ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
          HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                         
                          May 5, 2023                                                                                           
                           2:57 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Justin Ruffridge, Vice Chair                                                                                     
Representative Mike Prax                                                                                                        
Representative Dan Saddler                                                                                                      
Representative Ashley Carrick                                                                                                   
Representative Zack Fields                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stanley Wright                                                                                                   
Representative Jesse Sumner, Chair                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Will Stapp                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 166                                                                                                              
"An Act  relating to firefighting  substances; and  providing for                                                               
an effective date."                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED HB 166 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 137                                                                                                              
"An  Act relating  to an  interstate  physical therapy  licensure                                                               
compact;  relating  to  the  licensure  of  physical  therapists,                                                               
physical  therapist  assistants,   occupational  therapists,  and                                                               
occupational therapy  assistants; and providing for  an effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 138                                                                                                              
"An Act  relating to an audiology  and speech-language interstate                                                               
compact; relating to  the practice of audiology  and the practice                                                               
of  speech-language pathology;  and  providing  for an  effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 145                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to loans in an amount of $25,000 or less;                                                                      
relating to deferred deposit advances; and providing for an                                                                     
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 123                                                                                                             
"An Act relating to commercial motor vehicle drivers' license                                                                   
requirements; and providing for an effective date."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     - BILL HEARING RESCHEDULED to 5/8/23                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 166                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: PFAS: USE FOR FIREFIGHTING, DISPOSAL                                                                               
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STAPP                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
04/19/23       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/19/23       (H)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
04/28/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/28/23       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/28/23       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/05/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 137                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT                                                                                 
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) WRIGHT                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
03/27/23       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/27/23       (H)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
04/21/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/21/23       (H)       <Bill Hearing Canceled>                                                                                
04/24/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/24/23       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/24/23       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/05/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 138                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: AUD. & SPEECH-LANG INTERSTATE COMPACT                                                                              
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) WRIGHT                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
03/27/23       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/27/23       (H)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
04/21/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/21/23       (H)       <Bill Hearing Canceled>                                                                                
04/24/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/24/23       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/24/23       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/05/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 145                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: LOANS UNDER $25,000; PAYDAY LOANS                                                                                  
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) WRIGHT                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
03/29/23       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/29/23       (H)       L&C                                                                                                    
04/14/23       (H)       FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C                                                                           
04/14/23       (H)       BILL REPRINTED                                                                                         
04/14/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/14/23       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/14/23       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/19/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/19/23       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/21/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/21/23       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/21/23       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/03/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
05/03/23       (H)       <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 05/05/23>                                                                 
05/05/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CLIFTON COGHILL, Staff                                                                                                          
Representative Will Stapp                                                                                                       
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  On behalf of the prime sponsor,                                                                          
Representative Stapp, gave a brief overview of HB 166.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DAVID PRUHS, Mayor                                                                                                              
City of Fairbanks                                                                                                               
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 166.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
PATRICE LEE, representing self                                                                                                  
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 166.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SCOTT RAYGOR, Chief                                                                                                             
Fairbanks Fire Department                                                                                                       
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 166.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
RACHAEL GUNN, Staff                                                                                                             
Representative Stanley Wright                                                                                                   
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  On behalf of the prime sponsor,                                                                          
Representative Wright, gave a brief recap of HB 137 and HB 138.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
ERICK CORDERO GIORGANA, Vice President                                                                                          
Operations                                                                                                                      
Alaska Policy Forum                                                                                                             
Wasilla, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 137.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ALEC KAY, President                                                                                                             
Alaska Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 137.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MARGE STONEKING, Lobbyist                                                                                                       
AARP Alaska                                                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 137.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DAVID JAMISON, representing self                                                                                                
