SSHB 293 - PERSONS REQUIRED TO FILE SETTLEMENT INF0 Number 1721 CHAIRMAN GREEN announced the next item of business would be Sponsor Substitute for HB 293, "An Act relating to collection of settlement information in civil litigation; and providing for an effective date." Number 1730 REPRESENTATIVE PORTER, sponsor, described SSHB 293 as a straightforward cleanup bill. He reminded members that the previous year, they had passed a lengthy tort reform bill in which they had asked that settlement information be reported so that they could get a good track record on just what is involved in the settlement of civil cases involving torts. REPRESENTATIVE PORTER explained that the Alaska Judicial Council, which has the task of collecting that information, had made two suggestions, which were reviewed by the Department of Law; amendments were then made to the original legislation that conform with the position of Gail Voigtlander, who handles liability for the state. Number 1812 REPRESENTATIVE PORTER stated, "And now with Bill Cotton [Executive Director, Alaska Judicial Council] and Gail Voigtlander both on vacation today, I have been asked to submit their bill. Basically, what it does in Section 1 is lay out several areas of the law that we would not want reporting done on, as they do not fall within the tort area, and it would be unnecessary for attorneys or parties - or the court - to report. And in Section 2, it goes to establish that not only the court but a party or their attorney should furnish this information also when a case is settled." REPRESENTATIVE PORTER advised members there was originally an inclusion of retroactivity to cases filed before the tort reform bill passed. He stated, "What we're saying now is that we're not interested in getting the information unless the settlement itself, or decision, comes after the effect of this bill. So, it could be a case that's in existence now, but we're not going to go back and try to get judgments, settlements or decisions that occurred prior to the passage of this bill, which was of some concern to the bar association." Number 1897 REPRESENTATIVE JAMES made a motion to adopt the proposed committee substitute, Version H [0-LS1144\H, Ford, 2/3/98], as a work draft. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Number 1926 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked whether the sponsor would mind his joining in as a cosponsor. REPRESENTATIVE PORTER replied, "Not in the least." Number 1958 REPRESENTATIVE JAMES made a motion to move Version H out of committee with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal note. CHAIRMAN GREEN asked whether there was any objection. There being none, CSSSHB 293(JUD) moved from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.