Legislature(1993 - 1994)
04/30/1994 10:12 AM Senate RLS
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE
April 30, 1994
10:12 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Rick Halford, Chair
Senator Steve Rieger, Vice Chair
Senator George Jacko
Senator Suzanne Little
Senator Fred Zharoff
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 60
Relating to an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
prohibiting federal courts from ordering a state or a political
subdivision of a state to increase or impose taxes.
HOUSE BILL NO. 78
"An Act relating to the testimony of children in certain criminal
proceedings; and providing for an effective date."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 79(FIN) am
"An Act relating to recovery from a parent or legal guardian of
wilful or malicious destruction of property by a minor."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 153(JUD) am
"An Act related to the awarding of special good time deductions for
prisoners participating in the Point MacKenzie Rehabilitation
Project; and providing for an effective date."
HOUSE BILL NO. 180 am
"An Act relating to the residential housing inspection requirements
of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation."
HOUSE BILL NO. 191
"An Act relating to cost recovery by contractors who operate
state-owned hatcheries."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 299(FIN) am
"An Act relating to revocation of a driver's license for illegal
possession or use of a controlled substance or illegal possession
or consumption of alcohol by a person at least 14 but not yet 21
years of age; to fees for reinstatement of a driver's license; and
providing for an effective date."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 313(JUD)
"An Act relating to suspended imposition of criminal sentences and
to the imposition of sentence when a suspended imposition of
sentence is revoked."
HOUSE BILL NO. 373
"An Act relating to investments of the permanent fund involving
equity interests in and debt obligations secured by mortgages on
real estate; and providing for an effective date."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 386(L&C) am
"An Act relating to the retirement rights of temporary hourly
employees hired by the legislature."
HOUSE BILL NO. 394
"An Act relating to limited partnerships; and providing for an
effective date."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 410(STA)
"An Act relating to real estate appraisers and the Board of
Certified Real Estate Appraisers."
HOUSE BILL NO. 429
"An Act relating to the special education service agency."
HOUSE BILL NO. 518
"An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Governors of
the Alaska Bar Association; and providing for an effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 21
"An Act relating to child visitation rights of grandparents and
other persons who are not the parents of the child."
CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 249(STA) am
"An Act reestablishing the Board of Electrical Examiners and
extending the termination date of the Board of Mechanical
Examiners; relating to electrical and mechanical administrators;
and providing for an effective date."
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
HJR 60 - See State Affairs minutes dated 4/18/94. See
Judiciary minutes dated 4/28/94.
HB 78 - See Judiciary minutes dated 4/28/93.
HB 79 - See Health, Education & Social Service minutes dated
2/2/94. See Judiciary minutes dated 4/18/94, 4/23/94,
4/25/94 and 4/28/94.
HB 153 - See State Affairs minutes dated 4/25/94.
Finance waived referral 4/28/94.
HB 180 - See Community & Regional Affairs minutes dated
4/22/93 & 4/24/93. See Labor & Commerce minutes
dated 1/25/94, 2/8/94, and 2/10/94.
HB 191 - See Resources minutes dated 4/18/94.
Finance report 4/27/94.
HB 299 - See State Affairs minutes dated 4/11/94. See
Judiciary minutes dated 4/23/94.
Finance referral waived 4/28/94.
HB 313 - See State Affairs minutes dated 3/11/94 and
Judiciary minutes dated 4/26/94.
Finance referral waived 4/28/94.
HB 373 - See Judiciary minutes dated 4/6/94.
Finance report 4/27/94.
HB 386 - See Labor and Commerce minutes dated 4/14/94.
Finance referral waived 4/28/94.
HB 394 - See Labor & Commerce minutes dated 3/24/94, 3/31/94,
4/28/94.
HB 410 - Labor & Commerce referral waived 4/21/94.
See Judiciary minutes dated 4/23/94, 4/25/94 and
4/28/94.
HB 429 - See Health, Education & Social Services minutes dated
3/21/94 and 4/18/94. See Judiciary minutes dated
4/28/94.
HB 518 - See State Affairs minutes dated 4/27/94.
Judiciary referral waived 4/28/94.
SB 21 - See State Affairs minutes dated 3/11/94. See Health,
Education & Social Services minutes dated 4/11/94.
Judiciary referral waived 4/28/94.
HB 249 - See Labor and Commerce minutes dated 4/27/93.
Finance report 5/6/93.
