Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/02/1993 03:00 PM House L&C
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
JOINT HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE &
HOUSE INTERNATIONAL TRADE & TOURISM
STANDING COMMITTEES
February 2, 1993
3:00 p.m.
L&C MEMBERS PRESENT
Rep. Bill Hudson, Chairman
Rep. Joe Green, Vice Chairman
Rep. Brian Porter
Rep. Bill Williams
Rep. Eldon Mulder
Rep. Jerry Mackie
L&C MEMBERS ABSENT
Rep. Joe Sitton
ITT MEMBERS PRESENT
Rep. Jeannette James, Chairman
Rep. Jerry Sanders
Rep. Joe Green
Rep. Jim Nordland
Rep. Cynthia Toohey
ITT MEMBERS ABSENT
Rep. Curt Menard
Rep. Terry Martin
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
*HB 92: "An Act relating to notaries; and providing for an
effective date."
MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
Confirmation hearing of Paul Fuhs, Commissioner Designee of
the Department Commerce and Economic Development
WITNESS REGISTER
REP. GENE THERRIAULT
Alaska State Legislature
Room 421, State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
465-4797
Position Statement: Prime Sponsor of HB 92
PATTY TROTT
Notary Commissions Administrator
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
P.O. Box 110015
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0015
Position Statement: Supported HB 92
PAUL FUHS, Commissioner Designee
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
P.O. Box 110800
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0800
465-2500
Position Statement: Answered questions
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 92
SHORT TITLE: REGULATION OF NOTARIES PUBLIC
BILL VERSION: SSHB 92
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) THERRIAULT
TITLE: "An Act relating to notaries; and providing for an
effective date."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/27/93 163 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
01/27/93 164 (H) LABOR & COMMERCE, JUDICIARY
02/01/93 198 (H) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE
INTRODUCED-REFERRALS
02/01/93 198 (H) LABOR & COMMERCE, JUDICIARY
02/02/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 124
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 7, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN BILL HUDSON convened the House Labor and Commerce
Committee at 3:07 p.m., February 2, 1993. Members present
were Reps. Hudson, Porter, Mulder, Williams and Green.
HB 92: REGULATION OF NOTARIES PUBLIC
Number 064
REP. GENE THERRIAULT, PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 92, read his
sponsor statement and the sectional analysis to the
committee and offered them for the record.
Number 282
REP. BRIAN PORTER noted that during the campaign one of the
concerns expressed over and over was regulation reform. He
asked the sponsor what this bill would fix.
Number 322
REP. THERRIAULT answered that the Lt. Governor's office
deals on a daily basis with persons who are questioning the
signatures of notaries. He also outlined a court case his
attorney/wife had where a document was forged, seven years
had passed, and then the notary couldn't remember the
details of the transaction.
REP. THERRIAULT noted that the use of a journal would
eliminate problems in this area. He explained that the use
of the inking seal as opposed to the embossed one would save
costs and eliminate the problem of not being able to fax or
duplicate something notarized as the raised area won't show.
REP. PORTER questioned the use of the word "fee" on page 3,
line 6.
Number 370
PATTY TROTT, NOTARY COMMISSIONS ADMINISTRATOR, OFFICE OF THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, agreed with the committee that removal
of the word fee would not hurt the intent of HB 92.
REP. PORTER moved amendment 1: delete the word "fee" from
page 3, line 6. The amendment was approved with unanimous
consent and adopted.
Number 375
REP. ELDON MULDER asked if through regulations it would be
required that notaries change from the embossed seal to the
inking stamp.
MS. TROTT stated that the Lt. Governor does not have the
authority to make that change.
REP. MULDER voiced his opposition to the bill because of
over-regulation.
Number 393
REP. THERRIAULT expressed his support of HB 97 and suggested
that while on first blush the bill may appear to make things
more complicated, he didn't think that was so. He further
noted that the cost will not go up, as the ink stamp will
cost less than an embossing seal and the required journal
runs about $15.
Number 406
CHAIRMAN HUDSON inquired if the notary would be required to
maintain the journal in the event there was a question about
a prior notarization or would they have to periodically be
required to turn them in to the Lt. Governor' office.
MS. TROTT explained that a copy of the journal would only be
sent to the Lt. Governor' office in the event of a notary's
resignation.
REP. GREEN asked if Rep. Therriault or Ms. Trott would
address the concerns addressed in the sole opposition
letter; primarily, exactly what happens to the journals
after a notary gives up the commission.
MS. TROTT answered that the Lt. Governor's office has served
as the clearing house for notary information and the
journals could be kept there for reference.
Number 440
CHAIRMAN HUDSON questioned why the notary seals would be
required to be returned to the Lt. Governor' office.
Chairman Hudson noted that these are personal property.
