Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

05/10/2023 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

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Audio Topic
01:41:12 PM Start
01:42:17 PM Presentation(s): Trauma-informed and Resilience-building Workforces and Workplaces
02:23:52 PM SB73
02:48:44 PM SB60
03:21:41 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
Presentation: Vickie Choitz, Director,
Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, Trauma and
Resilience at Work
-- Invited Testimony --
+= SB 73 REGISTER INTERIOR DESIGNERS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 73(L&C) Out of Committee
+= SB 60 REPEAL WORKERS' COMP APPEALS COMMISSION TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 60 Out of Committee
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
               SB 73-REGISTER INTERIOR DESIGNERS                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:23:52 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL NO. 73                                                               
"An Act  relating to registered  interior designers  and interior                                                               
design; establishing requirements for  the practice of registered                                                               
interior  design; renaming  the State  Board of  Registration for                                                               
Architects,  Engineers, and  Land  Surveyors the  State Board  of                                                               
Registration  for Design  Professionals;  relating  to the  State                                                               
Board  of  Registration  for Design  Professionals;  relating  to                                                               
liens  for   labor  or  materials  furnished;   relating  to  the                                                               
procurement  of interior  design services;  and providing  for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN said this is the  fourth hearing of this bill. The                                                               
intention is  to consider committee substitute  (CS), version \D.                                                               
He reminded the committee that  the motion to adopt the committee                                                               
substitute, version U, was withdrawn  on April 24. He invited Ms.                                                               
Kakaruk to put herself on the record and offer a recap of SB 73.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:24:52 PM                                                                                                                    
BREANNA  KAKARUK,  Staff,  Senator   Matt  Claman,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, gave  a recap of  SB 73.  This bill                                                               
establishes  registration  for  educated and  qualified  interior                                                               
designers  wishing  to  practice registered  interior  design  in                                                               
buildings  of  public  occupancy  within  a  regulated  scope  of                                                               
services  impacting public  safety. SB  73 will  ensure designers                                                               
practicing in public occupancy buildings  are qualified to do so,                                                               
providing another  measure of public  safety protection  and risk                                                               
mitigation for commercial buildings.  This bill will increase the                                                               
number   of   design  professionals   who   are   able  to   work                                                               
independently within the commercial real estate industry.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:25:45 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR commented on the  resistance from the architecture                                                               
community and requested  an update on that and  the working group                                                               
monitoring the bill.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. KAKARUK responded  that she and Senator  Claman discussed the                                                               
CS with  the working  group last night.  She said  Senator Claman                                                               
considered the  working group's  preferred changes,  relayed them                                                               
to  the  committee,  and  included  them in  the  CS  before  the                                                               
committee  today. This  process will  be ongoing.  Senator Claman                                                               
will continue to  hear about changes and parlay them  to the next                                                               
committee of referral.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:27:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN said  today's  committee  substitute was  drafted                                                               
following   a   meeting   with  stakeholder   organizations   and                                                               
distributed  to those  organizations and  committee members  last                                                               
week. He solicited a motion.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:28:00 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON moved  to  adopt  the committee  substitute                                                               
(CS) for SB 73, work order 33-LS0244\D, as the working document.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN  presumably objected  for purposes  of discussion.                                                               
He stated  Mr. Jackson  will present the  summary of  changes for                                                               
the CS.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:28:41 PM                                                                                                                    
KONRAD  JACKSON,  Staff,  Senator Jesse  Bjorkman,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, said  this CS, version  D, resulted                                                               
from meetings with stakeholder groups  reaching for consensus. He                                                               
noted  the  CS version  /U  was  not  adopted. He  presented  the                                                               
summary of changes from version /S to version/D:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                             SB 73                                                                                              
                       Summary of Changes                                                                                       
                     Version S to Version D                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Old sections  1-4 are  deleted. Remaining  sections are                                                                    
     renumbered.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1:  AS 08.48.011(b) is amended  to increase the                                                                    
     board from  11 to 13  members. This is  accomplished by                                                                    
     removing  the   restriction  allowing   one  electrical                                                                    
     engineer or  one mechanical engineer. The  new language                                                                    
     allows for  one of each. An  interior designer position                                                                    
