Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

04/12/2023 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= SB 83 PROFESSIONAL LICENSING; TEMP PERMITS TELECONFERENCED
<Bill Hearing Canceled>
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
<Time Limit May Be Set>
*+ SB 126 ARCHITECT/ENGINEER REGISTRATION BOARD TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
<Time Limit May Be Set>
+= SB 94 PROFESSION OF PHARMACY TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
<Time Limit May Be Set>
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= SB 73 REGISTER INTERIOR DESIGNERS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
<Time Limit May Be Set>
<Bill Hearing Rescheduled from 04/10/23>
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
          SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                        
                         April 12, 2023                                                                                         
                           1:43 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Chair                                                                                                   
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson                                                                                                       
Senator Forrest Dunbar                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Click Bishop, Vice Chair                                                                                                
Senator Kelly Merrick                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 73                                                                                                              
"An Act  relating to registered  interior designers  and interior                                                               
design; establishing requirements for  the practice of registered                                                               
interior  design; renaming  the State  Board of  Registration for                                                               
Architects,  Engineers, and  Land  Surveyors the  State Board  of                                                               
Registration  for Design  Professionals;  relating  to the  State                                                               
Board  of  Registration  for Design  Professionals;  relating  to                                                               
liens  for   labor  or  materials  furnished;   relating  to  the                                                               
procurement  of interior  design services;  and providing  for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 126                                                                                                             
"An  Act  relating  to  the   State  Board  of  Registration  for                                                               
Architects,   Engineers,   and   Land  Surveyors;   relating   to                                                               
architects, engineers, land  surveyors, and landscape architects;                                                               
and providing for an effective date."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 94                                                                                                              
"An  Act relating  to  the  Board of  Pharmacy;  relating to  the                                                               
practice  of  pharmacy;  relating   to  pharmacies;  relating  to                                                               
prescription  drug manufacturers;  relating to  prescriptions for                                                               
epinephrine; relating  to the administration of  epinephrine; and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 83                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to professional licensing; relating to                                                                         
temporary licenses for some professions; and providing for an                                                                   
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - BILL HEARING CANCELED                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 73                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: REGISTER INTERIOR DESIGNERS                                                                                        
SPONSOR(s): CLAMAN                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
02/17/23       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/17/23       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
04/10/23       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
04/10/23       (S)       <Bill Hearing Canceled>                                                                                
04/12/23       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 126                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER REGISTRATION BOARD                                                                              
SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
04/11/23       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/11/23       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
04/12/23       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MATT CLAMAN, District H                                                                                                 
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 73.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
BREANNA KAKARUK, Staff                                                                                                          
Senator Matt Claman                                                                                                             
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sectional analysis for SB 73.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CASEY KEE, Interior Designer                                                                                                    
MCG Explore Design                                                                                                              
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of SB 73.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
DANA NUNN, Interior Design Director,                                                                                            
Bettisworth North Architects and Planners, Inc.;                                                                                
Member, American Society of Interior Designers                                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of SB 73.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
COLIN MAYNARD, representing self                                                                                                
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of SB 73.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHARLES BETTISWORTH, Senior Architect and President                                                                             
Bettisworth North Architects and Planners, Inc.                                                                                 
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of SB 73.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CATHERINE FRITZ, Chair                                                                                                          
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land                                                                 
Surveyors (AELS)                                                                                                                
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on SB 73.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CARA RUDE, Principal and Owner                                                                                                  
MCG Explore Design                                                                                                              
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 73.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
JESSICA CEDERBERG, President-Elect                                                                                              
American Institute of Architects - Alaska Chapter (AIA Alaska)                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 73 in its                                                                   
current form.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
WILL WEBB, representing self                                                                                                    
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 73.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
JAMES BIBB, Board Member                                                                                                        
American Institute of Architects - Alaska Chapter (AIA Alaska)                                                                  
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 73 in its                                                                   
current form.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
RAMONA SCHIMSCHEIMER, representing self                                                                                         
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 73 in its                                                                   
current form.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
BARBARA CASH, representing self                                                                                                 
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 73.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
LARRY CASH, representing self                                                                                                   
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 73.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MATTHEW BARUSCH, Government Relations and Advocacy Manager                                                                      
Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ)                                                                                
Arlington Virginia                                                                                                              
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 73.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
JASON FLOYD, representing self                                                                                                  
Soldotna, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 73 in its                                                                   
current form.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JASON SWIFT, representing self                                                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 73.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CAITLIN CUNNINGHAM, Board Member                                                                                                
American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) - Alaska Chapter                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 73.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ELIZABETH JOHNSTON, Chief Electrical Engineer                                                                                   
Design Alaska                                                                                                                   
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 73.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
RYAN MORSE, representing self                                                                                                   
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 73 in its                                                                   
current form.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
THOMAS LIVINGSTON, representing self                                                                                            
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 73 in its                                                                   
current form.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
BRIAN MEISSNER, representing self                                                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 73.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ELIZABETH GOEBEL, representing self                                                                                             
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 73.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
LAURA ACHEE, Staff                                                                                                              
Senator Jesse Bjorkman                                                                                                          
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Introduced SB  126 on  behalf of  the Senate                                                             
Labor and Commerce Committee.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
LOREN LEMAN, Former Lieutenant Governor                                                                                         
State of Alaska;                                                                                                                
Board  Member,  State  Board   of  Registration  for  Architects,                                                               
Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS)                                                                                            
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION   STATEMENT:  Presented   the   sponsor  statement   and                                                             
summarized the sectional analysis for SB 126.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:43:36 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  JESSE  BJORKMAN  called  the  Senate  Labor  and  Commerce                                                             
Standing Committee meeting  to order at 1:43 p.m.  Present at the                                                               
call  to  order were  Senators  Gray-Jackson,  Dunbar, and  Chair                                                               
Bjorkman.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
               SB 73-REGISTER INTERIOR DESIGNERS                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:44:49 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL NO. 73                                                               
"An Act  relating to registered  interior designers  and interior                                                               
design; establishing requirements for  the practice of registered                                                               
interior  design; renaming  the State  Board of  Registration for                                                               
Architects,  Engineers, and  Land  Surveyors the  State Board  of                                                               
Registration  for Design  Professionals;  relating  to the  State                                                               
Board  of  Registration  for Design  Professionals;  relating  to                                                               
liens  for   labor  or  materials  furnished;   relating  to  the                                                               
procurement  of interior  design services;  and providing  for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN invited the sponsor to introduce the bill.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:45:16 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MATT CLAMAN, District H, Alaska State Legislature,                                                                      
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 73, introduced the bill, reading                                                                  
from the following prepared statement:                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Senate  Bill   73  makes   important  changes   to  our                                                                    
     professional   licensing  statute   to  recognize   the                                                                    
     expertise  of commercial  interior designers  and grant                                                                    
     them the corresponding privileges.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Every day,  we work to  make Alaska open and  ready for                                                                    
     business. The  timeliness of  this legislation  to make                                                                    
     Alaska open  and ready for  business is  highlighted by                                                                    
     the January 31, 2023 Request  for Proposals from the US                                                                    
     Army Corps  of Engineers  for the new  Joint Integrated                                                                    
     Test  and  Training  Center  at  Joint  Base  Elmendorf                                                                    
     Richardson. The  construction cost for this  project is                                                                    
     estimated by the  Corps of Engineers to  be between 100                                                                    
     million  and 250  million dollars.  The  RFP lists  the                                                                    
     primary   selection  criteria   and  the   professional                                                                    
     qualifications for the design work, and they include:                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     1.   Architects & Registered Communications Designers                                                                      
     2.   A registered fire protection engineer                                                                                 
     3.   A registered interior designer                                                                                        
     4.   A registered mechanical engineer                                                                                      
     5.   A registered electrical engineer                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     There are 13 professionals on the list.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:46:37 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR CLAMAN read the sponsor statement for SB 73:                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     This legislation will make it  possible for an interior                                                                    
     designer  registered   in  Alaska   to  work   on  this                                                                    
     important project  for Alaska's infrastructure  and our                                                                    
     nation's defense. Without  this legislation, responsive                                                                    
     bids would  have to contract with  an interior designer                                                                    
     who  is registered  in another  state. The  legislation                                                                    
     provides  better work  opportunities for  Alaskans. The                                                                    
     requirements  of this  RFP  reflect  the direction  for                                                                    
     commercial design services in modern times.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     As a  diverse profession,  there are  several different                                                                    
     specialties  under  the  title  of  Interior  Designer.                                                                    
     Among  the most  knowledgeable and  highly trained  are                                                                    
     those who earn the  National Council of Interior Design                                                                    
     Qualification.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     The  NCIDQ is  a three-part,  11-hour examination  that                                                                    
     was   established    to   identify    interior   design                                                                    
     professionals with  the skills  and experience  to take                                                                    
     on additional  responsibility.?This test is designed to                                                                    
     assess  the competency  of  candidates  to protect  the                                                                    
     public  through the  practice of  interior design,  and                                                                    
     covers subjects  such as  fire safety,  ADA compliance,                                                                    
     emergency   egress,   and  material   flammability.   A                                                                    
     candidate unable  to prove their understanding  of life                                                                    
     safety, codes, and standards would  be unlikely to pass                                                                    
     the exam.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:47:55 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR CLAMAN continued the sponsor statement for SB 73:                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The goal  is not to  measure Interior Designers  by the                                                                    
     standards used  by architects.  While there  are shared                                                                    
     skillsets  between architects  and interior  designers,                                                                    
     interior designers  focus on a narrower  scope of work.                                                                    
     By   comparison,   there    are   different   licensing                                                                    
     requirements  for  physician  assistants  and  doctors,                                                                    
     even though they sometimes perform similar activities.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     The NCIDQ  is rigorous and  requires, at a  minimum, 60                                                                    
     semester  credit   hours  of   post-secondary  interior                                                                    
     design  coursework  that   encompasses  a  certificate,                                                                    
     degree, or  diploma from  an accredited  institution to                                                                    
     sit for the exam.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Currently, there is no state  licensing of the interior                                                                    
     design profession  in Alaska.  One consequence  of this                                                                    
     licensing gap is that  Commercial Interior designers do                                                                    
     not  have access  to a  construction  stamp that  would                                                                    
     allow them to submit their work for permitting.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     SB 73  will allow Alaska to  join other forward-looking                                                                    
     states   that  have   permitted  certified   Commercial                                                                    
     Interior Designers to have  a construction stamp, valid                                                                    
     only  for projects  within  their limited  professional                                                                    
     qualifications.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:49:01 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR CLAMAN continued the sponsor statement for SB 73:                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     SB  73  describes  what commercial  interior  designers                                                                    
     will be  able to  produce and  stamp independent  of an                                                                    
     architect  or  engineer.  The  practice  of  commercial                                                                    
     interior  design described  in  SB 73  is specific  and                                                                    
     limited to  non-load bearing interior  design elements,                                                                    
     such   as  interior   planning  for   occupant  spaces,                                                                    
     exiting, and  specification of  code-compliant interior                                                                    
     finishes,  furnishings,  and  fixtures.  The  scope  of                                                                    
     commercial interior design practice  described in SB 73                                                                    
     is well  within the competencies of  interior designers                                                                    
     as  determined   by  their  education,   training,  and                                                                    
     examination.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     SB  73  will  bring  economic  benefits  by  increasing                                                                    
     professional   employment    opportunities,   providing                                                                    
     incentives  to  hire  Alaskans for  certified  interior                                                                    
     design,  attracting high-quality  design talent  to the                                                                    
     state,  encouraging  small  business  and  unrestrained                                                                    
     trade,  and expanding  consumer  choices for  qualified                                                                    
     design  professionals.  SB  73 does  not  restrict  the                                                                    
