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Contact Information:
Toll Free:(800) 665-2689
In the Homer Area:(907) 235-2921
Via Mail or in Person: 345 W. Sterling Hwy., Suite 102B
Homer, Alaska 99603
Fax:(907) 235-4008
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Greetings from Juneau on this 99th day of the legislative session. Tina and I have enjoyed being able to spend Easter weekend at home with family and friends. The weather was beautiful earlier this weekend but today I'm not sure I’ll be able to get in to the LIO because of the snowstorm! Oops! Took the studded tires off too soon!
I carried on the House Floor this week. The bill completes an extensive overhaul of the Alaska Forest Resources and Practices Act (FRPA), which governs how timber harvesting, reforestation, and timber access occur on state, private and municipal lands. Major revisions to the Act occurred in '99 and '03 to reclassify streams and establish riparian management standards in both Region I (coastal Alaska) and Region III (interior Alaska). HB 420 adopts many similar standards, as well as some specific to our home region, Region II (southcentral Alaska). The bill has been widely supported and passed the House by unanimous vote. You can read more about the Act at .
I had the pleasure of meeting with Brad Kruger from Homer this week. Brad recently accepted a position as Alaska's NRA Field Representative. Brad has worked with me over the last few years to help facilitate the construction of a Kachemak Gun Club shooting range between Homer and Anchor Point.
Personal Legislation
– Recreational Land Use Liability: Passes House
HB 415 passed the House last Monday unanimously. The bill referred to the Senate Resources and Judiciary committees. I would like to thank the various groups and individuals who have helped to make this such a smooth process.
– PERS/TRS Cleanup: Heard & Held
HB 475 makes technical changes to the Retirement Security Act, , which established a Defined Contribution retirement plan for new teachers and public employees. These changes are minor and do not affect the policy established by the previous legislation. For example, one amendment to SB 141 provided death and disability benefits to all members, but did not include enough detail. HB 475 resolves several similar problems.
The House Finance Committee adopted a new version of the bill during Wednesday’s hearing, which incorporates sections to make the plan IRS compliant. The sections were submitted at the request of the Division of Retirement and Benefits after having expert retirement counsel. You can find additional information and a copy of the most recent work draft on my website.
– Mixing Zones: RIP
HB 328 was heard and held on Wednesday. The version before the committee offered a compromise between the concerns of the placer mining community and the concerns of fishermen, as well as others whose livelihoods are dependent on clean water. However, with strong opposition to the bill from the Administration and the mining industry, it is unlikely to be heard again this session.
State Affairs Committee
, to extend the sunset date for the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, moved from committee with two major changes. We amended the Senate version by reinstating the requirement that the Governor consult with the Network on Domestic Violence before submitting nominations to the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. The Committee agreed with the existing statutory requirement for the Network to seek a broad spectrum of Alaskans with expertise and a willingness to serve as public members on the Council. This outweighed the concern identified in an earlier Legislative Budget & Audit report that a conflict of interest could exist for the Network. According to the auditor, this possible conflict had been resolved before a more recent 2005 audit. The committee also amended the bill to change the 2014 sunset date to June 30, 2008. We also sent along a letter of intent requesting that the Council provide the Legislature with a strategic plan of action by the beginning of the 2007 session.
continues inmate training and work programs terminated by a statutory deadline (sunset) of July 1, 2005. This deadline was accidentally overlooked by the Department of Corrections. This bill was heard and held while possible amendments to the program are crafted.
The amended version of directs the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of state government to develop regulations and procedures to prohibit procurement from a person that has headquarters in a country listed as sponsoring or turning a blind eye to slavery and human trafficking. SB 12 moved from committee.
was heard and held. This bill attempts to reduce the liability of the state and municipalities for the payment of attorney fees in public interest litigant cases. The problem I have with this legislation is that it seeks to significantly raise the financial bar on citizens when they are working to correct unconstitutional or illegal regulations, statutes, and municipal ordinances. Residents should not be excessively burdened while seeking to make government more accountable and can only recover attorney fees if they win the case in court.
moved from committee. HB 461 tightens financial reporting requirements for legislators who make over $5000 performing personal services. I amended the bill to include a requirement that income from a dividend received from a limited liability company as compensation for personal services must be reported as business income instead of as 'interest and dividends' to APOC.
Resources Committee
makes changes to the Commercial Fishing Revolving Loan Fund and passed from committee with amendments. I amended the bill to raise the proposed cap on the total amount of loans that a borrower may have outstanding from $335,000 to $400,000. I also amended the bill to retain the interest cap at 10 ½ percent.
passed committee. The amended version of the bill requires that minimum meat salvage requirements are met before a person acquires legal possession of horns or antlers. This bill allows the Board of Game to adopt area specific regulations for the minimum amount of edible meat that must be possessed by a hunter, and to establish criteria for the forfeiture of horns if the salvage requirements are not met.
Two confirmation hearings were held: Bonnie Williams of Fairbanks, for the Board of Fish, and Lief Wilson of Tok, for the Big Game Commercial Services Board. Both names were forwarded to the full legislature.
Health Education and Social Services Committee
On Tuesday the committee moved , allowing nurses in assisted living homes to administer herbal supplements and remedies to patients with a prescription. Currently the Board of Nursing can revoke a nurse's license for administering such herbal supplements or remedies. We also heard and held the anti-bullying bill, . This would require school districts to adopt a policy on harassment, intimidation and bullying and encourages individuals to reports any incidents they witness.
Following Bills
All bills can be accessed through the state's Bill Action and Status Inquiry System (BASIS). You can see what committee a bill is in, when it will be heard, how committee members voted, and much more. You can view all bills relating to your specific areas of interest by selecting "Subject Summary" from the menu on the right. Access BASIS through the link below, or by doing a search for "BASIS Alaska".
Live on the Web
Most committee hearings can be seen and heard on Gavel-to-Gavel, which is broadcast on both local access TV and on the Internet. You can also access online archives from their website. .
Contact Us
If you would like to speak to me regarding a specific issue, it is helpful to first get in touch with the member of my staff handling related issues. You can click on their email addresses to send them a note, or just give us a call at the office. Please provide your full name, address and phone number on any correspondence with the office. Your time and effort are much appreciated.
Louie Flora
State Affairs, Resources, Fisheries, HB 328
(907) 465-4963
Ian Laing
Scheduling, Ways and Means, HB 415, HB 418
(907) 465-2689
Katie Shows
Health Education and Social Services, PERS/TRS, Budget, HCR 5, HCR 28, HB 238
(907) 465-2028
Rep. Paul Seaton
House District 35
(800) 665-2689
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