     is added to the board. (Immediate effective date)                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:30:42 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:31:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:31:18 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. JACKSON continued reviewing the summary of changes:                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2: (Renumbered old section  5) AS 08.48.011 (b)                                                                    
     is amended  to rename the "interior  designer" position                                                                    
     on  the  board  to a  "registered  interior  designer".                                                                    
     Effective with the Section 38 transition language.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR.  JACKSON said  Section 2  is  a conforming  change that  once                                                               
established and  the qualifications  are deemed  appropriate, the                                                               
"interior  designer"   on  the   board  would  be   considered  a                                                               
"registered interior designer."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section  3. AS  08.48.011(c) is  amended to  allow more                                                                    
     than  one   electrical  engineer   or  more   than  one                                                                    
     mechanical  engineer  to  serve simultaneously  on  the                                                                    
     board  if  a member  of  the  other profession  is  not                                                                    
     available  to fill  the  position  designated for  that                                                                    
     profession.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
[Technical audio difficulty.]                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:32:06 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:33:14 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:33:23 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. JACKSON supplemented the explanation of Section 3. He                                                                       
continued reviewing the summary of changes:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Sections 4-5-6-7.  Amended and renumbered  old sections                                                                    
     to  conform with  the addition  of "registered"  to the                                                                    
     "interior designer" title.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section 8. Old section 10  is deleted and replaced with                                                                    
     language to  conform with the addition  of "registered"                                                                    
     to the "interior designer" title.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Sections 9-10. Renumbered former sections 11-12.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section  11.  Renumbered  former  section  13.  Inserts                                                                    
     "registered" to the "interior designer" title.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  12 &  13. Renumbered  former sections  14 and                                                                    
     15, respectively.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:35:13 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR sought confirmation that either the word                                                                         
"registered" was added or the sections were renumbered for those                                                                
sections up through Section 26.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. JACKSON replied that looks to be the case, though some                                                                      
sections do both. The summary of changes for Sections 14 through                                                                
26 reads:                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section  14.  Renumbered  former  section  16.  Inserts                                                                    
     "registered" to the "interior designer" title.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  15 &  16. Renumbered  former sections  17 and                                                                    
     18.  Conforming  changes  to add  "registered"  to  the                                                                    
     "interior designer" title.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section 17. Renumbered former section 19.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Section  18.  Renumbered  former  section  20.  Inserts                                                                    
     "registered" to the "interior designer" title.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Sections 19-25. Renumbered former section 21-27.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section  26.  Renumbered  former  section  28.  Inserts                                                                    
     "registered" to the "interior designer" title.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:35:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked Mr. Jackson to continue the summary of                                                                     
changes starting at Section 27.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. JACKSON continued presenting the summary of changes from                                                                    
Section 27:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Section  27. Renumbered  former section  29. Amends  AS                                                                    
     08.48.331  (a) by  deleting the  reference on  page 13,                                                                    
     line  21 in  paragraph (8)  to a  person "other  than a                                                                    
     person providing interior  design services". Amends new                                                                    
     paragraph  (15) by  removing the  reference to  (6) (A)                                                                    
     and (B) of this subsection.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Old Section 30 is deleted.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section  28.   Amends  AS   08.48.331  by   adding  new                                                                    
     subsection  (c)  requiring   an  interior  designer  be                                                                    
     registered if practicing  interior design which affects                                                                    
     the public health, safety or  welfare, as determined by                                                                    
     the board.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section 29.  Renumbered former  section 31  and inserts                                                                    
     "registered" to the "interior designer" title.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Section  30. Amends  AS 08.48.341  (25) by  simplifying                                                                    
     the definition  of a  registered interior  designer and                                                                    
     removing  paragraph (B)  which  listed practices  which                                                                    
     were not permitted by registered interior designers.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Old sections 33 and 34 are deleted.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section 31. Renumbered former section 35.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Section   32.  Amends   former   section  36.   Inserts                                                                    
     "registered" to the "interior designer" title.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Sections 33-36.  Amends former sections  37-40. Inserts                                                                    