     requirements   or   daily   practice  for   any   other                                                                    
     professional  in   design  or   construction  including                                                                    
     architects,  engineers,   contractors,  trades  people,                                                                    
     decorators, or residential designers.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     SB 73 is  intended to be cost neutral to  the State, as                                                                    
     it is  self-funded within  the AELS  Registration Board                                                                    
     through  application, registration,  and renewal  fees.                                                                    
     As shown  in the attached  fiscal note, the  passage of                                                                    
     this bill  would enable the AELS  Registration Board to                                                                    
     hire  a  much-needed additional  Occupational  Licensee                                                                    
     Examiner, and  the cost per  licensee would only  be an                                                                    
     additional $50 every two years.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     With the  passage of the Infrastructure  Investment and                                                                    
     Jobs Act, there will  be $1.2 trillion dollars bringing                                                                    
     opportunities  for  design  professionals  to  work  on                                                                    
     public    facility    projects.   The    Infrastructure                                                                    
     Investment  and   Jobs  Act  will  help   provide  many                                                                    
     opportunities  to rebuild  our  economy and  strengthen                                                                    
     the construction industry, and  this bill will help get                                                                    
     projects  ready-to-build by  having more  professionals                                                                    
     licensed in their field.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     We  often talk  of  making Alaska  open  and ready  for                                                                    
     business. This  bill turns those words  into action and                                                                    
     will make Alaska a better  place to do business. Please                                                                    
     join me in supporting SB 73.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:51:15 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR CLAMAN deferred to his staff Ms. Kakaruk to present the                                                                 
sectional analysis.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:51:31 PM                                                                                                                    
BREANNA KAKARUK, Staff, Senator Matt Claman, Alaska State                                                                       
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the following summary of                                                                 
the sectional analysis for SB 73:                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Sections 1-4  relate to establishing  the new  terms in                                                                    
     the AELS Licensing Board.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Section 5 would  add two seats to the board,  one for a                                                                    
     commercial   interior   designer  and   an   additional                                                                    
     engineering   seat,   creating   separate   seats   for                                                                    
     electrical and mechanical  engineering, which currently                                                                    
     share a seat.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  6-9   would  establish   commercial  interior                                                                    
     design  as  a certification  tracked  by  the State  of                                                                    
     Alaska.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Sections   8-14   would   establish   the   examination                                                                    
     requirements for registration  as a commercial interior                                                                    
     designer.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Section 15  would establish commercial  interior design                                                                    
     as  a seal  that  can be  obtained and  that  is to  be                                                                    
     affixed to certain construction plans.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  16-22  would  establish  commercial  interior                                                                    
     design terminology  in relation to the  registration of                                                                    
     corporations,   limited  liability   partnerships,  and                                                                    
     limited liability companies.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  23-28  would  protect  the  term  "commercial                                                                    
     interior design" from use by those not registered.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Section  29   would  relate   to  exemptions   and  add                                                                    
     commercial  interior design  to the  list of  necessary                                                                    
     exemptions.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  30-32 would  establish definitions  for terms                                                                    
     used in the statute.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  33-42  would establish  "commercial  interior                                                                    
     design"  as  a  term   in  legal  context  relating  to                                                                    
     statute.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     And Sections  43-46 would establish the  effective date                                                                    
     and grace period for registration.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
[The full sectional  analysis can be found at  the akleg.gov page                                                               
for this meeting.]                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN  asked the committee  if there were  any questions                                                               
for  the  bill  sponsor.  Finding   none,  he  announced  invited                                                               
testimony and invited Ms. Kee to present.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:54:06 PM                                                                                                                    
CASEY  KEE, Interior  Designer,  MCG  Explore Design,  Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska,  gave invited  testimony in  support of  SB 73.  She said                                                               
that  this  bill  will  allow  qualified  interior  designers  to                                                               
practice   independently,   supporting   small   businesses   and                                                               
encouraging young designers to practice  in Alaska. Many interior                                                               
designers are already independently  practicing the profession in                                                               
30 US  jurisdictions. In  Alaska, non-structural  interior design                                                               
work currently must  be performed by architects at  an extra cost                                                               
to the consumer  for a service that otherwise  could be performed                                                               
by  trained, competent  interior  designers.  She commented  that                                                               
competition is good for the  marketplace and the design community                                                               
in   Alaska.  SB   73  will   incentivize   students  and   young                                                               
professionals to  view the  Alaska design  community as  a viable                                                               
place to practice and advance a stronger professional workforce.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:56:32 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked whether  interior designers receive training                                                               
on health  and safety aspects of  design and if she  thinks SB 73                                                               
will empower  interior designers  to sign off  on plans  that are                                                               
less safe than those an architect would approve.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. KEE  replied that  interior designers  undergo four  years of                                                               
higher level education.  Architects take five tests  in regard to                                                               
the entirety  of the building and  only one of those  tests is on                                                               
interior  design. To  become certified,  interior designers  take                                                               
three tests  focused on  interior design, so  more time  is spent                                                               
learning  how  to  create  plans  that  adhere  to  international                                                               
building codes,  ADA certifications, and overall  life and health                                                               
safety.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN  sought confirmation  that interior  designers are                                                               
required to take three tests,  including health and safety of the                                                               
space being created,  whereas architects only take  one test that                                                               
pertains to the same topic.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. KEE answered that is correct.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:59:04 PM                                                                                                                    
DANA   NUNN,   Interior   Design  Director,   Bettisworth   North                                                               
Architects & Planners, Inc; member,  American Society of Interior                                                               
Designers, Anchorage,  Alaska, gave invited testimony  in support                                                               
of SB 73, reading from the following prepared statement:                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     I am a nearly 20-year  Anchorage resident and an NCIDQ-                                                                    
     certified interior designer.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     The purpose of state  oversight of licensed professions                                                                    
     is to  protect public  health, safety, and  welfare. SB
     73  does  exactly  that. This  bill  will  protect  the                                                                    
     public  by allowing  qualified  practitioners who  have                                                                    
     been  educated on  codes,  have  passed the  three-part                                                                    
     credentialing  exam,  and  who  possess  experience  in                                                                    
     space planning  and design to  practice to  our fullest                                                                    
     professional abilities.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     For   far   too   long,  interior   design   has   been                                                                    
     misconstrued  and mischaracterized  as something  other                                                                    
     than   the  technical,   complex,  and   human-centered                                                                    
