Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/06/2026 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB211 | |
| SB225 | |
| SB198 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 211 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 225 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 198 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 211-EXTEND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING BOARDS
1:33:31 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN 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."
[The committee adopted a committee substitute on February
2,2026, and is before the committee.]
1:34:21 PM
MATT CHURCHILL, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided a summary of SB 211 and
stated that the bill extends the sunset dates of six
professional boards scheduled to expire on June 30, in line with
the state's 2025 audit recommendations.
1:35:24 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced invited testimony on SB 211.
1:35:43 PM
CRYSTAL HERRING, Chair, Board of Professional Counselors,
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
(DCCED), Juneau, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 211 and
read the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
The Board of Professional Counselors exists to protect
the health, safety, and welfare of Alaskans by
ensuring that individuals providing professional
counseling services are qualified, competent, and held
to consistent ethical standards. Professional
counselors provide critical mental health services
across Alaska, including in rural and underserved
communities. These services support individuals,
families, veterans, first responders, and youth, and
are often a frontline response to trauma, substance
use disorders, and behavioral health crises.
The board's statutory responsibilities include
licensing professional counselors, establishing
education and supervision requirements, adopting and
enforcing a professional code of ethics, and ensuring
ongoing competency through continuing education. These
functions are essential to public protection. They
ensure that counseling services in Alaska are
delivered by trained, ethical, and accountable
professionals, including in complex or high-risk
situations. The board also adopts and updates
regulations to reflect statutory changes, best
practices, and evolving service delivery models such
as telehealth, which has expanded access to care
across the state.
Without a dedicated regulatory board, specialized
oversight of professional counseling would be
diminished, reducing accountability and public
protection at a time when demand for mental health
services continues to grow.
While you may have noted that the audit recommends a
six-year extension rather than the full eight years
due to administrative factors outside the boards
control, we respectfully request your support of SB
211 to include a full extension of the Board of
Professional Counselors so that we may continue
providing stable and effective oversight in the public
interest.
1:38:23 PM
NOAH SHIELDS, Chair, Board of Marital and Family Therapy,
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
(DCCED), Juneau, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 211 and
read the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
The Board of Marital and Family Therapy exists to
protect the public by ensuring that individuals
providing marital and family therapy services in
Alaska meet consistent, rigorous standards for
education, training, ethical practice, and
professional accountability. Our work supports both
public safety and access to quality mental health care
through consistent licensure standards, clear
expectations for practice, and accountability for
licensees.
Marital and family therapists often work with
children, families in crisis, individuals experiencing
trauma, and couples navigating significant life
challenges. Because of this, the board's role in
oversight, licensure, and enforcement has a direct
impact on the safety and wellbeing of Alaskans.
1:39:29 PM
MR. SHIELDS continued with his testimony on SB 211:
[Original punctuation provided.]
In recent years, the board has engaged in ongoing
regulation projects within its authority to ensure
that Alaska's requirements for licensure, supervision,
professional conduct, and continuing education remain
current with national professional standards and the
evolving needs of the public. This includes regularly
reviewing and updating regulations to clarify
expectations for licensees, support safe clinical
practice, modernize language that was outdated, and
ensure that new professionals entering the field are
prepared to provide competent care.
The board also plays a key role in reviewing
applications, monitoring compliance with licensing
requirements, and addressing complaints. Through
timely case review and appropriate disciplinary action
when necessary, the board helps maintain public trust
and ensures that standards for safe and ethical
practice are upheld.
Through this consistent regulatory work and oversight,
the board helps ensure that Alaskans receive care from
qualified, well-trained, and accountable
professionals.
For these reasons, we respectfully urge your support
for SB 211 to extend the Board of Marital and Family
Therapy. Continuation of the board ensures that this
essential work in public protection, professional
accountability, and maintaining up-to-date
professional standards can continue without
interruption.
1:41:12 PM
CHERYL MARKWOOD, Chair, Real Estate Commission, Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Anchorage,
Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 211 and read the
following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
The Alaska Real Estate Commission plays a critical
role in protecting the public, maintaining
professional standards, and ensuring confidence in one
of the largest financial transactions most Alaskans
will ever makethe purchase or sale of real property.
Real estate impacts housing availability, economic
stability, lending, development, property management,
and private property rights. Effective oversight
matters.
The Commission's responsibilities are clear and
longstanding:
-Licensing qualified professionals
-Enforcing statutes and regulations
-Investigating complaints and taking disciplinary
action when warranted
-Providing guidance and education to promote
compliance
These duties cannot be effectively absorbed elsewhere
without loss of expertise or increased cost, and they
are best carried out by a board dedicated solely to
this industry.
