MINUTES  SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE  20 January 1998  10:12 A.M.  TAPES  SFC-98, #1, Side 1 CALL TO ORDER  Senator Bert Sharp, Co-chair, convened the meeting at approximately 10:12 a.m. PRESENT    In addition to Co-chairman Sharp, Senators Donley, Torgerson, Phillips and Parnell were present when the meeting was convened. Senators Pearce and Adams were not present. Also Attending: Senator Jerry Mackie; Catherine Reardon, Director, Occupational Licensing, Department of Commerce and Economic Development; Juanita Hensley, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles; Shari Paul, Special Assistant to the Childrens' Trust Fund, Department of Revenue; Chris Mertl, Landscape Artist; Mike Greany, Director, Division of Legislative Finance and aides to committee members and other members of the Legislature. via Teleconference: Dwayne Adams, Landscape Architect, Anchorage. SUMMARY INFORMATION CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 110(L&C)  An Act relating to licensure of landscape architects; relating to exemptions from laws regulating the practice of architecture, engineering, and land surveying; and relating to fees collected by the Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors. Testimony was given by Senator Mackie, sponsor of the bill. Testimony was also given by Chris Mertl, landscape artist and Catherine Reardon, Director, Occupational Licensing, Department of Commerce and Economic Development. Dwayne Adams testified via teleconference from Anchorage. Ms. Reardon noted corrections on page 1, line 7 and page 2, line 13 of the Labor and Commerce version of the bill. She also corrected the fiscal note from her division noting that it should read $12.8 and $11.2 respectively under Revenue. Senator Mackie advised the committee that the bill could be moved. CSSB 110 (L&C) was MOVED by Senator Donley and without objection it was REPORTED OUT with individual recommendations and corrected fiscal note from the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, $12.8. SENATE BILL NO. 157  An Act establishing a children's trust motor vehicle registration plate. Testimony was given by Senator Donley, sponsor of the bill. He moved amendment number 1 and without objection it was adopted. Shari Paul, Special Assistant to the Childrens' Trust Fund, Department of Revenue and Juanita Hensley, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles were invited to join the committee to answer questions. CSSB 157(FIN) was MOVED  by Senator Donley and without objection it was REPORTED OUT with individual recommendations and fiscal note from Division of Motor Vehicles, $19.9. SUMMARY    CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 110(L&C)    An Act relating to licensure of landscape architects;  relating to exemptions from laws regulating the  practice of architecture, engineering, and land  surveying; and relating to fees collected by the Board  of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land  Surveyors.    Co-chair Sharp called the meeting to order. Senator Jerry Mackie, sponsor, was invited to join the committee and testified on behalf of CSSB 110 (L&C). He said the bill provided for playground safety, hiking paths, roadways and wetland treatment; as well as health and safety for those using these areas. He briefly referred to page 2, section 3 (L&C version) and page 14, section 36. Dwayne Adams, landscape office partner, testified via teleconference from Anchorage. He noted that presently landscape services were contracted outside the State of Alaska. Chris Mertl, landscape artist, was invited to join the committee. He explained landscape architecture for the committee members. He said they were land stewards, committed to preserve and protect the community. an architect and engineer work together to design state, federal, city and private facilities. Approximately forty- five states have licensure. These artists directly understand the environment. He also confirmed that presently individuals were being brought in from outside the State. Catherine Reardon, Director, Occupational Licensing, Department of Commerce and Economic Development was invited to join the committee. She said the bill had been previously discussed and advised she would limit her comments to the fiscal note. There was an error on the revenue line and she said it should be corrected to read $12.8 and $11.2 respectively. She also said the department did not oppose the bill. Senator Torgerson asked now many landscape artists there were and Ms. Reardon indicated there were an estimated thirty-six licensed artists. In response to a question from Co-chair Sharp, Ms. Reardon explained that the State needed to charge membership fees (in the amount of $1,400) in order to belong to the organization to qualify for national exams. She did not anticipate sending artists to national meetings. Senator Donley moved SB 110(L&C) and without objection it was reported out with corrected fiscal note from the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, $12.8. SENATE BILL NO. 157    "An Act establishing a children's trust motor vehicle  registration plate." Co-chair Sharp called SB 157. Brief testimony was given by Senator Donley, sponsor of the bill. He indicated that there would be a one-time fee of $100 and the bill was supported by the childrens' trust. He moved amendment #1 and without objection it was adopted. Shari Paul, Special Assistant to the Childrens' Trust was invited to join the committee to answer questions only and was excused. Juanita Hensley, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles was invited to join the committee to answer questions only and was excused. Senator Donley moved CSSB 157(FIN) with accompanying fiscal notes and without objection it was reported out with individual recommendations and fiscal note from the Division of Motor Vehicles, $19.9. Co-chair Sharp outlined the schedule for Wednesday, noting the Petroleum Forecast would begin at 9:00 a.m.  ADJOURNMENT Co-chair Sharp recessed the meeting at 10:40 a.m.