ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
March 26, 2018
3:18 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Sam Kito, Chair
Representative Adam Wool, Vice Chair
Representative Andy Josephson
Representative Louise Stutes
Representative Chris Birch
Representative Gary Knopp
Representative Colleen Sullivan-Leonard
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Mike Chenault (alternate)
Representative Bryce Edgmon (alternate)
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 165
"An Act relating to the Alaska comprehensive health insurance
fund; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 45(FIN)
"An Act relating to an exemption from the regulation of
construction contractors."
- HEARD & HELD
CS FOR SS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 4(FIN) AM
"An Act relating to the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers;
relating to a limited license to practice non-chemical
barbering; relating to a license to practice hair braiding;
relating to the Department of Environmental Conservation; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HCS CSSSSB 4(L&C) AM OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 379
"An Act relating to claims against protection and indemnity
insurance policies of vessel owners."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
HOUSE BILL NO. 374
"An Act relating to on-bill financing by a utility for certain
energy efficiency and conservation improvements."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 165
SHORT TITLE: COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) MACKINNON
01/26/18 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/26/18 (S) L&C, FIN
02/22/18 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/22/18 (S) Moved SB 165 Out of Committee
02/22/18 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
02/26/18 (S) L&C RPT 5DP
02/26/18 (S) DP: COSTELLO, STEVENS, MICCICHE, MEYER,
GARDNER
02/27/18 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
02/27/18 (S) Heard & Held
02/27/18 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
02/28/18 (S) FIN RPT 6DP 1NR
02/28/18 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, MACKINNON, BISHOP, VON
IMHOF, STEVENS, MICCICHE
02/28/18 (S) NR: OLSON
02/28/18 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
02/28/18 (S) Moved SB 165 Out of Committee
02/28/18 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/05/18 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/05/18 (S) VERSION: SB 165
03/07/18 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/07/18 (H) L&C, FIN
03/21/18 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/21/18 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/23/18 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/23/18 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/26/18 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: SB 45
SHORT TITLE: EXEMPTION: LICENSING OF CONTRACTORS
SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE
02/01/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/01/17 (S) L&C, FIN
02/07/17 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/07/17 (S) Heard & Held
02/07/17 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
02/28/17 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/28/17 (S) Moved SB 45 Out of Committee
02/28/17 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
03/01/17 (S) L&C RPT 1DP 4NR
03/01/17 (S) DP: COSTELLO
03/01/17 (S) NR: HUGHES, MEYER, STEVENS, GARDNER
04/07/17 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/07/17 (S) Heard & Held
04/07/17 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/11/17 (S) FIN AT 1:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/11/17 (S) Moved CSSB 45(FIN) Out of Committee
04/11/17 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/12/17 (S) FIN RPT CS 5DP 1NR SAME TITLE
04/12/17 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, MACKINNON, BISHOP, VON
IMHOF, MICCICHE
04/12/17 (S) NR: OLSON
04/15/17 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/15/17 (S) VERSION: CSSB 45(FIN)
04/16/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/16/17 (H) L&C
03/23/18 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/23/18 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/26/18 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: SB 4
SHORT TITLE: NON-CHEMICAL BARBERING;HAIR BRAIDING
SPONSOR(s): MICCICHE
01/18/17 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/17
01/18/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/17 (S) L&C, FIN
02/17/17 (S) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS
02/17/17 (S) L&C, FIN
03/02/17 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/02/17 (S) Heard & Held
03/02/17 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
03/14/17 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/14/17 (S) Moved SSSB 4 Out of Committee
03/14/17 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
03/15/17 (S) L&C RPT 1DP 4NR
03/15/17 (S) DP: COSTELLO
03/15/17 (S) NR: HUGHES, MEYER, STEVENS, GARDNER
04/14/17 (S) FIN WAIVED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE,RULE
23
04/15/17 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/15/17 (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
04/16/17 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/16/17 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/17/17 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/17/17 (S) Heard & Held
04/17/17 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
02/02/18 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
02/02/18 (S) Heard & Held
02/02/18 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
02/05/18 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
02/05/18 (S) Moved CSSSSB 4(FIN) Out of Committee
02/05/18 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
02/07/18 (S) FIN RPT CS 4DP SAME TITLE
02/07/18 (S) DP: MACKINNON, BISHOP, STEVENS,
MICCICHE
02/09/18 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
02/09/18 (S) VERSION: CSSSSB 4(FIN) AM
02/12/18 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/12/18 (H) L&C, FIN
03/16/18 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/16/18 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/19/18 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/19/18 (H) Heard & Held
03/19/18 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/26/18 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR ANNA MACKINNON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 165 as prime sponsor.
