HB 253-MECHANIC/MATERIALMEN LIENS  CHAIR FRENCH announced the consideration of HB 253. 8:48:27 AM DON HABIGER, Staff to Representative Jay Ramras, related that HB 253 is informally known as Rocky's bill. REPRESENTATIVE JAY RAMRAS, sponsor of HB 253, said he introduced the bill to addresses a problem faced by small business persons working in the trades. Current law allows people who supply labor, material, services, or equipment for the construction, alteration, or repair of property just 90 days after the work or service is completed to secure payment of the debt. After that time they lose the right to file a lien on the home or facility where the work was done. This legislation extends by 30 days that time period. 8:53:19 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS encouraged the committee to listen to the public testimony. CHAIR FRENCH said no one signed up to testify, but the packet contains letters from Rocky [Pavey], North Pole Heating, and Alaska Best Plumbing. REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS added that small shops try to accommodate their customers, but often they don't get paid in a timely fashion and they are faced with the difficult decision of filing a lien on the property for non-payment. HB 253 is an excellent remedy for those small shops, he said. CHAIR FRENCH found no further testimony and set HB 253 aside. HB 253-MECHANIC/MATERIALMEN LIENS  CHAIR FRENCH returned attention to HB 253 to take public testimony. 9:17:51 AM TANYA WATSON, Office Manager, Rocky's Heating Service, stated support for HB 253. She related that some of their larger invoices are due to insurance claims and some insurance companies don't pay any of the service providers until all the work has been done. This means that Rocky's Heating might not get paid for six months and by the time they realize that they might have difficulty collecting, it's generally too late to file a lien. GRACE RUDY, Overhead Door Company, stated support for HB 253. She said the additional 30 days will provide service providers more time to work with their customers to receive payment for services rendered. Filing a lien for nonpayment is unpleasant and alienates the customer. 9:20:20 AM CHAIR FRENCH held HB 253 in committee.