Alaska State Legislature
News from the Office of Representative Scott Ogan

Representative Scott Ogan
State Capital, Room 128
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
ph: (907) 465-3878 fax: (907) 465-3265
toll free: (800) 862-3878
web site: www.akrepublicans.org/Ogan.htm

Ogan Pushes Bill for Fair Hearings

For Immediate Release: January 26, 1998 Contact: Representative Scott Ogan at (907) 465-3878.

Juneau - The House Judiciary Committee is taking a very serious look at a bill to change the administrative hearing process in Alaska. Representative Scott Ogan (R-Palmer) introduced the measure late last session and the Committee gave the bill a warm reception in its first hearing this year.

"We can not afford to have hearing officers who are making public judgement calls on regulations promulgated by the agency they work for. Until we get the agency cops separated from the agency judges the public will not be afforded due process." said Ogan.

Ogan's bill, HB 232, is based on a national model designed to give fair and impartial hearings to those who take exception with government regulations. At the hearing the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce announced its support for the measure, as did the National Federation of Independent Businesses in a written statement.

The bill is referred to a subcommittee for technical work and will be back before the committee in the very near future. "I can think of nothing more fundamental then to bring fairness and due process back into government. This bill is a big step in that direction," said Ogan.