ANNA LATHAM, Deputy Director
Division of Insurance
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions in the hearing on SB
165.
MICAELA FOWLER, Legislative Liaison
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions in the hearing on SB
165.
SENATOR MIA COSTELLO
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 45 as prime sponsor.
NATASHA MCCLANAHAN, Staff
Senator Mia Costello
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sectional analysis of SB 45
on behalf of Senator Costello, prime sponsor.
JANEY MCCULLOUGH, Director
Division of Corporations, Business And Professional Licensing
(DCBPL)
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions in the hearing on SB 45.
ALAN WILSON, Owner
Alaska Renovators
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 45.
JIM DUNLAP, President
Alaska State Homebuilding Association (ASHA)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 45.
RICHARD CARR
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 45.
PATRICK DALTON
Delta Junction, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 45.
SENATOR PETER MICCICHE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reintroduced SB 4 as prime sponsor.
RACHEL HANKE, Staff
Senator Peter Micciche
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 4 on behalf of Senator
Micciche, prime sponsor.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:18:57 PM
CHAIR SAM KITO called the House Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:18 p.m. Representatives
Sullivan-Leonard, Stutes, Knopp, Wool, Birch, Josephson, and
Kito were present at the call to order.
SB 165-COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND
3:19:36 PM
CHAIR KITO announced that the first order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 165, "An Act relating to the Alaska
comprehensive health insurance fund; and providing for an
effective date."
3:19:54 PM
SENATOR ANNA MACKINNON, Alaska State Legislature, introduced SB
165 as prime sponsor. She paraphrased the sponsor statement
[included in committee packet], which reads as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
In 2015, the individual health care market in Alaska
was in a precarious state. There were only two
insurers with current enrollees in individual
healthcare plans in Alaska, and each insurer was
experiencing significant losses. Average premium rate
increases in 2015 were 38.7% for one insurer and 39.9%
for the other. In 2016, one of Alaska's only two
remaining insurers gave notice that they would be
withdrawing from the Alaska individual market
effective January 2017.
The 29th Legislature passed HB 374 in 2016, which
created the Alaska Reinsurance Program, and allowed
the Division of Insurance to apply for a federal
Section 1332 state innovation waiver under the
Affordable Care Act (ACA). That legislation included a
sunset date of June 30, 2018 to ensure that the
diversion of insurance premium taxes from the general
fund was not relied upon as a long-term funding
mechanism. In July 2017, the waiver was approved by
both the Department of Health and Social Services and
the Department of Treasury based on the application
submitted by the division, which requested pass-
through funding for the Alaska Reinsurance Program.
The federal award for this waiver was approximately
$322 million over five years. The award is to be used,
in conjunction with the Alaska Reinsurance Program, to
continue to stabilize the individual healthcare market
in Alaska.
This legislation extends the sunset provision on the
Alaska comprehensive health insurance fund by six
years, from June 30, 2018 to June 30, 2024 to allow
for the continuation of the Alaska Reinsurance Program
and receipt of the federal funding.
The bill also removes the requirement that funds
collected under AS 21.09.210 (tax on insurers), AS
21.33.055 (unauthorized insurance premium tax), AS
21.34.180 (surplus lines tax) and AS 21.66.110 (annual
tax on title insurance premiums) are to be deposited
into the Alaska comprehensive health insurance fund
within the general fund.
Passage of HB374 by the 29th Legislature has resulted
in stabilization of the individual insurance market.
The Section 1332 state innovation waiver provides
funding for the Alaska Reinsurance Program, through
the Alaska comprehensive health insurance fund. Now
this legislation is necessary to ensure the continued
effectiveness of the Alaska Reinsurance Program, meet
the intent of the waiver, and receive the federal
funding.
3:22:21 PM
CHAIR KITO asked Senator Mackinnon to explain the funding that
will go back into the general fund (GF).