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 138.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ANDREA TOTH, President                                                                                                          
Alaska Speech and Hearing Association                                                                                           
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 138.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
PI RIORDAN-RANDALL, Staff                                                                                                       
Representative Stanley Wright                                                                                                   
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  On behalf of the prime sponsor,                                                                          
Representative Wright, gave a summary of changes for the                                                                        
proposed committee substitute for HB 145.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ROBERT SCHMIDT, Director                                                                                                        
Alaska Division of Banking and Securities                                                                                       
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered questions during the hearing on HB                                                              
145.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
TRACY RENO, Chief of Examinations                                                                                               
Alaska Division of Banking and Securities                                                                                       
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered questions  during the hearing on HB                                                             
145.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:15:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR JUSTIN  RUFFRIDGE called the House  Labor and Commerce                                                             
Standing   Committee    meeting   to    order   at    3:15   p.m.                                                               
Representatives  Saddler, Prax,  Carrick,  Fields, and  Ruffridge                                                               
were present at the call to order.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
          HB 166-PFAS: USE FOR FIREFIGHTING, DISPOSAL                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:16:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE  announced that the first  order of business                                                               
would be  HOUSE BILL  NO. 166, "An  Act relating  to firefighting                                                               
substances; and providing for an effective date."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:16:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CLIFTON COGHILL,  Staff, Representative Will Stapp,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature,  on  behalf  of the  prime  sponsor,  Representative                                                               
Stapp,  gave  a  brief  overview  of   HB  166.    He  said  that                                                               
perfluoroalkyl  and polyfluoroalkyl  substances (PFAS)  have been                                                               
found to  be hazardous materials,  and HB 166 would  restrict the                                                               
usage of PFAS, except to the  oil and gas industry.  The proposed                                                               
bill  would  also  require  the   state  to  retrieve  some  PFAS                                                               
containing foam for disposal.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:17:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE opened public testimony on HB 166.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:18:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID PRUHS,  Mayor, City of  Fairbanks, stated that  he supports                                                               
the  bill, as  it would  provide a  stopgap measure  for fighting                                                               
certain  types  of fires  while  moving  away from  harmful  PFAS                                                               
containing  foams.    He  said that  the  stopgap  would  prevent                                                               
Fairbanks  from   having  to  spend  more   on  new  firefighting                                                               
equipment amidst a tight budget.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:19:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PATRICE LEE,  representing self,  expressed support for  the bill                                                               
because it would address future contamination from PFAS.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:21:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SCOTT  RAYGOR,   Chief,  Fairbanks  Fire   Department,  expressed                                                               
support for  HB 166.  He  said that Fairbanks has  spent millions                                                               
of dollars  connecting residences to  city water because  of PFAS                                                               
contamination.   He  suggested that  this would  be a  good first                                                               
step  in  eliminating "forever  chemicals."    He expressed  some                                                               
concern  in  the  section  of the  bill  which  addresses  forest                                                               
firefighting materials.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:23:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  RUFFRIDGE, after ascertaining  there was no  one else                                                               
who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 166.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:23:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER  moved to report  HB 166 out  of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.  There being no objection,  HB 166 was reported out of the                                                               
House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:23:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 3:23 p.m. to 3:25 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
            HB 137-PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT                                                                       
          HB 138-AUD. & SPEECH-LANG INTERSTATE COMPACT                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:25:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  RUFFRIDGE announced that  the next order  of business                                                               
would be  HOUSE BILL NO. 137,  "An Act relating to  an interstate                                                               
physical therapy licensure compact;  relating to the licensure of                                                               
physical therapists, physical  therapist assistants, occupational                                                               
therapists,  and occupational  therapy assistants;  and providing                                                               
for an effective date." and "An  Act relating to an audiology and                                                               
speech-language interstate  compact; relating to the  practice of                                                               
audiology  and the  practice  of  speech-language pathology;  and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:26:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RACHAEL GUNN, Staff, Representative  Stanley Wright, Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of Representative Wright,  prime sponsor,                                                               
stated that HB  137 would bring Alaska in  the Physical Therapist                                                               
Licensure Compact.  She addressed  HB 138 [which was heard during                                                               
the  meeting at  3:35  p.m.],  on behalf  of  the prime  sponsor,                                                               
Representative Wright.   She stated  that HB 138 would  bring the                                                               
state  into   the  Audiologist  and  Speech   Language  Therapist                                                               
Compact.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:26:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  RUFFRIDGE opened public  testimony on HB 137  [and HB                                                               
138].                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:26:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ERICK  CORDERO  GIORGANA,   Vice  President,  Operations,  Alaska                                                               
Policy Forum (APF),  stated that APF supports both HB  137 and HB                                                               
138   because   these   proposed   bills   would   increase   the                                                               
opportunities for  professionals in  these fields.   He explained                                                               
that   licensure  compacts   reduce   barriers   caused  by   the                                                               
differences in requirements from state  to state.  He argued that                                                               
these  compacts would  ultimately attract  more professionals  to                                                               
Alaska.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:29:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS  expressed concern about APF's  support for                                                               