     practice  of  creating safe,  sustainable,  accessible,                                                                    
     and efficient interior  environments in compliance with                                                                    
     law.  Registered  interior   designers  are  qualified,                                                                    
     competent   practitioners,  who   just  want   to  take                                                                    
     responsibility  for the  work that  we are  trained and                                                                    
     tested  on    in  order  to  fully participate  in  the                                                                    
     workplace  and  advance   the  well-being  of  building                                                                    
     occupants and the public.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Opponents to interior design  oversight may claim that,                                                                    
     because of the  similar competencies between architects                                                                    
     and  interior designers,  the interior  design services                                                                    
     outlined  in  SB  73  are  for  registered  architects'                                                                    
     exclusive practice and that  interior designers are not                                                                    
     qualified  to provide  such services  without architect                                                                    
     oversight.  The truth  is that  interior designers  are                                                                    
     qualified    through    education,   experience,    and                                                                    
     examination  to  practice  in   the  limited  scope  of                                                                    
     interior design  defined by SB 73.  Interior designers,                                                                    
     including   myself,  should   not  be   precluded  from                                                                    
     practicing   to   their   fullest  abilities   due   to                                                                    
     overlapping scope.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     SB  73  provides  public safety  protection  and  risk-                                                                    
     mitigation  in  Alaska's  buildings,  expands  consumer                                                                    
     choice  of  qualified design  professionals,  increases                                                                    
     professional  employment opportunities,  attracts high-                                                                    
     quality  design   talent  to  Alaska,   and  encourages                                                                    
     Alaskan   students   to    return   home   for   career                                                                    
     opportunities.  We  ask  you  to  act  now  to  protect                                                                    
     Alaskans and  bolster Alaska's  economy by  keeping our                                                                    
     workforce strong and competitive.  I urge you to please                                                                    
     support SB 73.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:01:39 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON  read  the   following  suggestion  from  a                                                               
constituent's email,  "limit interior design's scope  of practice                                                               
to  non-life  safety  elements.   She  asked  Ms.  Nunn  for  her                                                               
thoughts on the statement.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS.  NUNN replied  that the  constituent's suggestion  blocks the                                                               
possibility of practicing  everything she has been  trained to do                                                               
and eliminates a massive amount  of work that would contribute to                                                               
her  livelihood.  She noted  that  she  currently performs  those                                                               
duties, but  not independently because  the current  law requires                                                               
oversight  from   an  architect.  However,   registered  interior                                                               
designers   in   other   states  can   provide   these   services                                                               
independently without oversight.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:02:58 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON read  another suggestion  that the  cost of                                                               
developing interior  design regulations  should not be  passed on                                                               
to existing  AELS board  licensees; the cost  should be  borne by                                                               
the affected interior design licensees.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. NUNN  replied that  her understanding of  the fiscal  note is                                                               
that a  large portion is  related to an additional  examiner that                                                               
the  board needs  to fulfill  its  duties, and  that position  is                                                               
needed whether  interior designers  join the  board or  not. This                                                               
bill  is  a vehicle  for  the  board  to  obtain funds  for  that                                                               
expense. She  posited that perhaps  that expense should  be borne                                                               
by everyone that  is served by the board  because those examiners                                                               
helped to alleviate the load  of the current examiners and allows                                                               
them to process  applications more efficiently and  do other work                                                               
the board and the department are required to accomplish.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:04:34 PM                                                                                                                    
COLIN  MAYNARD,   representing  self,  Anchorage,   Alaska,  gave                                                               
invited testimony in  support of SB 73. He said  he is a licensed                                                               
civil and  structural engineer with  over 40 years  of experience                                                               
and  he served  eight years  on State  Board of  Registration for                                                               
Architects,  Engineers,  and  Land  Surveyors  (AELS).  The  only                                                               
legitimate reason  for state  recognized licensure  is protecting                                                               
the  public's health,  safety, and  welfare; it  is not  for term                                                               
protection  or  to eliminate  entry  into  a field.  Many  issues                                                               
affect  public  safety and  design  projects,  regardless of  the                                                               
professionals who handle  them. He said that SB  73 would instill                                                               
protection of  the public through  the three tiers  of education,                                                               
experience, and examination.  He made a case  for establishing an                                                               
interior designer seat on the AELS board.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:07:21 PM                                                                                                                    
CHARLES BETTISWORTH, Senior  Architect and President, Bettisworth                                                               
North  Architects and  Planners,  Inc.,  Fairbanks, Alaska,  gave                                                               
invited testimony  in support  of SB  73. He is  a member  of the                                                               
Alaska  Chapter of  American Institute  of  Architects (AIA)  and                                                               
serves as  an advisor to the  AIA Board of Directors.  He founded                                                               
Bettisworth North Architects and Planners,  Inc. 45 years ago. He                                                               
said  this legislation  is  long overdue  and  serves the  public                                                               
interest.  He  recognizes the  value  of  interior designers  who                                                               
possess NCIDQ  certification. He  said that much  interior design                                                               
work  involves renovation  and reconfiguration  of public  space.                                                               
These  services  are  often  contracted  by  owners  and  lessees                                                               
without  engaging  architects  and  they do  not  understand  the                                                               
potential  life safety  issues.  These owners  and lessees  often                                                               
hire interior  designers who do  not have NCIDQ  certification or                                                               
knowledge  of or  experience with  the  applicable and  necessary                                                               
life safety  codes. SB 73 will  provide a way for  those interior                                                               
designers to become  certified to complete this work  in a manner                                                               
aligned  with public  safety.  He  said that  the  bill will  not                                                               
displace  architects.  SB  73 will  protect  the  public,  expand                                                               
consumer choice and encourage small business.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:12:39 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR CLAMAN  said one of the  weaknesses of being a  lawyer is                                                               
the tendency  to consider hypothetical situations.  He offered an                                                               
example of a  design project that requires the  expertise of both                                                               
architects  and interior  designers; he  pointed out  that for  a                                                               
weight lifting  gym on  a second floor  structure, the  matter of                                                               
designing  a floor  sturdy  enough to  hold  large weights  being                                                               
dropped  is exclusively  for  engineers  and architects,  because                                                               
interior designers are  not trained to figure  out the structural                                                               
load  in such  a scenario.  Configuring where  the weights  go so                                                               
that  weightlifters  do  not get  injured  when  walking  around,                                                               
choosing  a finish  for the  wall that  prevents negative  health                                                               
impacts from the  paint when the weightlifters  are sweating, and                                                               
positioning weightlifting  apparatuses will  be done  by interior                                                               
designers. Some safety  matters are dealt with  by architects and                                                               
engineers,  whereas  other  safety  matters  are  dealt  with  by                                                               
interior designers.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:14:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CATHERINE  FRITZ,   Chair,  State   Board  of   Registration  for                                                               
Architects, Engineers,  and Land Surveyors (AELS),  Department of                                                               
Commerce,  Community and  Economic  Development, Juneau,  Alaska,                                                               
