HB 156-CHAIR OF RCA  3:20:30 PM CHAIR OLSON announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 156, "An Act relating to the chair of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska." 3:20:48 PM JENNIFER SENETTE, Staff, Representative Kurt Olson, on behalf of the prime sponsor, stated that HB 156 would allow the governor to select a commissioner of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) to serve as the chair of the RCA for a three year term. The appointment structure differs from the current structure, in which the RCA commissioners select one member to serve as chair for the following fiscal year. Under the bill, the RCA's chair could serve no more than three successive terms, but could sit out for one year and still be eligible to be considered to once again serve as chair. She explained that having the chair appointed by the governor is not a new concept. She referred to a history of the RCA in members' packets that shows from 1970 to 2003 the governor designated the chair of the commission, formerly known as the Alaska Public Utilities Commission (APUC). Currently, 15 boards have a similar leadership structure, including the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC); the Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission (WCAC), the Labor Relations Agency, the Occupational Health and Safety Board, the Board of Marine Pilots, the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority (KABATA), and the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (OGCC). This bill would provide a three year-term for the RCA's chair, which would provide greater degree of consistency for its leadership. This is important since many of the issues and dockets opened by the RCA span numerous years, so having a leadership structure for more than one year would be advantageous, she said. 3:23:10 PM MS. SENETTE provided a section-by-section analysis of the bill. The first section of HB 156 would allow the governor to appoint one member of the RCA as chair and would establish the term at three years. The second section of HB 156 would provide transition language to account for the current RCA chair's term. Under this provision the governor would designate the next chair once the current RCA chair's term ends, she said. 3:23:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES related her understanding that currently the RCA's chair is limited to three terms. She asked whether HB 156 would allow the chair to serve successive terms. MS. SENETTE responded that nothing in HB 156 would prevent the governor from designating the RCA's chair for consecutive terms. However, given that the term limit of a commissioner is six years, two successive terms would be the maximum allowed. REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES recalled the RCA's commissioner terms are staggered terms of six years. Theoretically, a governor would be more likely to choose someone with at least three years remaining of his/her term. However, HB 156 does not require full chair terms be completed, she said. CHAIR OLSON offered his belief that it was unlikely the governor would select someone as chair who has less than three years of his/her term remaining. He suggested someone on the committee with experience overseeing boards and commissions may wish to comment. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER answered that he did not have any recollection on the matter. CHAIR OLSON reiterated his belief that selecting someone to serve out the chair's term would not be an issue. REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES related a scenario in which the governor selected someone with two years remaining. She offered her belief that HB 156 would not extend the commissioner's term for another year. MS. SENETTE related her understanding that it would not do so. 3:26:20 PM CHAIR OLSON, after first determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 156. REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES asked whether the RCA or the Governor's office had a position on the bill. CHAIR OLSON related his understanding that the RCA and the Governor's office were neutral on HB 156. 3:26:59 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON moved to report HB 156 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, HB 156 was reported from the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.