HB 155 - HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION FEES & HEARINGS Number 0757 CHAIRMAN BUNDE announced the next item on the agenda was HB 155, "An Act relating to hearings before and authorizing fees for the State Commission for Human Rights; and providing for an effective date." Number 0808 PAULA HALEY, Executive Director, Human Rights Commission, testified next via teleconference from Anchorage. She said HB 155 is part of a comprehensive approach to increased demand for the agency's services in the wake of diminishing resources. The commissioner and staff have determined that seeking additional resources in these times is not enough and that an effort has to be made to meet the demands. In addition to budget requests, the commission has revised their internal procedures, amended their regulations last spring, are seeking to re-amend their regulations this spring and are proposing this legislation. All these things are being done in the hopes that the commission can become more effective and cost efficient in the business of enforcing civil rights. MS. HALEY said that HB 155 allows the commission to charge fees for educational services and allows it to hold its hearings out of the commission office, either in person or through teleconference participation. It would also allow meetings to be recorded rather than having them transcribed. The savings and fees which might be generated would be used for investigator overtime. The Department of Law determined that investigators were eligible for overtime and this money is currently not budgeted. The savings could allow some temporary staff to assist in the case processing. MS. HALEY explained that HB 155 is part of the commission's efforts to grapple with investigative delays resulting from the increased demand on services and to save money and streamline the process. Number 0908 CHAIRMAN BUNDE asked if there would be problems in the legal community with the change from transcription to recording. Number 0925 MS. HALEY stated that transcription is very expensive. A transcript can make things easier as people can read more quickly than they can listen. A court reporter can cost anywhere from $800 to $1,000 a day. She has not heard of any concerns about cutting the transcription. The commission would not be proceeding to criminal charges because their process is an administrative civil process. Number 0983 CHAIRMAN BUNDE described the possible inaccuracies of transcription and cited the tape of the Constitutional Convention. Number 1009 CHAIRMAN BUNDE commended the attempt to reduce travel costs. Number 1026 REPRESENTATIVE PORTER made a motion to move HB 155 with individual recommendations and zero fiscal note. There being no objection, HB 155 was moved from the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee. REPRESENTATIVE DYSON stated that he had served on the Human Rights Commission up until the end of 1996. He was part of the decision- making process which brought this legislation forward, and it was his idea to include subsection 4 on page 1. CHAIRMAN BUNDE encouraged him to declare his conflict when this bill came to the floor.