gave invited testimony on SB  73, paraphrasing from the following                                                               
prepared statement:                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     My name  is Catherine  Fritz, and I  serve as  Chair of                                                                    
     the  Alaska  Board   of  Registration  for  Architects,                                                                    
     Engineers,  and   Land  Surveyors   (AELS).  I   am  an                                                                    
     architect by profession and I live in Juneau.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Thank you  for the opportunity to  share thoughts about                                                                    
     SB73 on behalf of the AELS Board.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     SB  73  proposes  to  add   a  new  design  profession,                                                                    
     interior  design,   to  AS  08.48,  the   statute  that                                                                    
     authorizes the  AELS Board. This bill  is substantially                                                                    
                                                  nd                                                                            
     similar   to   former  HB61   from   the   32    Alaska                                                                    
     Legislature. Since  2021, the  AELS Board  has reviewed                                                                    
     and  raised  concerns on  both  bills  that propose  to                                                                    
     regulate the  practice of  interior design  through the                                                                    
     registration of interior designers.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     A letter  that outlines six  issues of concern  of SB73                                                                    
     was submitted to the Senate  Labor & Commerce Committee                                                                    
     on  February  24.  The AELS  Board  recently  held  two                                                                    
     special meetings  to review this  bill and  address the                                                                    
     overall topic of interior design regulation.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     The Board  has not  yet taken  an official  position in                                                                    
     support  or opposition  of SB73.  Rather,  it has  been                                                                    
     encouraging   dialog  with   the   group  of   interior                                                                    
     designers who  have been promoting  the bill  and their                                                                    
     colleagues,  Alaska's architects,  most of  whom oppose                                                                    
     interior design registration as  proposed. The hope has                                                                    
     been  that the  people  who are  most  affected by  the                                                                    
     interior  design   industry  could  work   together  to                                                                    
     develop  mutually  agreeable  legislation that  may  be                                                                    
     established  within  the  AELS Board  or  elsewhere  in                                                                    
     state statute.  At the  same time,  the Board  has been                                                                    
     reluctant to  take a  position on  SB73 because  it did                                                                    
     not   draft   the   bill.  The   Board   respects   the                                                                    
     legislature's role  to consider, and perhaps  even pass                                                                    
     legislation it  sees as  appropriate while  the Board's                                                                    
     job  is   to  regulate  professions   authorized  under                                                                    
     enacted legislation.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     At  the most  recent special  meeting on  March 16  the                                                                    
     Board  heard from  the  Interior  Design Working  Group                                                                    
     that was  established in July,  2022 to  collaborate on                                                                    
     interior design  regulation issues. There  was optimism                                                                    
     among  Working Group  members that  amendments to  SB73                                                                    
     might be  developed that would  provide the  AELS Board                                                                    
     more  information  so  that   it  could  then  consider                                                                    
     action.  A meeting  of the  Working Group  was held  on                                                                    
     March  31.   In  fact,  to   fully  disclose   to  this                                                                    
     Committee,  I  attended  this  virtual  meeting.  As  a                                                                    
     registered  architect  and  long  time  member  of  the                                                                    
     American Institute  of Architects  (AIA), I serve  as a                                                                    
     member of the  Working Group. I do  [not] represent the                                                                    
     AELS  Board when  attending  these  meetings. The  AELS                                                                    
     Board has  not yet  received a report  of the  March 31                                                                    
     meeting. However I have scheduled  time on our upcoming                                                                    
     regular  AELS  Board  meeting  agenda  on  May  10-11to                                                                    
     receive  updated information  and discuss  SB73 so  the                                                                    
     Board can then  decide how it would like  to proceed. I                                                                    
     can request  an additional special meeting  of the AELS                                                                    
     Board if you  believe our additional input  on the bill                                                                    
     is valuable before May 11.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:18:13 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. FRITZ added that there were some suggested amendments                                                                       
                                               st                                                                               
that both parties agreed to during the March 31 meeting.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:18:50 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:20:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   opened  public                                                               
testimony on  SB 73. He  said written testimony can  be submitted                                                               
to [email protected].                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:22:03 PM                                                                                                                    
CARA RUDE,  Principal and Owner,  MCG Explore  Design, Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska, testified  in support of SB  73 so that policy  can catch                                                               
up  with practice,  so the  state infrastructure  is designed  by                                                               
Alaskans,  and  so  there  are professionals  she  can  sell  her                                                               
practice  to  in the  future.  She  said  that she  has  designed                                                               
technical  infrastructure   across  the   state  with   the  only                                                               
authorship of  her work  being through  federal projects.  MCG is                                                               
one  of the  oldest and  largest architectural  practices in  the                                                               
state. Two  of the firm  owners are interior designers.  She said                                                               
that she  and her colleagues  are technical professionals  and SB
73 will lead to authentic authorship of their practice.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:24:34 PM                                                                                                                    
JESSICA   CEDERBERG,  President-Elect,   American  Institute   of                                                               
Architects-Alaska  Chapter   (AIA  Alaska),   Anchorage,  Alaska,                                                               
testified  in  opposition to  SB  73  in  its current  form.  She                                                               
offered  a correction  to  the position  paper  from AIA  Alaska,                                                               
stating that  the version  in the  committee members'  folders is                                                               
the   final  and   correct  version.   She  clarified   that  the                                                               
educational  and  testing  requirements to  become  an  architect                                                               
include  obtaining  a  five-year bachelors   degree  or  six-year                                                               
master's degree,  a six-part  exam including a  4.5 hour  test on                                                               
life  safety  codes for  the  public.  AIA  Alaska has  over  200                                                               
members  in its  chapter  plus  the support  of  AIA National  in                                                               
opposing  this  bill as  it  is  currently  written. SB  73  will                                                               
increase statewide  labor shortages  by restricting work  to only                                                               
interior  designers with  NCIDQ qualifications;  there are  fewer                                                               
than 25  qualified designers in  the state.  She said the  AIA is                                                               
requesting  more  time  to  collaborate  with  the  committee  on                                                               
rewriting the legislation.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:26:48 PM                                                                                                                    
WILL  WEBB, representing  self, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
support of  SB 73. He  said he is  a licensed civil  engineer and                                                               
his  testimony represents  his own  opinions,  but he  is also  a                                                               
current board  member of the Alaska  Professional Design Council,                                                               
which is  in support of  this bill. Passing  SB 73 will  pave the                                                               
way for  qualified interior designers to  take responsibility for                                                               
their   designs,   ensuring   compliance   with   public   safety                                                               
guidelines,  and   broaden  the  pool  of   available  commercial                                                               
interior professionals in Alaska.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:28:10 PM                                                                                                                    
JAMES  BIBB,  Board  Member, American  Institute  of  Architects-                                                               
Alaska  Chapter  (AIA  Alaska),   Juneau,  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
opposition to  SB 73 as it  is currently written. He  stated that                                                               
he is a practicing architect.  He expressed his belief that there                                                               
are certain subtleties  about who is allowed  to perform creative                                                               