Regarding the Commission's most recent sunset audit,
we take those findings seriously. The audit process is
an important accountability tool, and the Commission
has worked collaboratively with staff and the Division
to address recommendations, strengthen internal
processes, and improve consistencyparticularly in
documentation and procedural clarity.
Importantly, the audit did not identify systemic
failures or public risk that would justify
discontinuing the Commission. Instead, it confirmed
that the Commission is functioning as intended and
fulfilling its statutory role.
Alaska's real estate market also presents unique
challengesincluding remote transactions, rural land
issues, seasonal market pressures, and housing supply
constraints. The Commission provides Alaska-specific
oversight informed by local knowledge and experience.
Extending the Alaska Real Estate Commission under SB
211 ensures continued consumer protection, regulatory
stability, and institutional knowledgewhile
preserving legislative oversight through the sunset
process.
1:44:12 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN concluded invited testimony on SB 211.
1:44:19 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 211; finding none,
he closed public testimony.
1:44:52 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 34-
LS1252\N.2.
34-LS1252\N.2
Gunther
2/6/26
A M E N D M E N T 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR DUNBAR
TO: CSSB 211(L&C), Draft Version "N"
Page 1, line 6, following "Examiners;":
Insert "relating to reports on the Board of
Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners and
the Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers;"
Page 2, following line 12:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 7. The uncodified law of the State of
Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read:
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT: REPORTS. By the first day of
the First Regular Session of the Thirty-Sixth Alaska
State Legislature, the legislative audit division
established under AS 24.20.241 shall submit reports to
the legislative budget and audit committee established
under AS 24.20.151 concerning compliance by the Board
of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners
and the Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers with
the recommendations of the June 5, 2025, audits of the
boards conducted under AS 44.66."
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
1:44:57 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
1:45:00 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR stated that two boards were identified with
deficits and recommended fee increases, but those increases were
denied by the Governor's office, which the speaker views as poor
practice. He said instead of shortening the extension period,
the proposal was revised to include a midterm reporting
requirement, recognizing that the boards should not be penalized
for decisions outside their control.
1:46:31 PM
KRIS CURTIS, Legislative Auditor, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, provided comments to the proposed amendment for
SB 211. She said the amendment establishes a mid-cycle review to
ensure legislative oversight of corrective actions from sunset
audit recommendations. She said in 2028, auditors will conduct a
focused, limited review, rather than a full audit and report to
the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee on the status of
those recommendations.
1:48:37 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked Ms. Curtis if she is comfortable with the
amendment.
1:48:39 PM
MS. CURTIS answered yes and said it is the most cost-effective
way to ensure corrective action.
1:48:49 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.
1:49:17 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no further objection and Amendment 1 was
adopted.
1:49:21 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR moved Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 1.
CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 1
BY SENATOR DUNBAR
Page 1, line 14 following "the"
Insert "April 17 and"
1:49:41 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
1:49:51 PM
MS. CURTIS clarified that the inserted language [April 17 and]
goes right in front of June 5.
1:49:58 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.
1:50:05 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no further objection and Conceptual
Amendment 1 to Amendment 1 was adopted. Amendment 1, as amended,
was before the committee.
[Amendment 1, as amended, was adopted by the committee per
tacitly approved.]
1:50:15 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
1:50:17 PM
SENATOR MERRICK moved to report CSSB 211, work order 34-
LS1252\N, as amended, from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s) and authorize
Legislative Legal Services to make technical and conforming
changes.
1:50:40 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and CSSB 211(L&C) was reported
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB198 Draft Proposed CS ver. N.pdf |
SL&C 2/6/2026 1:30:00 PM |
SB 198 |
| SB198 Explanation of Changes ver A to N.pdf |
SL&C 2/6/2026 1:30:00 PM |
SB 198 |
| SB198 Fiscal Note DOA-DRB 01.27.26.pdf |
SL&C 2/6/2026 1:30:00 PM |
SB 198 |
| SB225 ver. A.pdf |
SL&C 2/6/2026 1:30:00 PM |
SB 225 |
| SB225 Transmittal Letter 1.22.26.pdf |
SL&C 2/6/2026 1:30:00 PM |
SB 225 |
| SB225 Sectional Analysis version A 1.28.26.pdf |
SL&C 2/6/2026 1:30:00 PM |
SB 225 |
| SB225 Fiscal Note DCCED-DBS 1.22.26.pdf |
SL&C 2/6/2026 1:30:00 PM |
SB 225 |
| SB225 Fiscal Note-JUD-ACS 02.04.26.pdf |
SL&C 2/6/2026 1:30:00 PM |
SB 225 |
| SB198 Sectional Analysis ver N.pdf |
SL&C 2/6/2026 1:30:00 PM |
SB 198 |