HB 35-EXTEND BD ARCHITECTS/ENGINEERS/SURVEYORS CHAIR ANDERSON announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 35, "An Act extending the termination date of the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; and providing for an effective date." 4:09:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE VIC KOHRING, Alaska State Legislature, testified as the sponsor of HB 35. He explained that the bill would extend the termination date of the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS Board). He remarked, "It was brought to my attention as a former member of the LB&A [Legislative Budget and Audit] committee that this organization was going to sunset ... or it would at least go into a one year sunset period and then be terminated one year from Juneau if [the legislature] did not take action this year." He pointed out that there are 11 members on the board, including two civil engineers, two land surveyors, one mining engineer, one electrical or mechanical engineer, one engineer from another branch of the profession of engineering, two architects, one landscape architect, and one public member. He explained that the purpose of the board is to provide for public safety in terms of issuing licenses in these professions, and conducting disciplinary actions as needed. He noted that the legislative audit division found that the organization is operating well and serving the public interest effectively, and they have recommended that the board be continued. PAT DAVIDSON, Legislative Auditor, Alaska Division of Legislative Audit, stated that the division conducted a sunset review on the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors and recommended an extension of the sunset date until June 30, 2009. She noted that the division made three recommendations to the board. She explained: The first [recommendation] is for the legislature to consider, requiring mandatory continuing professional education. A bill was passed a couple of years ago making it permissive. The board has not taken any action to date to implement that, and we're recommending that the legislature consider making that mandatory. ... The second recommendation involves the continuing evolution of the engineering profession. Alaska recognizes the core disciplines of civil, chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering as well as mining and petroleum engineers. Other states have recognized other specialties or ... sub disciplines. In this report we're recommending that the board, in conjunction with the professional society or with the University of Alaska, ... conduct a comprehensive review regarding the public benefits and the related costs associated with recognizing the additional licenses in the Alaska structure. And the third recommendation that we make is for the legislature to consider making the landscape architect a full voting member of the board. The number of landscape architects is approximately the same as mining engineers, who do have a designated seat on the board. 4:12:10 PM SAM KITO III, Alaska Profession Design Council, explained that the council is "an organization of membership organizations that represents architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, and we are here ... to say that we fully support the extension of the AELS Board to 2009." In response to Chair Anderson, he said that the board is relatively new and they are trying to understand the board composition issue. He remarked that, at the upcoming February meeting, the board plans to address the issue of having a mining versus a mining/geological engineering seat; the board would prefer to deal with the question of the landscape architect position at that time as well. 4:14:52 PM CHAIR ANDERSON pointed out to the new committee members that there are a multitude of board and commission extensions. He noted that in the past adding on to the bills [while in committee] can slow the bill down. He said: One thing I fear is if we amend the bill then maybe your organization is suddenly against the bill because of the amendment, and I don't think that would be the intent. And so I don't intend to amend the bill and I hope the committee takes that lead, that we can pass it out and separate legislation can be brought forth addressing Ms. Davidson's concerns. REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG focused on Ms. Davidson's second recommendation and stated that Alaska is one of the few states that registers [engineers] by specific discipline, and "we're short of numerous other disciplines. How do we handle these people like a nuclear engineer or somebody that came up here and wanted to be licensed?" MR. KITO responded that most of those people apply for a general civil engineering licenses or they will not be registered. He remarked that the AELS Board currently has a subcommittee to look into the issue of identification of registration categories. He offered to send a report to the legislature after the board's February meeting. REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG commented that he thought the audit was well done and had valid recommendations, particularly in regards to continuing education. He also remarked that it would be nice to resolve the [issue of whether to make the landscape architect a full voting member of the board]. CHAIR ANDERSON closed public testimony. REPRESENTATIVE KOTT moved to report HB 35 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, HB 35 was reported from the House Labor and Commerce Committee.