MS. TROTT explained that in the past there has been a
problem with stolen seals and this would be one way to
eliminate that problem.
Number 458
REP. PORTER asked if there was a limit on the amount of time
a person had to keep back journals.
REP. THERRIAULT said that memories fade over the years but
the journals would always be there for reference.
REP. BILL WILLIAMS expressed concern over the amount of
paperwork this bill would create.
Number 516
MS. TROTT noted that Alaska's statutes on the duties and
responsibilities of notaries is archaic and this bill would
bring the statutes up to a minimum level compared to other
states.
Number 529
REP. GREEN expressed concern that given the numbers of
notaries in the state and the amount of work they do, the
bureaucracy would be an incredible burden both on the notary
and the Lt. Governor's office.
MS. TROTT disagreed, pointing out the computer capabilities
the state has at its disposal.
Number 565
CHAIRMAN HUDSON expressed his view that the committee had
major concerns with the portion of HB 92 concerning keeping
the journal, but other parts of the bill seemed to have
support.
REP. THERRIAULT said that the keeping of the journal was the
meat of the bill.
Number 638
REP. PORTER moved that HB 92 as amended be passed out of
committee with individual recommendations. Without
objection it was so ordered.
TAPE 7, SIDE 2
Number 000
CHAIRMAN HUDSON convened the joint meeting with the House
International Trade and Tourism Committee to hear the
confirmation of Commissioner Designee Paul Fuhs.
Members of the House International Trade and Tourism
Committee present were Reps. Jeannette James, Jerry Sanders,
Joe Green, Jim Nordland and Cynthia Toohey.
Number 029
COMMISSIONER FUHS gave an opening statement and noted that
his resume reflected the experience he has had in the area
of economic development and management.
Number 010
REP. GREEN asked what Commissioner Fuhs remembers or knows
about the transfer of duties or combination thereof of the
departments of Natural Resources and Commerce and Economic
Development.
Number 015
COMMISSIONER FUHS answered that the duty of the Department
of Commerce and Economic Development is to advocate for
business, and the duty of the Department of Natural
Resources is the overall responsibility to manage resources.
Commissioner Fuhs further noted that it was important for
the two commissioners to work closely together.
Number 159
REP. WILLIAMS asked the Commissioner how he felt about fin
fish farming.
COMMISSIONER FUHS stated that fin fish farming is
politically dead in Alaska.
Number 181
CHAIRMAN HUDSON observed that the Department of Commerce
should have some sort of positioning within each of the
other departments to make government more user-friendly to
business.
Number 225
COMMISSIONER FUHS pointed out to the committee that the
Department has implemented multi-agency work groups to
encourage more communication and cooperation in the
executive branch. In turn, this type of communication and
cooperation should make each department accessible and
user-friendly.
Number 232
REP. JEANNETTE JAMES asked Commissioner Fuhs what he
envisioned for the future of international trade.
COMMISSIONER FUHS stated that the areas of growth are oil
and gas. He further stated that the Department is working
hard on the sale of natural gas and they already have a
commitment from Taiwan and they may, with President
Clinton's help, get some commitment from Japan.
COMMISSIONER FUHS added that another area of growth is
timber. The prices are high and it is a seller's market.
COMMISSIONER FUHS also added tourism and fisheries as strong
areas of growth.
Number 232
REP. JAMES asked what the Commissioner could do to add to
the continuity in international trade.
COMMISSIONER FUHS said that the Governor appointed Max Hodel
to International Trade and he has moved to Tokyo to
strengthen our interests in this area.
Number 308
CHAIRMAN HUDSON, as former head of the Alaska Seafood
Marketing Council, expressed concern regarding the intrusion
of farmed fish coming from all over the world.
COMMISSIONER FUHS explained that it is a policy question at
this point; how much is done to combat this growth is
directly related to money and how much can be spent on the
problem.
REP. TOOHEY asked what the Commissioner saw for tourism.
COMMISSIONER FUHS explained that according to data he has,
marketing is out in front of the state's ability to provide
destinations and work needed to be done on additional
attractions here in Alaska.
Number 443
REP. TOOHEY noted that she had received lots of phone calls
of support for Commissioner Fuhs.
Number 450
REP. MACKIE stated his support for the confirmation of Mr.
Fuhs.
Number 468
REP. GREEN moved and asked unanimous consent for the
confirmation of Paul Fuhs as Commissioner of the Department
of Commerce and Economic Development. With no objection,
Paul Fuhs' name was passed out of the Labor and Commerce
Committee with a do confirm recommendation.
REP. JAMES asked for the same recommendation from the
International Trade and Tourism Committee, which was so
moved. Without objections, Paul Fuhs' name was passed out
of the International Trade and Tourism Committee with a do
confirm recommendation.
CHAIRMAN HUDSON adjourned the meeting at 4:20 p.m.
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