04/22/2002 09:40 AM Senate RLS

The committee took  up HB 362-EXTEND BOARD OF GOVERNORS  OF AK BAR                                                          
ASSN.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT informed members  that he heard this measure in                                                              
the Senate  Judiciary Committee and  was "grousing" about  the way                                                              
the Alaska Bar  Association is treated differently  from any other                                                              
licensing group  in Alaska. Because  the Bar Association  feels it                                                              
falls under the  Court System, it increased its fees  and built up                                                              
a million dollar reserve a number  of years ago. It has been using                                                              
that reserve to cover costs over  the last couple of years instead                                                              
of  adjusting   fees  on  a   year-to-year  basis.  He   noted  he                                                              
understands why  that is  desirable but he  is disturbed  that the                                                              
Bar Association  is treated unlike  any other licensed  entity. He                                                              
said as a result of discussion in  the Senate Judiciary Committee,                                                              
he put  an earlier  sunset date  of 2004  in the  bill but  he has                                                              
since  reconsidered. He  advised  members that  an earlier  sunset                                                              
date  will require  Legislative  Budget and  Audit  to do  another                                                              
performance  audit and  he does not  feel that  is necessary.  The                                                              
legislature can deal with the fee issue with an audit trigger.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY said  he  also voted  for  those  changes in  the                                                              
Senate Judiciary Committee.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT  informed members that he is  willing to revert                                                              
to what the  auditor recommended regarding the  sunset date [2006]                                                              
and said  that he  will introduce  legislation  next year to  deal                                                              
with the fee issue.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY said that would be fine with him.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT  moved Amendment 1,  to change the  sunset date                                                              
from 2004 to 2006, the recommended date from the auditor.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  PHILLIPS  objected.  The motion  carried  with  Senators                                                              
Ellis,  Therriault and  Cowdery in  favor,  and Chairman  Phillips                                                              
opposed.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY  moved to  calendar  SCS  CSHB 362(RLS)  and  its                                                              
accompanying fiscal note at the Chairman's discretion.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  PHILLIPS announced  that with  no objection, the  motion                                                              
carried.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT  requested the  Chairman delay calendaring  SCS                                                              
CSHB  362(RLS)  so that  he  may  speak  to the  Senate  Judiciary                                                              
Committee chairman.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS agreed.