SENATOR MACKINNON corrected the amount was $63 million. She
stated $55 million was done several years ago to create the
reinsurance pool. She said high-risk insurance recipients were
paid for outside of the regular insurance. She explained that
$63 million represents current insurance premiums that are being
deposited and moved back into GF.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked how many people were moved from the
general pool to the high-risk pool.
SENATOR MACKINNON answered that 500 individuals were driving 95
percent of the high-risk costs. She deferred to Ms. Lori Wing-
Heier.
3:24:04 PM
CHAIR KITO opened public testimony on SB 165. [He moved to
invited testimony and did not close public testimony.]
3:25:01 PM
MICAELA FOWLER, Legislative Liaison, Department of Commerce,
Community & Economic Development (DCCED), answered questions in
the hearing on SB 165. She stated that when the original
legislation passed, it directed premium tax dollars into the
Alaska Comprehensive Health Insurance Fund. She added the
legislation had a sunset date which would be extended in the
proposed bill. The original legislation stipulated that the
department would seek additional funding. She said that was
carried out through a 1332 Waiver. She added that because the
federal government pays a portion of premiums, the amount that
is suppressed is being given back to the state for the fund for
the next four years.
CHAIR KITO asked about the 1332 Waiver.
3:27:04 PM
ANNA LATHAM, Deputy Director, Division of Insurance, Department
of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED), answered
questions in the hearing on SB 165. She stated the fiscal note
(FN) reflects the federal funds from the 1332 Waiver award.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH asked how many beneficiaries are in the
insurance pool.
MS. LATHAM answered there are around 18,000 Alaskans in the
individual market. She added the state fully funded the program
in 2017. She said there had been a $55 million appropriation.
She said the Division of Insurance had applied for a federal
waiver which was awarded in 2018. She added that because
Alaska's market is highly subsidized, 90 percent of the re-
insurance program for the 5 years of the waiver is going to be
federally funded
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH asked whether the Alaska Comprehensive
Health Insurance Association (ACHIA) program is expanded from
hundreds to thousands over the years.
MS. LATHAM spoke to the Alaska Reinsurance Program for
individuals with high cost qualifying conditions. When Primera
see these qualifying conditions, it lowers rates for everyone in
the individual market. She added the individual market has been
dropping in enrollment in recent years.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked whether ACHIA has "morphed" into the
fund or whether they are separate things.
MS. LATHAM answered the small population in the ACHIA program is
stable, and the reinsurance program from 2016 is a separate
program.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL surmised that a few people remaining on
ACHIA might qualify for the high-risk designation that would be
taken out of the pool.
MS. LATHAM said the division has not seen a migration to the
reinsurance program.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL suggested the program was started before the
division knew it was going to get a federal reimbursement.
MS. LATHAM answered that is correct. She added the division
knew it had to find an alternate funding source.
3:33:44 PM
CHAIR KITO held over SB 165.
SB 45-EXEMPTION: LICENSING OF CONTRACTORS
3:34:00 PM
CHAIR KITO announced that the next order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 45, "An Act relating to an exemption from the
regulation of construction contractors."
3:34:31 PM
SENATOR MIA COSTELLO, Alaska State Legislature, introduced SB 45
as prime sponsor. She paraphrased the sponsor statement
[included in committee packet], which reads as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
Senate Bill 45 provides better protections for buyers
of homes and other buildings by requiring unlicensed
owner-builders to disclose they are selling a newly
built home as an unlicensed builder.
The intent of the legislation, as stated in Section 1,
is to continue to allow individuals to enjoy the
freedom and ability to construct and sell their own
homes.
Following the housing market crash of the 1980's, the
Alaska Legislature raised professional standards for
homebuilders, requiring residential contractors to get
a state license, a residential endorsement, bonding,
and insurance. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
was specifically directed by statute to establish
energy efficiency initiatives such as energy ratings
and the Alaska Craftsman Home Program. These efforts
helped Alaska become a place where the home
construction industry provides high quality and
affordable energy-efficient options for buyers.
Construction contractor law has been on the books
since 1968. The current owner-builder exemption, AS
08.18.161(12), was first enacted that year to provide
an exemption that allows individuals to build one home
or commercial building every two years without a
contractor license.
Currently state law provides an exemption that allows
individuals to build structures without a contractor
license. Alaska law AS 08.18.161 allows anyone to
build one structure every two years without a license.