WITNESS REGISTER
Representative Gary Davis
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Prime Sponsor of HB 249
Karl Luck, Director
Division of Occupational Licensing
Department of Commerce & Economic Development
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered information on HB 249
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 94-7, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN RICK HALFORD called the Senate Rules Committee meeting to
order at 10:12 a.m.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that HJR 60 (AMEND D
US CONSTIT. TO LIMIT FED. COURTS) be approved for calendaring at
the Chair's discretion. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that HB 78
(TESTIMONY OF MINORS IN CRIMINAL TRIALS) be approved for
calendaring at the Chair's discretion. Hearing no objection, it
was so ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 79(FIN)
am (DAMAGE TO PROPERTY BY MINORS) be approved for calendaring at
the Chair's discretion. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 153(JUD)
am (GOOD TIME: PT. MACKENZIE REHAB PROJECT) be approved for
calendaring at the Chair's discretion. Hearing no objection, it
was so ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that HB 191
(CONTRACTOR OPERATED STATE HATCHERIES) be approved for calendaring
at the Chair's discretion. Hearing no objection, it was so
ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 299(FIN)
am (DRIVER'S LIC REVOCATION;ALCOHOL/DRUGS) be approved for
calendaring at the Chair's discretion. Hearing no objection, it
was so ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 313(JUD)
(IMPOSITION/REVOCATION,SUSPENDED SENTENCES) be approved for
calendaring at the Chair's discretion. Hearing no objection, it
was so ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that HB 373
(PERMANENT FUND INVESTMENTS IN MORTGAGES) be approved for
calendaring at the Chair's discretion. Hearing no objection, it
was so ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 386(L&C)
am (RETIREMENT RTS:HRLY LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES) be approved for
calendaring at the Chair's discretion. Hearing no objection, it
was so ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that HB 394
(UNIFORM LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ACT UPDATE) be approved for
calendaring at the Chair's discretion. Hearing no objection, it
was so ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 410(STA)
(REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS) be approved for calendaring at the Chair's
discretion. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that HB 429
(SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY) be approved for calendaring at
the Chair's discretion. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that HB 518 (EXTEND ND
ALASKA BAR ASSOCIATION) be approved for calendaring at the Chair's
discretion. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
SENATOR JACKO moved and asked unanimous consent that SB 21 (MISC.
GRANDPARENT VISITATION RIGHTS) be approved for calendaring at the
Chair's discretion. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
CHAIRMAN HALFORD brought CSSSHB 249(STA) am (ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL L
TRADESPERSONS) before the committee as the next order of business.
He noted there was a draft Rules SCS before the committee for its
consideration.
REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS, prime sponsor of HB 249, explained the
legislation was introduced as a result of problems with the
electrical administrator's board and some of the activities and
functions of the administrators.
The legislation was originally drafted changing the licensing from
the Department of Commerce to the Department of Labor. However,
during the interim there was extensive discussion and it was
decided it would be best to maintain the licensing in the
Department of Commerce. Also, there was strong feeling that the
board should be abolished. The Rules SCS puts the licensing and
enforcement authority into the Department of Commerce, and it also
abolishes the Board of Electrical & Mechanical Administrators and
gives the Department of Commerce the authority to assume the
functions of the board. He added that is why the bill went from
three pages to fifteen pages.
SENATOR JACKO asked why the fine was increased from $300 to $5,000.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS responded that the original language had a
$300 fine or imprisonment of not more than 60 days, or both. It
was desired to remove the imprisonment section and make the fine up
to $5,000 because there are varying degrees of violations that can
occur in this industry.
SENATOR RIEGER expressed concern with the language relating to a
misdemeanor, specifically "a violation of minimal electrical
standard", stating he thinks it is going a bit too far.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS said the language relates to the functions of
an electrical administrator or a mechanical administrator. It
relates to construction activities and does not relate to minor
maintenance or minor repairs.
SENATOR RIEGER asked if the new language contained in the bill "or
who was responsible for certifying that the installation or repair
complies with applicable electrical code" is actually sweeping in
someone who is presently not required to be under these boards.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS answered that he likes to consider it as an
extension of the inspection arm of the state. It is a certifying
that what was installed has been installed to code and is being
certified and stamped by the administrator.
SENATOR RIEGER asked if there is some group of people who are now
being covered who wouldn't be covered with this bill.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS said the transition section is in the bill
since the department is going to have to establish the licensing
procedure. Currently, electrical examiners do not have a valid
license because the Board of Electrical Examiners sunsetted last
year.
SENATOR RIEGER said his main concern is violations of applicable
codes and the penalties that apply and that it applies to
violations of codes at the time the repair or installation was
made. He suggested going through the bill and every place where it
says "complies with applicable code" insert "complies with the
applicable codes at the time the installation was made."
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS answered that his point hasn't been discussed
previously and he shares his concern.
SENATOR HALFORD expressed his concern with a $5,000 civil fine that
a department can issue based on their own review. REPRESENTATIVE
DAVIS replied the person being fined also has administrative review
and can argue the validity of the fine and the amount of the fine
administratively. He agreed with Senator Halford that it is a big
fine. He directed attention to Secs. 26 and 27 which deal with the
administrative actions and the fine ability of the department, as
well as how an administrator who is being fined can fight the fine
and the violation.