     "registered" to the "interior designer" title.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Old sections 41 and 42 are deleted.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:38:02 PM                                                                                                                    
     Section  37. Renumbers  former section  43 and  changes                                                                    
     references former sections 1-42 to sections 2-36.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section 38. Adds new  transition language requiring the                                                                    
     interior designer  appointed to the board  be certified                                                                    
     by the  Council for  Interior Design  Qualification and                                                                    
     must  have resided  in  the state  for  at least  three                                                                    
     years    immediately    preceding   the    appointment.                                                                    
     Additionally, allows  for an interior designer  to hold                                                                    
     the board seat until  a registered interior designer is                                                                    
     appointed  to  the  seat, subject  to  meeting  certain                                                                    
     requirements.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Section 39. Renumbered former section 44.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Sections 40  and 41. Renumbered and  conforming changes                                                                    
     to former sections 45 and 46.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:39:22 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR  asked what the  primary, substantive  issues were                                                               
that architects raised and this CS addresses.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. JACKSON  referred to a large  change made to the  bill, which                                                               
affects  AS 08.48.181  in Section  10,  version S.  He noted  the                                                               
change removes a reference to  an examination administered by the                                                               
Council for Interior Design Qualification.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. JACKSON referred  to another significant change  to the bill,                                                               
which affects AS  08.48.341 in Section 32, version  S. He advised                                                               
that  this change  removes  the "does  not  include" language  in                                                               
subparagraph (B)  regarding the  practice of  registered interior                                                               
design.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:41:24 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DUNBAR  referred to  Section  10,  version S.  He  asked                                                               
whether any direction is provided  as to what kind of examination                                                               
is needed  to qualify  as a registered  interior designer  if the                                                               
following language is removed from  the bill: "... standards must                                                               
include successfully  completing the examination  administered by                                                               
the Council for Interior Design Qualification or its successor."                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. JACKSON  apologized, stating  he misspoke about  the deletion                                                               
of that language. He corrected  himself, advising this is part of                                                               
the  new transition  language  in Section  38,  version /D.  That                                                               
language is still in place.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR. JACKSON said there is another substantive change.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:43:31 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:44:22 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN  reconvened the meeting.  He asked Mr.  Jackson to                                                               
resume  outlining the  agreed-upon  changes  between the  working                                                               
group of interior designers and architects.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:44:36 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. JACKSON  explained that  the definition  of the  "practice of                                                               
registered interior design" work was  simplified in Section 30 of                                                               
version /D, and  the two stakeholders agreed on  the language. He                                                               
expressed his  belief that the  simplified language  and removing                                                               
language prohibiting  certain actions  and activities  provide an                                                               
adequate definition.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:45:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   removed  his  objection.  Finding   no  further                                                               
objection CSSB  73, work  order 33-LS0244\D,  was adopted  as the                                                               
working document.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN said the outcome  of this bill is that individuals                                                               
trained  in interior  design can  register as  interior designers                                                               
and stamp their  own work. He noted that SB  73 does not preclude                                                               
individuals   from   practicing   interior   design   under   the                                                               
supervision of  an architect;  they may continue  to do  so. This                                                               
bill  allows  individuals  who   want  to  register  as  interior                                                               
designers  and sign  off  on their  own work  to  fall under  the                                                               
regulation  of the  State Board  of Registration  for Architects,                                                               
Engineers,  and Land  Surveyors, which  will have  more oversight                                                               
over their practice. He solicited the will of the committee.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:46:52 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON moved  to report  CSSB 73,  work order  33-                                                               
LS0244\D,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN found  no objection and CSSB  73(L&C) was reported                                                               
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.                                                                          

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 73 Draft Proposed CS ver D.pdf SL&C 5/10/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 73
Presentation to SL&C-Vickie Choitz_CSW_Trauma and Resilience at Work 05.10.23.pdf SL&C 5/10/2023 1:30:00 PM
Trauma and Resilience at Work
SB 60 Fiscal Note-JUD-ACS-02-27-23.pdf SL&C 5/10/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 60
SB 60 Public Testimony-Letter_APCIA 03.15.23.pdf SL&C 5/10/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 60