORS
3:02:10 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 99 "An Act relating to private
professional conservators; and providing for an effective date."
3:02:42 PM
SENATOR ROBERT MYERS, District Q, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 99. He said the bill would create
a second licensing path for private professional conservators,
allowing licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPAs) to qualify
without completing the full national guardianship certification,
much of which is unrelated to conservatorship duties.
3:03:35 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 99.
3:03:59 PM
LAURA BONNER, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 99. She shared her experience as a guardian and
co-guardian for her daughter with a disability, noting her
understanding of the distinct roles of guardians and
conservators. She said SB 99 would allow CPAs to be licensed as
conservators without needing guardianship certification,
expanding resources for those needing professional conservator
services.
3:05:31 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on SB 99.
3:06:21 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.
3:06:23 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 34-
LS0527\A.2.
34-LS0527\A.2
Gunther
4/7/25
A M E N D M E N T 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON
TO: SB 99
Page 1, line 1, following "conservators;":
Insert "amending Rule 17(e), Alaska Rules of
Probate Procedure;"
Page 4, following line 7:
Insert new bill sections to read:
"* Sec. 6. AS 13.26.465(g) is amended to read:
(g) In addition to any other requirement
of this section, [WHEN APPOINTING A RELATIVE OR
FRIEND OF THE PROTECTED PERSON AS THE CONSERVATOR
OF THE PROTECTED PERSON,] the court shall require
that a [THE] proposed conservator complete one
hour of mandatory education on the basics of
conservatorship before the appointment or within
30 days after the appointment if the proposed
conservator is a
(1) relative or friend of the protected
person; or
(2) private professional conservator who
obtained a private professional conservator
license by satisfying the licensure requirement
provided under AS 08.26.030(4)(B) and has not
previously completed the mandatory education
required by the court under this subsection. [IF
THE PERSON IS APPOINTED BASED ON THE PERSON'S
AGREEMENT TO COMPLETE THE MANDATORY EDUCATION AND
THE PERSON FAILS TO COMPLETE THE MANDATORY
EDUCATION WITHIN THE 30 DAYS, THE COURT SHALL
REMOVE THE CONSERVATOR AND APPOINT A SUCCESSOR.]
* Sec. 7. AS 13.26.465 is amended by adding a new
subsection to read:
(h) If a person is appointed as a
conservator based on the person's agreement to
complete the mandatory education within 30 days
under (g) of this section and the person fails to
complete the mandatory education within 30 days,
the court shall remove the conservator and
appoint a successor.
* Sec. 8. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska
is amended by adding a new section to read:
DIRECT COURT RULE AMENDMENT. Rule 17(e),
Alaska Rules of Probate Procedure, is amended to
read:
(e) Mandatory Education. A person
required to complete one hour of mandatory
education on the basics of conservatorship under
AS 13.26.465(g) [RELATIVE OR FRIEND OF THE
PROTECTED PERSON WHO IS APPOINTED AS A
CONSERVATOR] must complete the [ONE HOUR OF]
mandatory education [ON THE BASICS OF
CONSERVATORSHIP] before [THE] appointment or
within 30 days after [THE] appointment as
provided by AS 13.26.465(g)."
Renumber the following bill section accordingly.
3:06:29 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
3:06:34 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON read the explanation of Amendment 1:
[Original punctuation provided.]
3:06:33 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON continued with explanation of Amendment 1:
The court system pointed out that they offer free
training online for family and friends who are
appointed as non-professional conservators.
This short 1-hour training course covers the basics of
the laws surrounding conservators in the state of
Alaska.
This amendment would simply require that private
professional conservators who are licensed through the
CPA take this short training upon appointment with
their first client.
CPA's already have training to be competent
conservators, but this training would ensure they know
the specific laws governing conservators.
This one-time, free training would make sure that all
private conservators understand what laws apply to
their practice.
In closing, this amendment protects the person who
needs a conservator, and the bill sponsor is in
support of this bill.
3:07:36 PM
SENATOR MYERS said the idea originated from the court system,
which later informed them about the available training. He said
the training is a valuable addition to SB 99, as fiduciary
principles are already well understood in the CPA community. He
expressed support for the amendment.
3:08:05 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.
3:08:08 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no further objection and Amendment 1 was
adopted.
3:08:18 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN held SB 99, as amended, in committee.