work under this  bill and that it  is not yet in  its final form.                                                               
He supports timely progress but  would like collaboration between                                                               
AIA and the legislature to finalize SB 73.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:30:34 PM                                                                                                                    
RAMONA  SCHIMSCHEIMER,  representing   self,  Anchorage,  Alaska,                                                               
testified in  opposition to SB 73  in its current form.  She said                                                               
that she is a registered architect  in the state of Alaska and an                                                               
AIA member. She  stated that SB 73 will  increase statewide labor                                                               
shortages by  restricting work to  only NCIDQ  qualified interior                                                               
designers, of which  there are fewer than 25 in  the state, while                                                               
300  professionals currently  provide various  types of  interior                                                               
design   services,  according   to  the   Alaska  Department   of                                                               
Professional Licensing.  She expressed  her support  for limiting                                                               
the  interior  design  scope of  practice  to  non-safety  design                                                               
elements. She  expressed her  support for  the cost  of deducting                                                               
interior design regulations being  borne by the affected interior                                                               
design licensees.  She requested  more time for  collaboration of                                                               
all  parties to  write a  cohesive  bill that  everyone can  live                                                               
with.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:32:40 PM                                                                                                                    
BARBARA CASH, representing self,  Anchorage, Alaska, testified in                                                               
support  of  SB  73.  She  said she  is  a  credentialed  40-year                                                               
interior designer.  SB 73 registration and  practice registration                                                               
is limited  to interior work  within Alaska's public  and private                                                               
buildings  which impacts  public health  safety and  welfare. The                                                               
bill  recognizes that  not all  interior designers  will want  to                                                               
pursue  registration and  may still  work  in the  field under  a                                                               
registered  individual, while  providing non-registered  interior                                                               
designers  the  opportunity  to continue  working  while  working                                                               
towards   registration.   She  referenced   Ms.   Schimscheimer's                                                               
statement that  over 300  interior designer  listings are  in the                                                               
Anchorage  area,   yet  the  term  "interior   designer   is  not                                                               
regulated so it might be used by anyone.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:35:20 PM                                                                                                                    
LARRY CASH, representing self, Anchorage,  Alaska, stated that as                                                               
a  Fellow  of the  AIA  (FAIA),  he  is  compelled to  voice  his                                                               
emphatic support for  SB 73. The bill will  enhance, not diminish                                                               
the  service or  authority of  architects. He  endorses including                                                               
registered   professional  interior   designers   in  Alaska   as                                                               
integrated  members  of  professional  design  teams  for  Alaska                                                               
projects. The federal government,  the Department of Defense, and                                                               
the  US Army  Corps  of Engineers  require professional  interior                                                               
designers  and Alaska  should  too. Passing  SB  73 will  support                                                               
making Alaska buildings as safe as possible inside and out.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:37:12 PM                                                                                                                    
MATTHEW  BARUSCH,  Government  Relations  and  Advocacy  Manager,                                                               
Council  for  Interior  Design  Qualification  (CIDQ),  Arlington                                                               
Virginia,  testified in  support of  SB  73. He  said that  legal                                                               
recognition  of  interior  designers  is needed  to  protect  the                                                               
public from  incompetent practice. He  provided an example  of an                                                               
instance in  which a  tragic fire  could have  been averted  if a                                                               
qualified  interior  designer had  been  employed  to design  the                                                               
building.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:39:41 PM                                                                                                                    
JASON FLOYD,  representing self,  Soldotna, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition  to SB  73  in its  current  form. He  said  he is  an                                                               
independent   contractor   and   that   his   business   provides                                                               
consultation to help clients move  their viable projects forward.                                                               
Services his business provides  include project proposal, concept                                                               
development,  design marketing,  and referrals  of qualified  and                                                               
regulated  professionals  in  architecture  and  engineering.  He                                                               
pointed out  that the field  of design  is broad and  diverse and                                                               
professionals  in the  field are  likely to  inappropriately fall                                                               
under the  regulation of  SB 73  if it is  passed in  its current                                                               
form.  Not   all  design  projects  require   the  alteration  of                                                               
structure and  in many cases  only require conceptual  design and                                                               
planning  for   the  application  of  materials,   fixtures,  and                                                               
finishes  to new  or existing  structures. Designers  help inform                                                               
the planning  process and in  some instances assist  with concept                                                               
development prior to, during,  and following completion; interior                                                               
designers  bring much  needed  added value  to  the industry.  He                                                               
posited that interior designers  are unjustifiably targeted under                                                               
the  practice definition  offered in  SB 73.  Law and  regulation                                                               
should not  be created  to benefit  a small  group of  people; it                                                               
must  serve the  public interest,  be specific  and well-defined.                                                               
Poorly crafted, over-reaching regulation  will lead to artificial                                                               
restriction  in vendor  supply, stifle  creativity, and  increase                                                               
industry  and consumer  costs. Alaska  needs more  designers, not                                                               
fewer. He had not heard or  seen any documentation of public harm                                                               
that  has resulted  from  the  work of  an  interior designer  in                                                               
Alaska. He reiterated his opposition to SB 73.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:42:29 PM                                                                                                                    
JASON SWIFT,  representing self, Anchorage, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
support  of SB  73.  He  said he  is  an  Alaskan architect.  The                                                               
expertise  that  interior designers  bring  to  the community  is                                                               
invaluable and  needed. This  bill would make  Alaska one  of the                                                               
most enticing places to practice  for interior designers. He said                                                               
that  his  firm would  be  the  first  in  line to  start  hiring                                                               
interior designers if SB 73 were to pass.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:43:15 PM                                                                                                                    
CAITLIN CUNNINGHAM,  Board Member,  American Society  of Interior                                                               
Designers (ASID)-Alaska Chapter,  Anchorage, Alaska, testified in                                                               
support  of SB  73.  She  said this  bill  will allow  commercial                                                               
designers  to continue  working under  credentialed designers  or                                                               
architects while  providing career opportunities by  allowing the                                                               
option to  become a registered NCIDQ  certified interior designer                                                               
in Alaska.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:44:08 PM                                                                                                                    
ELIZABETH  JOHNSTON, Chief  Electrical  Engineer, Design  Alaska,                                                               
Fairbanks, Alaska,  testified in support  of SB 73. She  said she                                                               
is  a registered  fire protection  and  electrical engineer.  She                                                               
expressed that she does not speak  for AELS though she has served                                                               
on the board since 2017. She  agrees with the provisions in SB 73                                                               
to have  a separate  mechanical and  electrical engineer  seat on                                                               
the board.  Professions serving on  the board must  represent all                                                               
of  the  practice  areas  collectively  to  ensure  diversity  of                                                               
industry perspectives.  The role of  the board is to  protect the                                                               
public  by ensuring  that minimum  competency standards  are met.                                                               
She opined that  overlap is not a problem. SB  73 is pro-consumer                                                               
and pro-competition. She expressed concern  over a section of the                                                               
bill that  implies that  there is no  need for  licensed practice                                                               
when the  work does not cover  issues of public safety.  She said                                                               
