CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 139(L&C) An Act relating to termination and oversight of boards, commissions, and agency programs; extending the termination date of the Board of Marital and Family Therapy; and providing for an effective date. Representative Hawker asked Mr. Maher to describe the history of the bill and the accompanying amendment. TOM MAHER, STAFF, SENATOR GENE THERRIAULT, related changes in the bill. He noted that the House Labor and Commerce Committee had deleted two sections of the bill that addressed when a board termination and clarified that the transfer of authority for regulatory disciplinary powers to the Department of Commerce. While the Department has assumed that responsibility, the statutes clearly provide the Department authority to do so. The proposed provisions help address the uncertainty, stemming from recommendations by the Division of Legislative Audit. 3:23:52 PM Representative Hawker asked why the changes had been made in the House Labor and Commerce Committee version. Mr. Maher responded that all necessary testimony had not been present at that meeting to adequately explain the change. He deferred to Pat Davidson, Legislative Audit. 3:24:25 PM PAT DAVIDSON, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, LEGISLATIVE AUDIT DIVISION, explained that sun setting the board would make it so that no new professions could enter into that category or the whole profession might no longer exist in statute. Additionally, when the board leaves, the regulations disappear. 3:27:02 PM Representative Hawker MOVED to ADOPT Amendment #1. (Copy on File). Co-Chair Chenault OBJECTED for discussion purposes. He asked if that language would be seen in every board statute. Representative Hawker stated that the legislative auditor, in the Audit of the Alaska Sunset Process and Select Investigative Issues, recommended that the Legislature, "clarify responsibility for regulation, in the even an occupational licensing board terminates". The proposed language was brought forth by Legislative Legal Division and is supported by the Department. Ms. Davidson responded that the amendment was directed to the centralized licensing statute and therefore, would apply to all boards under Occupational Licensing. It would not be included in the profession statutes. 3:28:00 PM Representative Kelly asked if the Division of Licensing supported the amendment. 3:28:24 PM RICK URION, DIRECTOR, OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, noted that the Department supported the language of the amendment. He urged members to pass the amended bill from Committee. 3:29:24 PM Co-Chair Chenault WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, Amendment #1 was adopted. 3:29:56 PM Vice-Chair Stoltze MOVED to REPORT HCS CS SB 139 (FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HCS CS SB 139 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "no" recommendation and with fiscal note #1 by the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.