While the exemption was intended to allow Alaskans to
build their own home, the industry is seeing a growing
number of individuals using the exemption to
operate construction businesses.
SB 45 requires anyone who builds and sells a home
without a contractor license within two years of
starting construction to disclose that they do not
have a license. The measure does not prohibit owner-
builder construction. It does not require state
approval for owner-builder construction. Owners have
the right to build their own homes and this bill does
not change that. It requires simple disclosure that
helps home buyers.
3:35:50 PM
NATASHA MCCLANAHAN, Staff, Senator Mia Costello, Alaska State
Legislature, presented the sectional analysis of SB 45 on behalf
of Senator Costello, prime sponsor. She paraphrased the
sectional analysis [included in committee packet], which reads
as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Section 1. Adds legislative intent language to
uncodified law to help assure that changes made by
Section 3 of the bill be construed broadly to allow
individuals the freedom and ability to construct and
sell their own homes based on their own discretion.
Page 1, lines 3-7.
Section 2. Amends AS 08.18.116 to require the
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic
Development or the Department of Labor and Workforce
Development to investigate and take appropriate action
if an owner-builder tries to sell a structure while
not licensed as a contractor during the time of
constructing the building or two years after
construction begins. Page 1, lines 8-14.
Section 3. Amends AS 08.18.161 to:
• Exempt from construction contractor requirements
those who work on an existing structure on their
own property or their own existing residence.
• Require an owner-builder to notify the Alaska
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic
Development on a form provided by the agency when
advertising or selling a home built if an owner-
builder tries to sell it while not licensed as a
contractor during the time of constructing the
building or two years after construction begins.
Section 4. Adds applicability language to uncodified
law that would provide clarity on when construction
begins under Section 3: either when the actual
construction starts or when an owner enters into an
agreement with someone to provide labor, act as a
subcontractor, or provide materials for the
construction.
3:37:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked the presenters to compare the
proposed bill to that brought forward by Representative Cathy
Tilton in a previous legislature [House Bill 81].
SENATOR COSTELLO answered that the bill to which he referred was
addressing a similar issue.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked what the remedy for abuse is.
MS. MCCLANAHAN answered it's a notice issue. She deferred to the
department.
REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP commented that SB 45 is simply a consumer
protection bill.
CHAIR KITO shared his understanding that the proposed bill would
not preclude the ability of a city to regulate code enforcement
within its jurisdiction. He said he thinks there are either six
or nine communities in Alaska that have a jurisdiction for
building codes. He surmised the provision is to try and put
some protections in place for those people who don't have a
municipal building code authority in their community.
SENATOR COSTELLO said that was her understanding but deferred to
the division.
3:42:07 PM
JANEY MCCULLOUGH, Director, Division of Corporations, Business
and Professional Licensing (DCBPL), Department of Commerce,
Community & Economic Development (DCCED), answered questions in
the hearing on SB 45. She stated the provision would not have
any effect on local municipalities' ability to enforce building
codes. She underlined it is a consumer protection bill. She
said it would be a requirement to notify the department and
would be another tool in the toolbox for buyers.
3:43:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH asked whether the requirement would be to
disclose within two years of the beginning of construction or
two years from the end.
SENATOR COSTELLO answered the starting point is point in which
the ground is broken. If the home is then completed after two
years and the owner decides to sell it, then notification is
required.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH said he thinks there is a federal tax deal
for an owner who lives in the home for a certain amount of time.
SENATOR COSTELLO stated she is not an expert in tax law and
would defer to someone else for an answer.
3:45:00 PM
ALAN WILSON, Owner, Alaska Renovators, testified in support of
SB 45. He said he is a member of Alaska State Homebuilders
Association (ASHA). He said the proposed legislation was an
effort to ensure that homebuyers had some information about who
built a home. He identified that there are no penalties
provided for in the bill.
3:46:25 PM
JIM DUNLAP, President, Alaska State Homebuilding Association
(ASHA), testified in support of SB 45. He stated his
organization would continue to work on community building codes.
He said SB 45 attempts to protect consumers. He underlined the
initiative does not involve penalties.
3:48:51 PM
CHAIR KITO opened public testimony on SB 45.
3:49:04 PM
RICHARD CARR testified in support of SB 45. He spoke to his
experience as a remodeler and shared an example of poor
workmanship he had observed. He said he believes SB 45 would
help provide critical information for consumers when they are
seeking a home.