the  proposed  legislation;  however,  he stated  that  he  would                                                               
continue his support.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:29:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER  asked whether APF has  a blanket position                                                               
on licensure compacting.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GIORGANA  answered  that   it  supports  licensure  compacts                                                               
regardless of the [medical profession] addressed in a bill.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:30:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALEC  KAY, President,  Alaska Chapter  of  the American  Physical                                                               
Therapy Association,  stated that  the American  Physical Therapy                                                               
Association  supports  HB 137,  as  it  will improve  safety  and                                                               
access to  care.   He said  that Alaska  faces delays  in gaining                                                               
licensure, leading  professionals to  choose other  states, which                                                               
has a negative economic and healthcare impact on the state.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:33:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARGE STONEKING,  Lobbyist, AARP Alaska, stated  that AARP Alaska                                                               
supports HB 137 and HB 138,  as these bills would increase access                                                               
to  care  for  Alaska's  aging population.    She  expressed  the                                                               
opinion  that  the  compacts  would   reduce  the  barriers  when                                                               
recruiting professionals from other states.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:35:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  RUFFRIDGE after  ascertaining that  there was  no one                                                               
else who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 137.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that HB 137 was held over.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
          HB 138-AUD. & SPEECH-LANG INTERSTATE COMPACT                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:35:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  announced that  the next order  of business  would be                                                               
[the continuation of] HOUSE BILL NO.  138, "An Act relating to an                                                               
audiology  and speech-language  interstate  compact; relating  to                                                               
the  practice of  audiology and  the practice  of speech-language                                                               
pathology; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:35:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE [continued] public testimony on HB 138.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:36:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID  JAMISON, representing  self, stated  that he  is a  speech                                                               
therapist and offered support for HB  138.  He said that there is                                                               
a severe  shortage of speech  therapists in Alaska  and expressed                                                               
the opinion  that joining  the compact  would reduce  barriers in                                                               
recruitment.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:37:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER questioned  the  current  length of  time                                                               
before licensure would be granted.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR.  JAMISON answered  that, before  licensure is  granted, there                                                               
are  other required  certifications.   He  said  that the  entire                                                               
process can  take up to six  months.  In response  to a follow-up                                                               
question, he  said that the bill  would reduce the time  frame by                                                               
at least  six weeks.   He answered  that the proposed  bill would                                                               
not reduce the amount of  time required to gain certification for                                                               
the various insurance companies.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:42:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANDREA  TOTH, President,  Alaska Speech  and Hearing  Association                                                               
(ASHA), shared  that she has  worked as a speech  therapist since                                                               
1993 and expressed  support for HB 138.  She  argued that joining                                                               
the compact  would improve care  for military families  and allow                                                               
military spouses to  begin work more quickly  in their associated                                                               
medical fields.   She  stated that ASHA  supports the  bill, and,                                                               
because Alaska  does not  have an  audiology and  speech language                                                               
therapist board, ASHA could provide oversight.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:44:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER  questioned the  licensure  certification                                                               
process for audiologists and speech language therapists.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS.  TOTH answered  that national  certification  is required  to                                                               
receive  a license  in Alaska  and offered  that ASHA  is already                                                               
involved in this process.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:45:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  RUFFRIDGE, after ascertaining  that there was  no one                                                               
else who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 138.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that HB 138 was held over.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
            HB 145-LOANS UNDER $25,000; PAYDAY LOANS                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:46:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE  announced that the final  order of business                                                               
would be  HOUSE BILL  NO. 145,  "An Act relating  to loans  in an                                                               
amount  of   $25,000  or  less;  relating   to  deferred  deposit                                                               
advances; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:46:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER moved  to  adopt  the proposed  committee                                                               
substitute  (CS)  for  HB   145,  Version  33-LS0508\U,  Dunmire,                                                               
3/28/23,  as  a working  document.    There being  no  objection,                                                               
Version U was before the committee.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:47:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PI RIORDAN-RANDALL, Staff,  Representative Stanley Wright, Alaska                                                               
State  Legislature, on  behalf  of  Representative Wright,  prime                                                               
sponsor,  gave  the summary  of  changes  under Version  U  [copy                                                               
included  in  the  committee  packet],   which  read  as  follows                                                               
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The  committee substitute  for  HB145  version U  would                                                                    
     make the following changes:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
        Amend Section  3, adding  new subsection  (d) to  AS                                                                  
     06.20.025 to  clarify that lenders  who issue  loans to                                                                    
     Alaskan residents where the  borrower completes the in-                                                                    
     person   or   electronic    transaction   while   being                                                                    
     physically  present  must  register  as  a  small  loan                                                                    
     licensee.                                                                                                                  
          o This  change would protect Alaskan  consumers by                                                                    
     regulating  lenders  who  say   they  do  not  have  to                                                                    
     register  in  Alaska  because  their  server  or  other                                                                    
     infrastructure is located out of state.                                                                                    
          o It would also  provide clarity to businesses who                                                                    
     may be unclear if they need to register.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Add the following new sections:                                                                                            
