Juneau -- Legislation introduced by Representative Scott Ogan, to separate state hearing officers from the agencies they now serve has passed out of its first standing committee. State Affairs chair Rep. Jeanette James moved HJR 18 from her committee with individual recommendations at the second hearing. "The debate was very basic, should the fox watch the hen house or shall citizens be treated with objectivity and fairness?," said Ogan.

The arguments made by the administration to retain the agency in-house hearing officers was countered by three legal experts who supported Ogan's position that the legislation does not create new government, but rather sets up an efficient independent office to takeover the functions now performed by state employees within agencies.

If passed by a two-thirds majority of the legislature, the public would vote in the 2000 general election to determine if the State Constitution should be amended to separate public hearing officers from state agencies. "Constituents often tell me that agency sponsored adjudicators do not give unbiased, fair, hearings. It's like giving a traffic cop the ability to set the speed limit, write the ticket, and hold court on the highway," said Ogan.

The legislation, which is the first of its kind in Alaska, now moves to the House Judiciary Committee for further review, then on to Finance for fiscal analysis. "Every one of the 24 states that has adopted this approach has kept it in place. They report faster, more efficient and impartial hearings with fewer hearing officers needed for the case load," said Ogan. When government serves the people's interest first, and not its own, society flourishes."