Governor Signs Nine More Bills In Anchorage
Anchorage, AK - Governor Frank H. Murkowski signed into law nine bills passed during the regular session of the Legislature. The bills cover a variety of issues, from speech-language pathologist assistants to "payday" loans, and from midwifery birth centers to prescription drug labeling.
SB 365, sponsored by Anchorage Sen. Con Bunde, creates a registration requirement for speech-language pathologist assistants. It also establishes minimum education and experience qualifications to be eligible for the new license.
SB 389, also sponsored by Sen. Con Bunde, allows a corporation that is a subsidiary owned by one or more parent corporations to convert to a limited liability company. Under the current law, a corporation would have to dissolve prior to forming a limited liability company. The bill received strong support from Native corporations, including the Aleut Corporation, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, and NANA Development Corporation.
SB 272, sponsored by the Senate Rules Committee (Sen. John Cowdery-Chair), requires the Division of Banking, Securities, and Corporations to regulate businesses that offer "payday" loans - short-term, high-interest cash advances that are secured by a post-dated personal check. To qualify for a license, an applicant must have a minimum of cash assets, pay a licensing fee, and post a bond. The bill also includes a number of restrictions, including a minimum loan term, maximum loan amount, and maximum origination fee that are aimed at protecting consumers.
SB 288, sponsored by Sen. Lyda Green at the request of the Department of Health and Social Services, is designed to aid the department in obtaining Title IV-E "4-E" federal funds for expenses incurred as a result of maintaining children in foster care settings. In order for a child in an out-of-home placement to be eligible for federal foster care funding under the Social Security Act, the court must make a finding that continued placement in the home would be contrary to the welfare of the child. This bill adds a requirement that the courts make a finding at the initial hearing when a child is removed from the home on an emergency basis due to abuse or neglect.
SB 349, sponsored by Anchorage Sen. Bettye Davis, requires licensure of midwifery birth centers by the Department of Health and Social Services. It also provides a period of six months for currently registered midwifery birth centers to seek licensure. The bill will strengthen the state's ability to oversee the operation of midwifery birth centers.
SB 260, sponsored by Anchorage Sen. Ben Stevens, enacts a requirement that all municipalities with a population over 50,000 shall create a metropolitan planning organization in order to coordinate transportation planning in urbanized areas. It also expands the policy committees for areas over 200,000 to include two members of the public (one appointed by the mayor and one by the governor) and two Anchorage area legislators as non-voting members (one from the House and one from the Senate).
HB 517, also sponsored by Rep. Anderson, broadens the definition of "security account" in the transfer-on-death statute to allow bank and trust company investment management and custody account owners to avoid probate of account assets by the use of beneficiary designations. Securities and brokerage accounts may use beneficiary designation to take effect upon the death of the account's owner, thereby passing the account assets to designated beneficiaries without having to go through probate. The bill will also put bank trust departments and trust companies on a more equal footing with brokerage firms, who are already covered by the law.
HB 476, also sponsored by Rep. Anderson, establishes the Alaska Statehood Celebration Commission. In recognition of January 2009 as the 50th anniversary of Alaska's admission as the 49th state, the commission is charged with planning the statehood celebration, engaging in joint projects with other civic organizations, and employing staff (subject to appropriation) necessary to carry out its duties.
HB 51, sponsored by Homer Rep. Paul Seaton, requires pharmacists to include the name of the equivalent generic drug name on a prescription drug label. "This bill is a safety measure, intended to help Alaskans recognize similar products in attempt to prevent overdose of any one particular drug," Murkowski said. "It was strongly supported by AARP."