Juneau -- The Alaska House of Representatives Monday unanimously approved House Bill 9, sponsored by Representative Brian Porter (R-Anchorage), Speaker of the House.

"One section of the Tort Reform legislation enacted into law two sessions ago requires the collection of settlement and other data in certain categories of civil litigation cases," said Porter. "It has since become apparent that these five minor housekeeping amendments to the Tort Reform legislation are needed."

The five amendments contained in HB 9 are:

• the bill make mandatory the reporting of data by attorneys and by persons representing themselves;
• the bill adds several categories of cases which should be excluded from reporting requirements;
• the bill clarifies that reporting requirements arise only after final appeals as to cases that are fully litigated;
• the bill effectively amends two court rules by limiting certain civil actions and specifying who is required to provide settlement information; and
• the bill clarifies that reporting requirements are applicable to cases which are settled or adjudicated on or after the bill is signed into law - reporting requirements are not retroactive to the effective date of the Tort Reform Law.

House Bill 9 was approved on a 40-0 vote.