SENATOR HALFORD asked if the exemptions by area are the same for
electrical as they are for mechanical. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS
answered that there are some differences, the major difference
being the size of the project.
SENATOR LITTLE commented that one of the primary issues is making
sure that electrical administrators can continue to be licensed in
the state, because without them, the state would need to provide a
very expensive inspection that it cannot afford at this time.
SENATOR HALFORD asked for a motion to adopt the Rules SCS as a
working document.
SENATOR LITTLE moved that SCS CSSSHB 249(Rules) (dated 4/22/94) be
adopted. Hearing no objection, the motion carried.
TAPE 94-7, SIDE B
SENATOR HALFORD requested that Karl Luck of the Department of
Commerce & Economic Development address the following concerns
raised by committee members: (1) the ability of the department to
impose a civil fine of up to $5,000; (2) the increase in the
criminal fines from $300 to $5,000; and (3) the reference in
Section 17 where it refers to supervision and it defines an
electrical administrator as someone who is responsible for
certifying that the installation or repair complies applicable
electrical code and the question if that broadens the definition to
include possibly someone not now needing licensure; and (4) the
difference in exemptions between the electrical code and the
mechanical code.
KARL LUCK, Director, Division of Occupational Licensing, addressing
the civil fine, said he didn't think it was inconsistent with what
is covered under Title 8 for all occupation professions, and this
is an attempt to conform with what is already in existence.
SENATOR HALFORD asked Mr. Luck to research and provide the
committee with a list of other professions where either a board or
a department can fine the individual member of the profession
civilly without court action.
Continuing, Mr. Luck said that part of the concern in the past that
may have contributed to the inability of the board to regulate was
that the statute was confusing between what a contractor and what
a electrical administrator or a mechanical administrator was. The
legislation attempts to clean up the fact that the electrical
administrator is not necessarily the person who contracts for
installing something or who is in the business of doing something.
It may well be that it is a one person business, but that is
regulated under different sections in statute.
Mr. Luck said he could not explain why there is a difference in the
exemptions between the electrical administrator and the mechanical
administrator. It is the department's desire to make them both
equal and under the same guidelines because they are very similar
in nature. Representative Davis interjected that the
implementation of the electrical administrators and the mechanical
administrators were a couple of years apart and there was
different rationale used for some of the numbers.
SENATOR RIEGER proposed adding to Sections 14 and 33 the language
"which was in effect at the time the repair or installation was
made," which would help clarify that the code in effect at the time
that the facility was constructed or repaired is what counts. Mr.
Luck said he thought it was a fair amendment and would clarify that
the code, as it was on the date that the job was signed off, is the
applicable code.
SENATOR RIEGER offered the following amendment to SCS CSSSHB
249(RLS):
Page 6, line 25: After "AS 18.60.580 - 18.60.590" add "that was in
effect at the time that the installation or repair was made"
Page 13, line 10: After "AS 08.40.490(3)(A)" add "that was in
effect at the time that the installation or repair was made"
Hearing no objection, the Chairman stated the amendment was
adopted.
SENATOR LITTLE asked if there was an administrative appeal process
in place right now, and MR. LUCK acknowledged that there was
through APEA.
JOE HAYES, representing the Sisters of Providence in Anchorage,
read into the record a letter from the Sisters of Providence
requesting a change in the bill that would take into account large
buildings such as Providence Hospital. At present, Providence
Hospital employs two journeymen electricians, and as the law now
stands, it is legal for the hospital to obtain permits and perform
their own electrical installation. However, if HB 249 passes, the
hospital will be required to hire an administrator to oversee their
work, which could be extremely expensive for the hospital, adding
extra costs to many small projects. The Sisters of Providence are
requesting an exception to the administrator's requirements similar
to the state guideline in effect for contractors.
SENATOR ZHAROFF questioned how many other entities would find
themselves in the same type of situation. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS
acknowledged that he has had additional concerns relating to that
exact same problem. CHAIRMAN HALFORD then requested that he work
with the drafters on that area of the bill.
CHAIRMAN HALFORD stated HB 249 would be held over until the
following Monday.
CHAIRMAN HALFORD brought HB 180 am (AHFC HOUSING INSPECTION
REQUIREMENTS) before the committee as the final order of business.
SENATOR LITTLE related that she has worked with the sponsor's staff
on the legislation and they have come to an agreement to amend the
bill as follows:
Page 2, line 1: After "methods" delete "including reviewing the
unit by video tape.
Senator Little then moved the amendment. Hearing no objection, the
Chairman stated the amendment was adopted and would be incorporated
into a Rules SCS.
SENATOR LITTLE moved that SCS HB 180(RLS) be passed out of
committee with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection,
it was so ordered.
SENATOR LITTLE moved and asked unanimous consent that SCS HB
180(RLS) be approved for calendaring at the Chair's discretion.
Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business to come before the committee, the
meeting was adjourned at 11:37 a.m.
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