S E N A T O R L E M A N i n t r o d u c e d S B 7 9 (BOARDS/COMMISSIONS/COUNCILS/AUTHORITIES) and SB 80 (BOARDS/COMMISSIONS/COUNCILS/AUTHORITIES) as the final order of business. RANDY WELKER, Legislative Audit Division, explained SB 79 addresses the sunset legislation which has been on Alaska's books since 1977. The legislature adopted sunset laws in 1977 top review the operations and functions of a variety of boards and commissions. Since 1977, over 100 sunset reviews have been conducted on various boards and commissions, and significant improvements have been made in the accountability and operation of those boards. Mr. Welker noted that Alaska's review cycle of four years is the shortest of any state. The average review cycle is eight years and goes as high as 13 years in some states. The Legislatiave Audit Division is recommending that Alaska's cycle be amended to a 10-year sunset cycle. This would provide several advantages: (1) it would lessen the demand on audit resources; (2) there would be less legislative time devoted to continuous introduction of bills and hearings and testimony on various boards; (3) there would be less strain on board membership over the issues of sunset; and (4) less time would be devoted by the Department of Commerce & Economic Development to the sunset process. Responding to a question from Senator Taylor, Mr. Welker noted that there are several boards that they found through a review of statutes and other sources of information that are inactive and have been for a long time. These boards are being repealed in SB 80. SENATOR ELLIS asked what effect this legislation has on the Citizen's Review Panel for Permanency Planning. RANDY WELKER answered that SB 79 does not address it, however, it is repealed in SB 80 because it has been relatively inactive since its adoption by the legislature, primarily by choice of the Administration by not funding it. SENATOR ELLIS stated his strong opposition to deleting that particular panel. TAPE 93-8, SIDE B Number 010 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS pointed out that the list of boards being repealed in SB 80 were recommendations from last year's Legislative Budget & Audit Committee, and that the bill has several committees of referral so that it can get full consideration. He added that he shared Senators Ellis' concern with that particular board. RANDY WELKER clarified that the audit division's purpose in going through the statutes and preparing their report was to identify those boards that appeared not to have any activity. Part of the recommendations in the division's report and in the legislation are the result of the Governor's Task Force on Boards and Commissions. Number 075 Representative Brown stated that she does not believe the recommendation to eliminate the Telecommunications Information Council is adequately justified in the Governor's task force report, and that she does not see anything in there that rationalizes why they want to get rid of it. She said while the telecommunications council has had its problems in the past, it is doing a good job presently. She urged that the committee delete reference to that council from the bill and that it be allowed to continue its work. Number 095 SENATOR LEMAN stated SB 79 and SB 80 would be back before the committee at the Wednesday, February 17 meeting at which time he hopes to move them from committee.