02/17/2015 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS

              HB 68-ELECTRONIC DISTRIB. OF REPORTS                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:09:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN announced  that the first order of  business was HOUSE                                                               
BILL  NO. 68,  "An Act  relating to  the preparation,  electronic                                                               
distribution, and posting of reports by state agencies."                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:10:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG  moved to  adopt the  proposed committee                                                               
substitute (CS) for HB 68,  Version 29-LS0352\H, Nauman, 2/16/15,                                                               
as a work draft.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:10:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS,  testifying telephonically  as the                                                               
prime sponsor  of HB  68, explained  that Version  H incorporated                                                               
changes  to ensure  that  Alaskans could  obtain  hard copies  of                                                               
state  agency  reports from  the  Alaska  State Library  free  of                                                               
charge,  "within  reasonable  limits."   He  explained  that  the                                                               
Alaska State Library  receives 10 requests for  such reports each                                                               
year at  an estimated  cost of  $50-$150, which  he opined  was a                                                               
pittance  compared to  the half  million  dollars that  HB 68  is                                                               
projected to save.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:13:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER  directed attention to language  in Section                                                               
4, subsection (b),  on page 3, [lines 16-19 of  Version H], which                                                               
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
          (b) Except as provided in (a) of this section,                                                                        
     electronic distribution  and electronic posting  on the                                                                    
     Alaska  Online  Public  Notice  System  (AS  44.62.175)                                                                    
     fulfills  any  obligation  in  state  law  to  publish,                                                                    
     prepare,   or   present   a  report,   and   electronic                                                                    
      distribution fulfills any obligation in state law to                                                                      
     submit a report.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked whether Representative Kreiss-                                                                      
Tomkins  knew the  scope of  what  that affects,  and whether  it                                                               
affects the requirement to post notifications on regulations.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:15:09 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KREISS-TOMKINS said  he did  not have  a copy  of                                                               
Version H in front of him.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER explained  that he  did not  want to  slow                                                               
down the bill, but questioned  whether the committee should await                                                               
clarification  before  moving  the proposed  legislation  out  of                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN indicated a willingness to  hold HB 68, or pass it out                                                               
of committee.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER said  he  was willing  to  do either,  but                                                               
asked Representative Kreiss-Tomkins if he  would mind if the bill                                                               
was held over for another hearing.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KREISS-TOMKINS  said  he  thought  waiting  until                                                               
Thursday  would  be fine;  however,  his  staff is  available  to                                                               
address the issue.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:17:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BERETT  WILBER,  Staff, Representative  Jonathan  Kreiss-Tomkins,                                                               
Alaska  State Legislature,  on behalf  of Representative  Kreiss-                                                               
Tomkins, offered  her understanding that regulations  do not fall                                                               
under the  definition of agency  reports, and she said  she would                                                               
like to verify before the committee takes definitive action.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN, after ascertaining no  one further wished to testify,                                                               
closed public testimony.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES suggested  that the  committee hold  HB 68                                                               
until it receives an answer to the aforementioned question.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:18:51 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER removed  his  objection to  the motion  to                                                               
adopt the proposed  committee substitute (CS) for  HB 68, Version                                                               
29-LS0352\H,  Nauman, 2/16/15,  as the  working document.   There                                                               
being no further objection, Version H was before the committee.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
[HB 68 was held over.]