that  fire  protection  engineers   will  overlap  with  interior                                                               
designers in certain  situations, and that the work  of both will                                                               
contribute to increasing life safety.  SB 73 will allow consumers                                                               
to choose from a greater list of qualified professionals.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:46:55 PM                                                                                                                    
RYAN MORSE,  representing self,  Fairbanks, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition to SB 73 in its  current form. He is an architect with                                                               
Design Alaska,  a former president  of AIA Alaska,  and currently                                                               
serves  as   the  Alaska  representative  to   the  AIA  National                                                               
Strategic  Council. He  stated that  he opposes  the bill  in its                                                               
current form, but not the  recognition of interior designers. The                                                               
bill does not  provide an allowance for  temporary board members.                                                               
The council is  concerned with only allowing  a licensed interior                                                               
designer  in a  board  seat.  He noted  that  there  is far  more                                                               
agreement  than  disagreement on  the  bill.  More discussion  is                                                               
needed before the bill moves forward.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:49:34 PM                                                                                                                    
THOMAS   LIVINGSTON,   representing  self,   Anchorage,   Alaska,                                                               
testified in  opposition to SB 73  as it is written.  He has been                                                               
an  architect  in Alaska  since  1976  and designed  hundreds  of                                                               
buildings across  the state.  He is familiar  with the  role that                                                               
interior designers play  within a design team. He  said this bill                                                               
seems to be  a solution to a  problem that does not  exist and it                                                               
will create  added regulatory and  project costs.  Duplication of                                                               
licensed professionals  creates confusion  among clients  and the                                                               
public. After  nearly 50  years of practice,  he   seen  no other                                                               
practice where disciplines overlap in this way.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:52:20 PM                                                                                                                    
BRIAN MEISSNER,  representing self, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in support of SB 73.  He expressed his enthusiasm for recognizing                                                               
interior designers  for what they  are capable of. He  works with                                                               
ECI, one of  the oldest architecture firms in Alaska.  He said he                                                               
just moved  into a new home  that was entirely designed  by ECI's                                                               
lead  interior  designer, who  handled  all  life safety  issues,                                                               
coordinated with  the engineers  and code  officials to  obtain a                                                               
building permit. This bill is good for Alaska.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:53:04 PM                                                                                                                    
ELIZABETH   GOEBEL,   representing   self,   Anchorage,   Alaska,                                                               
testified in  support of SB  73. She said  she is an  entry level                                                               
interior  designer  working  towards  a  NCIDQ  certification  in                                                               
Alaska. As  a young designer, she  hopes to grow and  advance the                                                               
industry without limitations. She encouraged support for SB 73.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:53:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN held  SB 73  in committee  with public  testimony                                                               
open.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:53:54 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
          SB 126-ARCHITECT/ENGINEER REGISTRATION BOARD                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:54:56 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration  of SENATE  BILL NO.  126 "An  Act relating  to the                                                               
State Board  of Registration for Architects,  Engineers, and Land                                                               
Surveyors;  relating to  architects,  engineers, land  surveyors,                                                               
and landscape architects; and providing for an effective date."                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced that his staff will present the bill.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:55:32 PM                                                                                                                    
LAURA  ACHEE,   Staff,  Senator  Jesse  Bjorkman,   Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,  introduced SB 126 on  behalf of the                                                               
committee, reading from the following prepared statement:                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     SB 126 was introduced by  the Senate Labor and Commerce                                                                    
     Committee  at  the  request  of   the  State  Board  of                                                                    
     Registration  for   Architects,  Engineers,   and  Land                                                                    
     Surveyors.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     For the most  part, the changes in  this bill modernize                                                                    
     and  cleanup the  Board's statutes.  However there  are                                                                    
     two  sections that  address vague  language which  have                                                                    
     been interpreted in  a way that is  not consistent with                                                                    
     best  operation  of  the  Board  or  of  the  regulated                                                                    
     professions.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS. ACHEE  deferred to Mr.  Leman for  an explanation of  the two                                                               
material changes this bill makes to  the board and the reason the                                                               
board wanted SB 126 to be introduced.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:56:41 PM                                                                                                                    
LOREN  LEMAN, Former  Lieutenant  Governor,  Board Member,  State                                                               
Board  of  Registration  for   Architects,  Engineers,  and  Land                                                               
Surveyors  (AELS),  Anchorage,   Alaska,  presented  the  sponsor                                                               
statement and  summarized the sectional  analysis for SB  126. He                                                               
reviewed the following sponsor statement:                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Senate Bill  126 is legislation requested  by the State                                                                    
     Board  of Registration  for Architects,  Engineers, and                                                                    
     Land  Surveyors (AELS  Board). In  many respects  it is                                                                    
     like a "Revisor's Bill."                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     One of its more substantive  changes is to clarify that                                                                    
     an electrical  and a mechanical  engineer may  serve on                                                                    
     the Board  at the same  time. This could be  helpful as                                                                    
     these two  disciplines of  engineering have  the second                                                                    
     and   third   most   registrants   in   Alaska   (civil                                                                    
     engineering   has  the   largest  number).   The  Board                                                                    
     believes this is what the  Legislature intended when it                                                                    
     called out that  one of the 11 seats must  be filled by                                                                    
     a mechanical  or electrical  engineer and  another seat                                                                    
     is  to  be filled  by  another  discipline not  already                                                                    
     represented.  However, the  Department  of Law  advises                                                                    
     that  the   current  language   may  not   allow  this.                                                                    
     Clarifying this will reduce  the potential for conflict                                                                    
     over  eligibility to  serve and  may  better serve  the                                                                    
     professions.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Another  change is  to clarify  that  a registrant  who                                                                    
     seals and  signs a document must  do the work or  be in                                                                    
     responsible charge  of it and  the work must be  in the                                                                    
     registrant's  field of  practice.  An  attorney in  the                                                                    
     Department  of Law  recently opined  that  the way  the                                                                    
     sentence is  currently written could be  interpreted as                                                                    
     "or,"  meaning either  condition  alone is  sufficient.                                                                    
     This  is not  how the  professions have  long practiced                                                                    
     this,  nor how  regulations are  written. So  the Board                                                                    
     requests   this  clarification   to  reduce   potential                                                                    
     conflict  between statute  and regulation,  as well  as                                                                    
     guard the professions.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     The  bill provides  numerous updates  to the  statutes,                                                                    
     acknowledges   that  documents   are  now   transmitted                                                                    
     electronically,  and adds  limited partnerships  to the                                                                    
     corporate structures  that can be  issued certification                                                                    
     for professional practice.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. LEMAN summarized the sectional analysis that read as                                                                        
follows:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
      SB 126 Ver. A: Architect/Engineer Registration Board                                                                    
                       Sectional Analysis                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1:  Amends AS 08.48.011(c)  to clarify  that an                                                                    
     electrical  engineer  and  a  mechanical  engineer  may                                                                    
