Juneau -- The Alaska Senate Tuesday passed House Bill 418, sponsored by the House Labor and Commerce Committee.

HB 418 places program receipts received by Occupational Licensing, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, and a number of other areas whose services are supported by fees into other income accounts. These statutory designated program receipts will enable agencies to perform activities for which funds are available but which are currently restricted by the budgetary process.

"HB 418 will help these State agencies meet their customer service goals," said Representative Norman Rokeberg (R-Anchorage), Chairman of the House Labor and Commerce Committee. "It will also help them meet the expectations of the people who pay the fees to run programs, for example, occupational licensees."

HB 418 corrects an inequity. Rokeberg cited the example of the State Board of Nursing, which wishes to continue an outreach program formerly funded by the federal government. The nurses are willing to raise their licensing fees, but are prohibited from doing so because, under the State budgeting system, it would increase the 'budget gap.'

"The Senate Finance Committee expanded the areas included in the legislation to clarify its impact on the budget process," said Senator John Torgerson (R-Kasilof), Co-Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. "The Senate-passed measure removes fees and other program receipts from General Fund revenue and moves them to other income accounts to more accurately reflect revenues and expenditures."

HB 418 passed the Senate 17-3. Notice of reconsideration was filed.

Attachments:

• Sponsor Statement

| Top | Representative Rokeberg's Page |