Legislature(2005 - 2006)CAPITOL 17
01/31/2005 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB61 | |
| HB35 | |
| HB15 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 35 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 61 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | HB 15 | ||
HB 35-EXTEND BD ARCHITECTS/ENGINEERS/SURVEYORS
CHAIR ANDERSON announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 35, "An Act extending the termination date of
the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and
Land Surveyors; and providing for an effective date."
4:09:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VIC KOHRING, Alaska State Legislature, testified
as the sponsor of HB 35. He explained that the bill would
extend the termination date of the State Board of Registration
for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS Board). He
remarked, "It was brought to my attention as a former member of
the LB&A [Legislative Budget and Audit] committee that this
organization was going to sunset ... or it would at least go
into a one year sunset period and then be terminated one year
from Juneau if [the legislature] did not take action this year."
He pointed out that there are 11 members on the board, including
two civil engineers, two land surveyors, one mining engineer,
one electrical or mechanical engineer, one engineer from another
branch of the profession of engineering, two architects, one
landscape architect, and one public member. He explained that
the purpose of the board is to provide for public safety in
terms of issuing licenses in these professions, and conducting
disciplinary actions as needed. He noted that the legislative
audit division found that the organization is operating well and
serving the public interest effectively, and they have
recommended that the board be continued.
PAT DAVIDSON, Legislative Auditor, Alaska Division of
Legislative Audit, stated that the division conducted a sunset
review on the State Board of Registration for Architects,
Engineers, and Land Surveyors and recommended an extension of
the sunset date until June 30, 2009. She noted that the
division made three recommendations to the board. She
explained:
The first [recommendation] is for the legislature to
consider, requiring mandatory continuing professional
education. A bill was passed a couple of years ago
making it permissive. The board has not taken any
action to date to implement that, and we're
recommending that the legislature consider making that
mandatory. ... The second recommendation involves the
continuing evolution of the engineering profession.
Alaska recognizes the core disciplines of civil,
chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering as
well as mining and petroleum engineers. Other states
have recognized other specialties or ... sub
disciplines. In this report we're recommending that
the board, in conjunction with the professional
society or with the University of Alaska, ... conduct
a comprehensive review regarding the public benefits
and the related costs associated with recognizing the
additional licenses in the Alaska structure. And the
third recommendation that we make is for the
legislature to consider making the landscape architect
a full voting member of the board. The number of
landscape architects is approximately the same as
mining engineers, who do have a designated seat on the
board.
4:12:10 PM
SAM KITO III, Alaska Profession Design Council, explained that
the council is "an organization of membership organizations that
represents architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape
architects, and we are here ... to say that we fully support the
extension of the AELS Board to 2009." In response to Chair
Anderson, he said that the board is relatively new and they are
trying to understand the board composition issue. He remarked
that, at the upcoming February meeting, the board plans to
address the issue of having a mining versus a mining/geological
engineering seat; the board would prefer to deal with the
question of the landscape architect position at that time as
well.
4:14:52 PM
CHAIR ANDERSON pointed out to the new committee members that
there are a multitude of board and commission extensions. He
noted that in the past adding on to the bills [while in
committee] can slow the bill down. He said:
One thing I fear is if we amend the bill then maybe
your organization is suddenly against the bill because
of the amendment, and I don't think that would be the
intent. And so I don't intend to amend the bill and I
hope the committee takes that lead, that we can pass
it out and separate legislation can be brought forth
addressing Ms. Davidson's concerns.
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG focused on Ms. Davidson's second
recommendation and stated that Alaska is one of the few states
that registers [engineers] by specific discipline, and "we're
short of numerous other disciplines. How do we handle these
people like a nuclear engineer or somebody that came up here and
wanted to be licensed?"
MR. KITO responded that most of those people apply for a general
civil engineering licenses or they will not be registered. He
remarked that the AELS Board currently has a subcommittee to
look into the issue of identification of registration
categories. He offered to send a report to the legislature
after the board's February meeting.
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG commented that he thought the audit was
well done and had valid recommendations, particularly in regards
to continuing education. He also remarked that it would be nice
to resolve the [issue of whether to make the landscape architect
a full voting member of the board].
CHAIR ANDERSON closed public testimony.
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT moved to report HB 35 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, HB 35 was reported from the
House Labor and Commerce Committee.
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