     serve  on  the  Board  concurrently.  This  could  help                                                                    
     better  serve   two  of  the  largest   disciplines  of                                                                    
     engineering in Alaska.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2:  Amends AS 08.48.021(c)  to lower  from four                                                                    
     to two  years the  time that a  person who  has "termed                                                                    
     out"   must   wait   before   becoming   eligible   for                                                                    
     reappointment to  the Board.  This would be  helpful in                                                                    
     filling vacancies that may be difficult to fill.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section  3:  Amends  AS   08.48.055(a)  to  change  the                                                                    
     statutory title  of the main staff  person who supports                                                                    
     the  Board to  Executive  Administrator,  an update  to                                                                    
     modernize  the title  and more  accurately reflect  the                                                                    
     scope of duties.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section  4:  Amends  AS   08.48.055(b)  to  change  the                                                                    
     statutory  title to  Executive  Administrator and  adds                                                                    
     that the  Board may  delegate reviews and  approvals of                                                                    
     comity  applications.  This  delegation is  already  in                                                                    
     regulation for  certain limited circumstances,  and the                                                                    
     Department  of  Law  has advised  that  the  delegation                                                                    
     needs to be codified in statute.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section 5: Amends AS 08.48.071(f)  because the Board no                                                                    
     longer administers  the exams. The testing  function is                                                                    
     now   performed   by  national   professional   testing                                                                    
     organizations  at  considerable  cost  savings  to  the                                                                    
     State.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Section  6: Amends  AS 08.48.091  because the  Board no                                                                    
     longer administers the exams.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Section  7: Amends  AS  08.48.101(a)  to add  statutory                                                                    
     authority  for   the  Board  to  provide   guidance  on                                                                    
     overlapping "border  issues" or "gray areas"  among the                                                                    
     design professions  by regulation or policy.  The Board                                                                    
     is  already   providing  this  guidance,   this  change                                                                    
     clarifies the authority in statute.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section  8:   Amends  AS   08.48.111  to   add  limited                                                                    
     partnerships   to   entities   that   may   be   issued                                                                    
     certificates  of  authorization.  The State  of  Alaska                                                                    
     issues  business and  professional licenses  to limited                                                                    
     partnerships.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Section   9:  Amends   AS   08.48.121   to  allow   the                                                                    
     investigator to be able to  dismiss a complaint without                                                                    
     having to come to the Board in certain cases.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Section  10: Amends  AS 08.48.171  to delete  statutory                                                                    
     language regarding  applications for  registration that                                                                    
     is   better  suited   to  and   currently  covered   by                                                                    
     regulation.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Section  11-  13 Amend  AS  08.48.191(a),(b)  & (d)  to                                                                    
     update language  to provide better  certainty regarding                                                                    
     when conditions for an application  are met, and less a                                                                    
     process  based  on  opinion when  the  Board  registers                                                                    
     architects in Alaska.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 14:  Amends AS 08.48.201(a) to  allow the Board                                                                    
     to set  in regulation specific requirements  for forms,                                                                    
     statements, and references rather than in statute.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Section 15:  Amends AS 08.48.211 to  modernize statutes                                                                    
     and  delete repetitive  language. Certificates  are now                                                                    
     issued electronically and the  Board no longer places a                                                                    
     physical  seal on  hard copy  certificates. Registrants                                                                    
     are advised they can print  their own certificates from                                                                    
     an electronic file.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section 16:  Amends AS  08.48.215(a) to  streamline the                                                                    
     language.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Section 17:  Amends AS 48.08.221 to  remove duplicative                                                                    
     language and  allow the  Board to  provide requirements                                                                    
     for professional seals in  regulation. Also responds to                                                                    
     a  recent Department  of  Law  opinion about  potential                                                                    
     conflict between  statute and regulation  by clarifying                                                                    
     that work  sealed and  signed by  a registrant  must be                                                                    
     done  by  the  registrant or  under  their  responsible                                                                    
     charge and be in the registrant's field of practice.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section  18:  Amends  AS 08.48.231(a)  to  add  limited                                                                    
     partnerships  and  update  the language  to  allow  for                                                                    
     electronic transmission of documents.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section  19  -  28:  Amends AS  08.48.241(a)   (h),  AS                                                                    
     08.48.251,   and  AS   48.08.281(a)   to  add   limited                                                                    
     partnerships.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Section  29:  Amends  AS 08.48.331(a)  to  add  limited                                                                    
     partnerships and  update the  name for  fire protection                                                                    
     systems to be consistent with industry.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Section  30:  Amends  AS 08.48.341(4)  to  add  limited                                                                    
     partnerships.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Section  31:   Amends  AS  08.48.341(7)  to   make  the                                                                    
     language consistent with industry practice.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Section  32: Amends  AS 08.48.341(16)  by revising  the                                                                    
     definition of  landscape architecture to  be consistent                                                                    
     with  the other  professional  definitions and  reflect                                                                    
     language  used within  the profession  to describe  its                                                                    
     work.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  33-36:  Amends  AS  08.48.341(17-19,  22)  to                                                                    
     remove unnecessary language.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Section  37: Amends  AS 08.48.341  to add  new language                                                                    
     that provide a definition  for "fire protection system"                                                                    
     that  is  consistent  with the  industry,  and  defines                                                                    
     "limited  partnership"  and  "registrant" as  they  are                                                                    
     used in this section.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section  38: Repeals  AS  08.48.061, removing  language                                                                    
     regarding  travel expenses  and appropriations  that is                                                                    
     more   appropriately   covered  elsewhere   in   Alaska                                                                    
     Statutes.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Section 39: Provides for an immediate effective date.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:06:06 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 126. Finding no                                                                    
testifiers, he held SB 126 in committee with public testimony                                                                   
open.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:07:01 PM                                                                                                                    
There being no further business to come before the committee,                                                                   
Chair Bjorkman adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing                                                                 
Committee meeting at 3:07 p.m.                                                                                                  

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 126 ver A.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 126
SB 126 Sponsor Statement ver A.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 126
SB 126 Sectional Analysis ver A.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 126
SB 73 Sectional Analysis ver S 03.9.2023.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 73
SB 73 Sponsor Statement ver S.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 73
SB 73 Fiscal Note DCCED-CBPL-04.07.23.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 73
SB 73 Supporting Testimony-Received by the Committee through 04.11.23.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 73
SB 73 Supporting Testimony-Received by the Committee as of 04.10.23.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 73
SB 73 ver S.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 73
SB 73 Opposing Testimony-Received by sponsor as of 04.10.23.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 73
SB 73 Opposing Testimony-Received by the Committee as of 04.10.23.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 73
SB 73 Opposing Testimony-Received by the Committee through 04.11.23.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 73
SB 73 Supporting Testimony-Received by sponsor as of 04.10.23.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 73
SB 94 Support Testimony-Letter_ ANTHC 04.05.23.pdf SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 94
SB 73 Supporting Documment-USACE Proposal Request.pdf SFIN 3/25/2024 9:00:00 AM
SL&C 4/12/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 73