01/23/1996 08:00 AM House STA

 HB 369 - PROCUREMENT PREF FOR DISABLED                                      
                                                                               
 The first order of business to come before the House State                    
 Affairs Committee was HB 369.                                                 
                                                                               
 Number 0056                                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIR JEANNETTE JAMES announced Walter Wilcox, Committee Aide,                
 would present the sponsor statement for HB 369.                               
                                                                               
 WALTER WILCOX, Committee Aide, House State Affairs Committee,                 
 read the following sponsor statement into record.                             
                                                                               
 "This Bill allows 100% disabled owned corporations and                        
 partnerships to be eligible for a disabled bidder preference.                 
                                                                               
 "Current law allows disabled owned sole proprietorships to take               
 advantage of the disabled bidder preference that excludes                     
 partnerships and corporations.  This bill rectifies that."                    
                                                                               
 Number 0135                                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES asked if there were any questions or comments.  She               
 called on the first witness Stan Ridgeway, Deputy Director,                   
 Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.                                        
                                                                               
 Number 0156                                                                   
                                                                               
 STAN RIDGEWAY, Deputy Director, Division of Vocational                        
 Rehabilitation, Department of Education, said the division                    
 supported HB 369.  He stated it would allow persons with                      
 disabilities who were sole owners of corporations to qualify for              
 state bidders preference.                                                     
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES asked if there were any further questions or                      
 comments.                                                                     
                                                                               
 Number 0240                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE IVAN IVAN enquired to what extend a person needed              
 to be disabled to qualify for HB 369.                                         
                                                                               
 Number 0264                                                                   
                                                                               
 MR. RIDGEWAY responded the Department of Education defined an                 
 individual severely disabled if a major life function was                     
 restricted.  For veterans, he stated, it was defined as 50                    
 percent and above of a major life function restricted.  Mr.                   
 Ridgeway further cited examples of individuals blind, deaf or in              
 a wheelchair as severely disabled.                                            
                                                                               
 Number 0308                                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES announced the presence of Representatives Robinson,               
 Green and Ogan.                                                               
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES asked if there were any further questions or                      
 comments.                                                                     
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN said there was a similar bill passed and             
 modified in the Senate last year then vetoed.  He asked, for the              
 record if those differences had been discussed.                               
                                                                               
 Number 0340                                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES responded HB 369 was written the same way the Senate              
 bill was written before modification, and declared the                        
 Administration agreed to support it.  She further stated she                  
 hoped the bill would move forward without modifications.  Chair               
 James called on Dugan Petty, Director, Department of                          
 Administration.                                                               
                                                                               
 Number 0392                                                                   
                                                                               
 DUGAN PETTY, Director, Division of General Services, Department               
 of Administration, said the department did not object to HB 288               
 last year.  Mr. Petty said HB 288 corrected the inequity by                   
 adding the qualifying entities of partnership and corporation for             
 those with disabilities.                                                      
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES asked if there were any further questions or                      
 comments.                                                                     
                                                                               
 Number 0476                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN PORTER moved that HB 369 move from                       
 committee.  Hearing no objection, HB 369 was moved from the House             
 State Affairs Committee with the attached fiscal note and                     
 individual recommendations.                                                   
                                                                               
 Number 0569                                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES agreed to take further testimony despite the bill had             
 been moved and passed from the committee.  She called on Dave                 
 Gerke via teleconference in Anchorage.                                        
                                                                               
 DAVE GERKE sole proprietor of Sunshine General said he had been               
 disabled due to a heart attack since 1983.  He announced he                   
 completely supported HB 369 and especially the qualifying entity              
 of corporation.  He thanked the committee for their efforts.