HB 169-LAA REVIEW OF PROPOSED REGULATIONS  9:56:42 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced that HB 169 was before the committee. It addresses the Legislative Affairs Agency review of regulations. MELANIE LESH, staff to Representative Carl Gatto, noted she was representing the House Judiciary Committee, sponsor of HB 169. She pointed out that HB 169 is unopposed and not controversial. She explained that the bill corrects two minor problems in an otherwise functioning regulation review system. She related that statutes covering Legislative Legal Services review of proposed agency regulations, which are under AS 24.20.105, are subject to Administrative Regulations Review and the Administrative Procedures Act under AS 44.62. She explained that the legislative review of statutes currently lists those who can request a review of regulations from Legal Services. They are a standing committee, Administrative Review Committee, and Legislative Council. The same statues also limit those who Legal Services is allowed to notify of the results of the review. Those are the Administrative Review Committee, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House. Those lists do not match. She stated that Legal Services can only notify those entities if the regulations fail to meet the statutory standards. The bill adds the committee or council that requested the review to the list of those who can receive the notice. Also, the bill allows if the regulation implements newly enacted legislation, Legal Services may consult with, and notify, the prime sponsor of the legislation. She concluded that the bill also allows Legal Services to notify the requester that the regulations meet the statutory standards. 9:59:13 AM LISA KIRSCH, Attorney, Legislative Legal Services, Legislative Affairs Agency, answered questions related to HB 169. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the bill was necessary and solves problems. MS. KIRSCH recalled her experience with the Administrative Regulation Review Committee. She opined that HB 169 does correct a problem. She explained that there are three factors considered under subsection (d) of the provision being amended. It allows for looking at legality, constitutionality, whether the agency that is preparing the regulations has statutory authority, and whether the regulations are consistent with existing statutes. There is also a fourth factor under subsection (f), whether it is consistent with legislative intent. In the context of that particular concern, it was determined that the sponsor should know about the changes in regulation. She said HB 169 makes good sense. She further explained the needed change to share regulation changes with the committee or council that requested the review. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted he was a member of the Administrative Regulations Review Committee which approved of these changes. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI closed public testimony. He noted a zero fiscal note and another committee referral for the bill. He set HB 169 aside.