REPRESENTATIVE SULLIVAN-LEONARD asked Mr. Carr to give testimony
on Mat-Su Homebuilder's position on the proposed bill.
MR. CARR answered the organization is "100 percent in favor of
SB 45." He said they think it would improve the Valley a great
deal.
REPRESENTATIVE SULLIVAN-LEONARD asked how many home builders are
in Mat-Su Homebuilders Association.
MR. CARR answered there are 145 members.
3:52:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked whether Mr. Carr is currently
required to submit paperwork to the department stating he is
constructing a home for sale.
MR. CARR answered not in the Mat-Su Borough.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked who in government knows when he
is building a home.
MR. CARR answered no one that he knows of. He added that the
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) would know.
3:53:50 PM
PATRICK DALTON testified in opposition of SB 45. He said a few
years ago there was a similar bill which exempted builders in
the rural unorganized boroughs. He quoted from a study by the
Cato Institute from an article entitled, "Zoning, Land-Use
Planning, and Housing Affordability,Policy Analysis No. 823,
October 2017, by Vanessa Brown Calder.
3:57:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked why the provision would be such a
burden. He pointed out the requirement involves a form.
MR. DALTON answered that the article addresses that regulations
in any form create paperwork which creates uncertainty in the
building market. He said businesses always pass the cost on the
consumer. He added uncertainty is created over whether the
application will be accepted.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked why the legislature should not
exercise caution on behalf of consumers in the unorganized
boroughs.
MR. DALTON asked whether the legislature was protecting the
homebuilder from increased prices. He said that houses in his
area are cheaper than houses in Fairbanks, Alaska.
4:01:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH asked whether Mr. Dalton is aware of any
outside financing in Delta Junction.
MR. DALTON answered he is a specialty contractor and can't
answer questions on financing. He said people move to his area
of the state to be free from the regulations in organized
boroughs. He said they want fewer regulations.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH asked Mr. Dalton whether he has a business
license.
MR. DALTON answered in the affirmative.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH said he did not see the proposed bill as
more complicated than acquiring a business license.
MR. DALTON asked how the legislature is protecting the rights of
a homebuilder.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH shared his understanding that there is no
prohibition on building one's own home.
MR. DALTON shared his understanding that the proposed bill would
require paperwork. He said he thinks it is an infringement on
private property rights.
4:08:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP commented that the proposed bill has
nothing to do with planning or zoning. He added that it does
not require seeking permission. He said the proposed bill would
require that the homeowner notify the prospective buyer that the
house was not built by a licensed contractor. He noted that a
young builder may not know all the regulations. He opined it
doesn't limit rights in any shape or form. He stated where he
lives the borough has not adopted codes but the cities within
the borough have.
4:11:15 PM
CHAIR KITO held over SB 45.
SB 4-NON-CHEMICAL BARBERING;HAIR BRAIDING
4:11:32 PM
CHAIR KITO announced that the final order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 4, "An Act relating to the Board of Barbers and
Hairdressers; and relating to a limited license to practice non-
chemical barbering."
4:12:27 PM
SENATOR PETER MICCICHE, Alaska State Legislature, reintroduced
SB 4 as prime sponsor. He stated the proposed bill would
clarify that owners must conspicuously display their shop
licenses so that practitioners in the shop are not cited. It
would allow shops to self-certify. The bill would create two new
license types for non-chemical barbers and left the traditional
barber license. He added that bill would reduce training hours.
4:14:11 PM
RACHEL HANKE, Staff, Senator Peter Micciche, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SB 4 on behalf of Senator Micciche, prime
sponsor. She added the bill would also separate tattooing and
cosmetic coloring into two separate licenses and would expand
the definition of tattooing to include microblading and
microneedling.
4:14:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked about the hours of training required
for non-chemical barbers. He asked whether the hours were
determined by the board.
SENATOR MICCICHE answered it would be the board's decision.
4:15:46 PM
CHAIR KITO opened public testimony on SB 4. Upon ascertaining
that no one was available to testify, he closed public
testimony.
CHAIR KITO commented that it makes sense to look at and fix
outdated statues.
4:17:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL moved to report SB 4 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, it was so ordered.
4:18:18 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
4:18 p.m.