Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/04/2026 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB211 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 150 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 218 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 211 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 211-EXTEND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING BOARDS
1:32:21 PM
VICE-CHAIR MERRICK announced the consideration of SENATE BILL
NO. 211 "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of
Professional Counselors; extending the termination date of the
Board of Marital and Family Therapy; extending the termination
date of the Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate
Examiners; extending the termination date of the Real Estate
Commission; extending the termination date of the Board of
Social Work Examiners; and providing for an effective date."
1:32:32 PM
KRIS CURTIS, Legislative Auditor, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 211 and read the
following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
The board served the public's interest by conducting
meetings in an effective manner, actively amending
regulations, and effectively licensing real estate
appraisers and appraisal management companies. The
audit also concluded that one board position had been
vacant for 56 months as of January 2025, statute
changes may be necessary to address federal oversight
findings, and board related investigations were not
consistently conducted in a timely manner. We
recommend a six year extension.
If you turn to page 8, you will find our discussion
about board statutes that may not fully comply with
federal law. This board is subject to oversight by the
federal appraisal subcommittee which reviews states
appraiser and appraisal management company regulatory
programs for compliance with federal requirements at
least every two years. Exhibit 2 shows the federal
findings issued in 2024. The findings indicate that
statutory changes are needed. According to the board
chair, curative legislation addressing the findings
have not been introduced because the board has been
unable to find a legislative sponsor.
The schedule of license activity is on page 10. As of
January 2025, there were 362 active licenses,
registrations and certificates. On page 12 is the
schedule of revenues and expenditures showing a
surplus of 86,000 as of January 2025.
We have three recommendations starting on page 13. We
recommend office of the governor boards and
commissions director continue to work with the board
to identify potential applicants to fill board seats
in a timely manner.
Rec 2 the board should continue to seek a statutory
change to address the federal Appraisal subcommittee
findings.
And rec #3 the DCCED commissioner should work with
policy makers to improve the recruitment and retention
of investigators. Auditors reviewed five board related
cases that had been opened for over 180 days and found
unjustified periods of inactivity in all five. Periods
of inactivity ranged from 165 days to 575 days.
Turnover and vacancies contributed to the delays.
Additionally, one period of 575 days was due to
untimely board member review.
Management response to the audit begins on page 25.
The Office of the Governor, DCCED's commissioner, and
the board chair concur with the conclusions and
recommendations.
1:35:05 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR asked why the Board of Certified Real Estate
Appraisers needs a legislative sponsor and what is the board
aiming to fix.
1:35:12 PM
MS. CURTIS replied that the Federal Appraisal Subcommittee is a
federal agency that reviews state appraisal and appraisal
management company licensing programs every two years. The
subcommittee's 2024 review identified state statutes that do not
fully align with federal requirements for appraisal management
companies, indicating that statutory changes are needed.
SENATOR DUNBAR asked for clarification on what aligning with
federal requirements means and identify the specific ways in
which the Legislature is out of compliance with federal law.
MS. CURTIS replied that in the Board of Certified Real Estate
audit report on page 9, exhibit 2 identifies two federal
findings. First, state statutes require federally regulated
appraisal management companies to report information that is not
consistent with the federal AMC rule. Second, state statutes on
ownership limitations for individuals whose appraisal licenses
or certificates were refused, denied, canceled, surrendered in
lieu of revocation, or revoked for substantive cause in any
state are not consistent with the AMC rule.
1:36:56 PM
SYLVAN ROBB, Director, Division of Corporations, Business and
Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development (DCCED), Juneau, Alaska, testified by
invitation on SB 211. She stated that a broader explanation of
how the division operates fiscally would have made the
discussion at the last meeting easier to follow. She said that
the division carries forward professional licensing revenues
because licenses are issued on a 2-year cycle with staggered
expiration dates. She noted that most revenue is generated
during renewal years, when significantly more licensees renew
than obtain new licenses; the following year typically generates
substantially less revenue. She said the division operates as a
single budget allocation and account. She said the division uses
detailed cost accounting to equitably allocate expenses, so
licensees pay only the costs of regulating their specific
program. She stated that overall, the division administers 45
programs covering 125 professions. For example, dental is one
program that licenses dentists, dental hygienists, and certain
certified dental assistants.
1:39:39 PM
VICE-CHAIR MERRICK announced invited testimony on SB 211.
1:39:57 PM
BRADLEY MCCONNELL, Vice-Chair, Board of Psychologist and
Psychological Associate Examiners, Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Juneau, Alaska,
testified by invitation on SB 211 and read the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
For the record, my name is Bradley McConnell, and I
serve as the Vice Chair of the Alaska Board of
Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today
in support of SB 211, which would extend the Board
following its sunset review.
The Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate
Examiners exists to protect the health, safety, and
welfare of Alaskans. Our mission statement, read into
the record at the beginning of each meeting is:
"The Board continues with the goals and purposes of
protection of the public; ensuring the public of
continued competency of licensed psychology
professionals; ensuring psychological care is offered
by professionally qualified persons; and ensuring
qualified psychology practitioners are available. The
Board has approved applicants for licensure as
Psychologists and Psychological Associates, as well as
monitored continuing education requirements."
By reading this at the beginning of each meeting, the
Board is reminded of our goals and objectives, and
stays focused on our duties to the licensees, the
public, and the safety of all Alaskans. The decisions
and regulations we make as a Board directly affect the
professionals delivering these critical services
across the state. Licensure through the Board ensures
that individuals practicing psychology in Alaska meet
consistent standards. This oversight provides the
function of preventing unqualified or unethical
practice, and ensures licensees are accountable to a
set of standards.
Eliminating or allowing the Board to lapse would
remove the specific oversight necessary from
professionals in this program. For these reasons, I
respectfully urge your support of SB 211 to extend the
Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate
Examiners.
1:42:16 PM
MAE HAYES, Chair, Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers,
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
(DCCED), Juneau, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 211. She
explained that most federally related real estate loan
transactions require appraisals performed by state-licensed
appraisers who meet minimum state criteria. She said state
appraisal boards are federally monitored by the Appraisal
Subcommittee, which relies on them to certify appraiser
qualifications, oversee appraisal management companies, and
ensure compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional
Appraisal Practice (USPAP). She stated that the board's
existence is therefore required to meet federal regulations and
ensure Alaskans can continue to obtain conventional, FHA, VA,
and other real estate loans.
1:43:48 PM
At ease.
1:44:08 PM
VICE-CHAIR MERRICK reconvened the meeting and held SB 211 in
committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB211 Letter-BSWE Chair Response to 2025 Audit 07.22.25.pdf |
SL&C 2/4/2026 1:30:00 PM |
SB 211 |