Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/17/1993 09:05 AM Senate STA
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATOR LEMAN announced SB 79 BOARDS/COMMISSIONS/ COUNCILS/AUTHORITIES and SB 80 BOARDS/COMMISSIONS/ COUNCILS/AUTHORITIES to be up for consideration. He said changing the sunset dates and an amendment regarding a technical error were the only two things that were different. RANDY WELKER said in the process of splitting the bills, one reference in the repealer section didn't get picked up. Number 370 SENATOR TAYLOR explained that there was a problem with the electrical workers who lost the ability, because of sunseting, to license various administrators. MR. WELKER said these bills are primarily to terminate regulation of electrical administrators by the state. MR. WELKER explained that termination has already occurred. This is simply an effort to clean up the statutes to reflect that. SENATOR TAYLOR said he didn't want to do that, because there were some real important public health and safety concerns we all need to be aware of concerning licensing of these people. He noted that the cold storage in Juneau burned down, because there was improper wiring inside. MR. WELKER said he would check with legal to see what the proper avenue for reestablishing the Board is, but he thought it would take separate legislation from this. Number 424 SENATOR DUNCAN asked what was the rationale for the varying lengths of time for review of various boards. MR. WELDER said there were several elements: one was if they had recently been reviewed under the sunset process, they were put in a later year of the ten year cycle, another was those boards and commissions they typically have no problems with, and boards and commissions that have not had a sunset review, yet, which were put in the earlier years of the review cycle. Number 450 KRISTIE LEAF, Deputy Director, Boards and Commissions, said the Governor's Task Force on Boards and Commissions recommended extensions, except for the Board of Mechanical Examiners. She said those Boards that do charge fees cover the cost of their own operations. They do not support changing the sunset from 4 years to 10 years. They feel that it would establish each Board as a more permanent structure in government which is contrary to current trends. They recommended the Code Revision Commission, the Hazardous Substance Spill Technology Review Council, and Storage Tank Assistance Board not be recommended for extension. The Older Alaskans Commission was recommended to be combined with the Pioneer Home Advisory Board. The Woman's Commission was recommended to be consolidated with two other Boards. SENATOR ELLIS asked if there were any specific recommendations from her Task Force on what was originally called the Cost of Care Review Board. MS. LEAF said SB 80 contained some of the recommendations of the Governor's Task Force. Others were the result of a study by Legislative Budget and Audit. She said they would defer to the Legislature's decisions on which Boards are to be continued or deferred. SENATOR DUNCAN asked why the legislature was not referred to in the case of the Women's Commission and the Children's Commission? MS. LEAF said the Executive Orders are before the legislature now, so they have the opportunity to disapprove them. Number 480 TERRY LAUTERBACH, Legislative Legal Services, said the termination date of the Women's Commission would not automatically apply to the new commission. If and when the Executive Order goes into effect, the legislature would need to amend SB 79 to put the new commission into the sunset cycle. It was not appropriate to do that yet, because the Women's Commission still exists. Number 555 SENATOR ELLIS said he planned to hold the Executive Agency of the Government to a very high standard of coordination on these things, because it seems like every empire is looking out for itself and not looking out for the overall state's interests. He was particularly concerned about tourism development. TAPE 93-9, SIDE B Number 580 MS. LAUTERBACH explained how she drafted the bills. SENATOR TAYLOR reiterated his concern with no examinations for electrical administrators. He said the test was controlled by the IBEW for years and it was grossly mismanaged. The controversy is there and it needs to be monitored. The legislature needs to make a policy call that says public health and safety needs to be considered. He does not favor deleting electrical administrators from the statute. Number 560 SENATOR LEMAN said he understands that it has already happened and the question is, do you want to leave the old statute in even though it's expired. SENATOR TAYLOR said he would be happy to clean it up and deal with it in Judiciary. Number 550 SENATOR TAYLOR moved to adopt Lauterbach amendment #1. There were no objections and it was so ordered. SENATOR MILLER moved to adopt amendment #2. SENATOR ELLIS objected. SENATOR LEMAN called for a roll call vote: SENATOR MILLER: No; SENATOR TAYLOR: No; SENATOR ELLIS: No; SENATOR DUNCAN: No; and SENATOR LEMAN: Yes; and the motion failed. SENATOR LEMAN announced amendment #3 to be up for consideration. SENATOR TAYLOR moved to adopt amendment #3. There were no objections and it was so ordered. SENATOR TAYLOR moved to discharge CSSB 79 (STA) from Committee with individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was so ordered. SENATOR LEMAN said they still had SB 80 before them. Number 515 KAREN MORGAN, Division of Information Services, opposed SB 80, particularly the language regarding Telecommunications Information Council (TIC). What TIC does that previous committees have not been able to do is combine the interests of the executive and legislative branches. They feel oversight is needed because so much money is involved and there is so much that can be done on the state wide level. Number 500 DENNIS DEWITT, Director, Division of Pioneer Benefits, said they opposed Sections 24, 25, 26, and the repealer portion of Section 36 which combines the Pioneer Advisory Board with the Older Alaskans Commission. Combining the two would increase the cost of running the Commission. He thought it was important to keep the two Boards because of the expertise they offer in the process of reorganization. HARLAN KNUDSON, Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, opposed Section 31 which removes the Medicaid Rate Commission. The Board is a good place to figure out rate changes and it is merely advisory. The Department still makes the decision, but it does allow the industry a chance to negotiate. Also, the repealers in the back look like they are repealing all the staff of the Medicaid Rate Commission. That is where the savings would be, but he thought the staff was essential. Number 440 SENATOR LEMAN said he would hold SB 80 until Friday.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|