     • Section 4, adding  new section AS 06.20.025 "National                                                                  
     Registry"   allowing   the  Department   of   Commerce,                                                                    
     Community, and  Economic Development to  participate in                                                                    
     the   Nationwide   Multistate  Licensing   System   and                                                                    
     Registry (NMLS)  and utilize  the registry  to register                                                                    
     licensees   and   have   licensees  apply,   renew   an                                                                    
     application, submit reports,  pay fees, submit reports,                                                                    
     upload  surety bonds,  challenge  information input  by                                                                    
     the  department  into  the registry,  and  input  other                                                                    
     information and forms into the registry.                                                                                   
          o  This change  should  reduce the  administrative                                                                    
     burden   on   licensees.  Currently,   licensees   must                                                                    
     complete a  pdf application, email it  to the division,                                                                    
     and mail a check or  fax a credit card authorization to                                                                    
     pay  application   fees.  These  processes   should  be                                                                    
     streamlined if  licensees apply through NMLS,  which is                                                                    
     used in over 50 U.S. states and territories.                                                                               
               ? Renewal applications  would simply note any                                                                    
     changes (versus  having to fill out  a full application                                                                    
     each  year),  surety bonds  could  be  uploaded by  the                                                                    
     insurance company, fees could be  paid by ACH or credit                                                                    
     card directly,  and no  more emails  or PDFs  to submit                                                                    
     the application.                                                                                                           
          o Additionally,  this change will reduce  the work                                                                    
     required by the division to process applications.                                                                          
     •  Section 5,  amending  AS  06.20.030(a) allowing  the                                                                  
     department  to collect  application investigation  fees                                                                    
     through the NMLS registry.                                                                                                 
     •  Section 6,  amending  AS  06.20.030(b) allowing  the                                                                  
     department  to  collect  application fees  through  the                                                                    
     NMLS  registry  as  well   as  bringing  the  licensing                                                                    
     structure for small loan licenses to the modern era.                                                                       
          o The  proposed licensing structure is  similar to                                                                    
     the  licensing structure  currently  found in  deferred                                                                    
     deposit advance (DDA or "payday") licensing.                                                                               
          o  This   change  is  not  expected   to  increase                                                                    
     application fees  on current  small loan  licensees and                                                                    
     will  keep  fees  constant for  any  DDA  licensee  who                                                                    
     migrates to a small loan license.                                                                                          
        Section 7,  repealing  and  reenacting AS  06.20.090                                                                  
     "Places of Business" to  update the licensing structure                                                                    
     of small loan licenses.                                                                                                    
         Section   8,   amending  AS   06.20.170   "Periodic                                                                  
     Examinations"  to  change   the  requirement  that  the                                                                    
     department examine  small loan licensees at  least once                                                                    
     every 18 months to "as  often as necessary to carry out                                                                    
     the purposes of this chapter."                                                                                             
          o This  change would reduce the  regulatory burden                                                                    
     and  costs on  licensees  by allowing  the division  to                                                                    
     examine  based  on  risk  rather  than  being  calendar                                                                    
     driven.                                                                                                                    
          o This "as needed"  examination structure is found                                                                    
     in mortgage (AS 06.60),  money services (AS 06.55), and                                                                    
     DDA  lending  (AS  06.50);  this  change  would  create                                                                    
     consistency and fairness among programs.                                                                                   
        Section   11,  adding   new  section   AS  06.20.325                                                                  
     "Criminal  Threats" to  prohibit  small loan  licensees                                                                    
     from threatening  a borrower with  criminal prosecution                                                                    
     as a result of the borrower's default.                                                                                     
       o This change would increase consumer protections                                                                        
     by implementing language similar to what is currently                                                                      
     found in AS 06.50 (DDA or "payday" lending).                                                                               
        Section 12, adding new paragraph to AS 06.20.900                                                                      
      "Definitions" defining "registry" as the Nationwide                                                                       
     Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) and registry.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:52:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER questioned what Section 4 would cover.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:53:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROBERT  SCHMIDT,   Director,  Alaska  Division  of   Banking  and                                                               
Securities,  Department  of   Commerce,  Community  and  Economic                                                               
Development, answered that the division  would use the Nationwide                                                               
Multistate Licensing System  and Registry (NMLS), and  it is used                                                               
for many  types of financial  and lending  regulations, including                                                               
mortgages.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:55:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TRACY  RENO, Chief  of Examinations,  Alaska Division  of Banking                                                               
and   Securities,   Department    of   Commerce,   and   Economic                                                               
Development,  stated that  NMLS  is already  used  in Alaska  for                                                               
mortgage lending,  and for  small, short-term  loans in  33 other                                                               
states.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:56:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER expressed  concern about  using NMLS  for                                                               
the purposes outlined in the proposed legislation.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:56:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 3:56 p.m. to 3:58 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:58:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE  announced that HB 145, Version  U, was held                                                               
over.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:58:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business before the committee, the House                                                                 
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at                                                                  
3:58 p.m.