01/24/1995 12:03 PM Senate ARR

           ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION REVIEW COMMITTEE                          
                        January 24, 1995                                       
                           12:03 p.m.                                          
                                                                               
                                                                               
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
 Senator Randy Phillips, Chair                                                 
 Representative Norman Rokeberg, Vice-Chair                                    
 Senator Johnny Ellis                                                          
 Representative John Davies                                                    
 Representative Gary Davis                                                     
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
 Senator Steve Rieger                                                          
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                           
                                                                               
 ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING                                                        
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
 TAPE 95-1, SIDE A                                                             
 Number 001                                                                    
                                                                               
 The meeting was called to order by CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS at 12:03           
 p.m.  In attendance were Senator Ellis, Representative Rokeberg,              
 Representative Davies and Representative G. Davis.  Senator Rieger            
 was unable to attend because of a prior commitment.                           
                                                                               
 Discussion centered on introducing legislation that would either              
 abolish the Administrative Regulation Review Committee permanently            
 or getting a constitutional amendment on the ballot relating to the           
 repeal of regulations by the Legislature.                                     
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS believes that there needs to be a constitutional            
 amendment to provide the committee with the ability to overturn any           
 regulations that are contrary to what the Legislature has passed.             
 If that doesn't happen, then he supports abolishing the committee             
 because there is nothing in state law or in the constitution to               
 prevent any member of the Legislature from introducing a bill to              
 get rid of any regulations.  He asked for the other members'                  
 comments on the issue.                                                        
                                                                               
 Number 040                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG stated that in conversations he has had               
 with Speaker of the House Gail Phillips, she has indicated that at            
 this time she is opposed to abolishment of the committee.                     
                                                                               
 Number 070                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS also voiced his opposition to abolishing              
 the committee at this point, although he agrees with the Chairman             
 that the committee lacks the power to do anything.  He believes               
 there are things the committee can do to keep the public informed             
 on the problem and situation of legislative authority over rules              
 and regulations.                                                              
                                                                               
 Representative Davis spoke to his membership on a national                    
 committee, the National Association on Administrative Rules Review.           
 He said there is a lot going on in this area and other states are             
 also questioning their regulatory powers.                                     
                                                                               
 Number 140                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES stated he was relatively new to this issue              
 and was reluctant to make any comments at this point.                         
                                                                               
 Number 144                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR ELLIS spoke to past attempts in trying to get a                       
 constitutional amendment passed, but said he would give the Chair's           
 proposal some thought.  He added that there are some regulations in           
 legislation introduced this year that he would like to see                    
 discussed by the committee and, if the committee can reach a                  
 consensus, to make recommendations for that legislation as it moves           
 through other committees.                                                     
                                                                               
 Number 175                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS noted that Senator Rieger's preference is             
 for a constitutional amendment.                                               
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS pointed out that if legislation to put the            
 question of a constitutional amendment on the ballot is passed this           
 session, it would show a real commitment by the leadership of both            
 the House and Senate that this is the avenue that should be taken.            
 It would also give the organizers time to promote passage of the              
 question on the ballot.                                                       
                                                                               
 Number 205                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR ELLIS asked if there is anything that leads the chairman to           
 believe that the public would vote any differently than they have             
 in past elections.  CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS responded that each               
 time the question is on the ballot the opposition is less and that            
 more time to educate the public on the issue might help its                   
 passage.                                                                      
                                                                               
 Number 250                                                                    
 CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS requested that the House members on the               
 committee talk to their leadership about the possibility of making            
 a commitment to pass some form of legislation this session.                   
                                                                               
 Number 300                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR ELLIS brought before the committee a concern from a                   
 business in Anchorage relating to vegetable licensing regulations             
 and requested that the committee review these regulations at a                
 future meeting.  CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS directed attention to a              
 letter from a window manufacturer regarding new requirements for              
 thermal testing which should also be reviewed by the committee.               
                                                                               
 There being no further business to come before the committee, the             
 meeting was adjourned at 12:26 p.m.