HB 147-PUBLIC ACCOUNTING  3:31:27 PM CHAIR KITO announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 147, "An Act relating to the Board of Public Accountancy; relating to the licensure of public accountants; and relating to the practice of public accounting." 3:31:40 PM LYNETTE BERGH, Staff, Representative Steve Thompson, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 147 on behalf of Representative Thompson, prime sponsor. She gave a brief summary of the proposed bill. She said HB 147 would amend board of accounting statutes by updating the statutes to reflect the national standards of the Uniform Accountancy Act and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountancy Code of professional conduct. She said that by incorporating the changes, Alaska would be more in line with national standards which ensure that only qualified persons are practicing. 3:32:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH said he appreciates that the state would "not be killing as many trees" by having the regulations and forms available online. 3:33:39 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked about changes to license reciprocity. MS. BERGH deferred to the board. 3:34:30 PM KAREN TARVER, Member, Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy, answered questions in the hearing on HB 147. She explained the change would reduce the number of years of experience required from four years to two years so that the two methods of licensure are consistent. 3:35:20 PM CHAIR KITO announced that public testimony on HB 147 was still open from a previous hearing. Upon ascertaining that there was no one available to testify, he closed public testimony. 3:35:52 PM REPRESENTATIVE WOOL moved to report HB 147 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, it was so ordered.