HB 344-ADMINISTRATIVE CODE/REGISTER DISTRIBUTION 8:35:01 AM CO-CHAIR FAIRCLOUGH announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 344, "An Act relating to distribution of the Alaska Administrative Code and Alaska Administrative Register; and providing for an effective date." 8:35:29 AM JASON HOOLEY, Special Assistant/Legislature, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, explained that by law the lieutenant governor is required to distribute paper copies of the Alaska Administrative Code and its quarterly supplements to all 158 local government units in Alaska. In the last several years, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor has received feedback that they don't use the paper copies of the materials and they don't have office space to store them. In many cases, the local government units are transitioning to the electronic versions available for free on the Internet. This legislation simply allows the local governments who don't want to receive the paper documents to opt-out, and if they later determine that they wish to receive the paper copies they can opt-in. This legislation attempts to save the state some money while responding to the desires of the local communities. Mr. Hooley then turned to the zero fiscal note and related that currently $22,000 a year is spent on this portion of the contract with the publisher. Therefore, when communities opt-out of the program, money will be saved. 8:37:03 AM REPRESENTATIVE SALMON asked if this information is available on line. MR. HOOLEY replied yes. 8:37:13 AM REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked if it will remain possible for a local government to call and request a paper copy because some communities may not have the capability to obtain the information on line. MR. HOOLEY said that it will be entirely up to the local communities. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor arranges the distribution of the documents through the contractor/publisher. In Section 2 subsection (b), the language provides time to absorb in the budget when a community decides at a later date that it wishes to resume receipt of paper copy. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA surmised then that this legislation allows communities the ability to opt-out rather than opt-in. MR. HOOLEY explained that currently all communities are opted-in and that will continue until a community opts out. 8:39:10 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX surmised then that HB 344 is necessary because currently even if a community doesn't want the paper copies, they have to be sent out to it anyway. MR. HOOLEY noted his agreement. 8:40:06 AM CO-CHAIR FAIRCLOUGH, upon determining no one wished to testify, closed public testimony. 8:40:28 AM REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved to report HB 344 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 344 was reported from the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.