Juneau -- The Alaska House of Representatives Monday passed House Bill 361, sponsored by the House Finance Committee. HB 361 makes changes to State procedures to ensure the appropriateness of fee levies and to make State departments more accountable for efficient delivery of services.

"This legislation is the result of years of debate in the Legislature concerning the appropriate fees for the permits provided by the State's resource agencies, particularly the Department of Environmental Conservation," said Representative Gene Therriault (R-North Pole), Co-Chair of the House Finance Committee. "HB 361 is the product of a cooperative effort by the Legislature, the Administration, and the regulated communities and establishes a fee structure based on predictability and accountability."

Among its provisions, HB 361 requires fees for a "designated regulatory service" to be based on actual and reasonable direct costs of the service and requires agencies to establish fixed fees for "standard designated regulatory services," such as simple repetitive permitting activities. The legislation also requires agencies to make reasonable efforts at negotiations for reimbursable service agreements when requested, to provide detailed monthly invoices for permittees, establishes a petition process, and provides that fees for permits from multiple agencies may be combined.

HB 361 passed the House 36-0 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

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= Gene Therriault, 184 K