05/01/2002 01:15 PM House JUD

SB 183 - ATTY FEES:APPORTIONMT/PUBLIC INT.LITIGANT                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Number 0154                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ROKEBERG  announced that the  next order of  business would                                                               
be  SENATE BILL  NO. 183,  "An  Act relating  to public  interest                                                               
litigants  and to  attorney fees;  and amending  Rule 82,  Alaska                                                               
Rules of Civil Procedure."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 0201                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL  moved to report  SB 183 out  of committee                                                               
with individual recommendations and  the accompanying zero fiscal                                                               
note.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Number 0275                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER objected for the  purpose of discussion.  He                                                               
referred  to [subsection]  (g)  on  page 2,  and  asked what  the                                                               
current practice is  with regard to awarding attorney  fees to or                                                               
against public interest litigants.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  ROKEBERG  surmised  that currently  "they're  awarded  100                                                               
percent,"  and offered  that subsection  (g)  will simply  ensure                                                               
that attorney  fees will  be awarded  in the  same manner  as for                                                               
non-public interest litigants.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER withdrew his objection.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 0339                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ROKEBERG  noted that  there were  no further  objections to                                                               
the  motion.   Therefore,  SB  183 was  reported  from the  House                                                               
Judiciary Standing Committee.