STATE AGENCY PUBLICATIONS

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SENATE BILL NO. 177

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR

Introduced: 4/22/25
Referred: State Affairs, Finance

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to the elimination or modification of state agency publications that are 1
outdated, duplicative, or excessive." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 03.40.090 is amended to read: 4
Sec. 03.40.090. Publication of record. The commissioner shall publish, in 5
book form, a list of all brands and marks on record at the time of the publication. The 6
lists may be supplemented from time to time. The publication must contain a facsimile 7
of all recorded brands and marks, together with the owner's name and mailing address. 8
The records shall be arranged in convenient form for reference. The publication must 9
be made available for download on the Internet website of the d ivision of the 10
department with responsibility for agriculture [THE BOOKS AND 11
SUPPLEMENTS MAY BE SOLD TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT AN AMOUNT 12
NOT TO EXCEED $2 A COPY]. 13
* Sec. 2. AS 14.42.035(a) is amended to read: 14
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(a) The commission may require the institutions of public and private higher 1
education and other institutions of postsecondary education in the state to submit data 2
on costs, selection, and retention of students, enrollments, ed ucation outcomes, plant 3
capacities and use, and other matters pertinent to effective pl anning and coordination 4
[, AND SHALL FURNISH INFORMATION CONCERNING THESE MATTERS 5
TO THE GOVERNOR, TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND TO OTHER STATE AND 6
FEDERAL AGENCIES AS REQUESTED BY THEM]. 7
* Sec. 3. AS 16.05.130(b) is amended to read: 8
(b) Money accruing to the state from waterfowl conservation ta g fees from 9
hunters may not be diverted to a purpose other than (1) the con servation and 10
enhancement of waterfowl; (2) the acquisition, by lease or othe rwise, of wetlands that 11
are important for waterfowl and public use of waterfowl in the state; (3) waterfowl 12
related projects approved by the commissioner; (4) the administration of the waterfowl 13
conservation program; and (5) emergencies in the state as determined by the governor. 14
The department shall maintain a state waterfowl tag fee account within the fish and 15
game fund to permit separate accounting records for the receipt and expenditure of 16
money derived from the sale of w aterfowl tags. [THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 17
PREPARE A REPORT BEFORE APRIL 15 OF EACH EVEN-NUMBERED YEAR 18
FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE LEGISLATURE ON THE USE OF MONEY 19
DERIVED FROM WATERFOWL CONSERVATION TAGS AND LIMITED 20
EDITION PRINTS. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOTIFY THE LEGISLATURE 21
THAT THE REPORT IS AVAILABLE.] 22
* Sec. 4. AS 18.67.170 is amended to read: 23
Sec. 18.67.170. Reports. The board shall prepare and transmit to the governor, 24
in each odd-numbered year, a biennial report of its activities under this chapter 25
including [A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FACTS IN EACH CASE AND] t he 26
amount of compensation awarded during the preceding two-year pe riod. The board 27
shall notify the legislature that the report is available. 28
* Sec. 5. AS 19.30.400(b) is amended to read: 29
(b) The Department of Natural Resources shall conduct the necessary research 30
to identify rights-of-way that have been accepted by public use rs under former 43 31
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U.S.C. 932 and that have not been previously identified [, AND SHALL ANNUALLY 1
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE BY THE FIRST DAY OF EACH REGULAR 2
SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE ON RIGHTS-OF-WAY THAT HAVE BEEN 3
IDENTIFIED AND THAT ARE NOT LISTED IN THIS SECTION]. 4
* Sec. 6. AS 33.30.017(b) is amended to read: 5
(b) The commissioner shall 6
(1) charge each prisoner who possesses at least one major elec trical 7
appliance the utility fee established in (a) of this section; t he commissioner may 8
deduct the utility fee monthly from the account established for a prisoner into which 9
money due the prisoner for labor is paid; if a prisoner is indi gent, the commissioner 10
shall make the deduction from any amount credited to the indigent inmate's account; 11
(2) if available from legisla tive appropriation, expend money deducted 12
and collected under (1) of this subsection to offset the cost o f the department's utility 13
expenses [; THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ANNUALLY REPORT ON THE 14
AMOUNTS THAT ARE COLLECTED AND EXPENDED UNDER THIS 15
PARAGRAPH]. 16
* Sec. 7. AS 37.13.170 is amended to read: 17
Sec. 37.13.170. Reports and publications. By September 30 of each year, the 18
board shall publish a report of the fund for distribution to th e governor and the public. 19
The board shall notify the legislature that the report is avail able. The report shall be 20
written in easily understandable la nguage. The report must incl ude financial 21
statements audited by independent outside auditors, a statement of the amount of 22
money received by the fund from each investment during the peri od covered, a 23
statement of investments of the fund including an appraisal at market value, a 24
description of fund investment ac tivity during the period cover ed by the report, a 25
comparison of the fund performance with the intended goals cont ained in 26
AS 37.13.020, an examination of the effect of the investment criteria of this chapter on 27
the fund portfolio with recommendations of any needed changes, and any other 28
information the board believes w ould be of interest to the gove rnor, the legislature, 29
and the public. The annual income statement and balance sheet o f the fund shall be 30
posted on the corporation's Internet website [PUBLISHED IN AT LEAST ONE 31
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NEWSPAPER IN EACH JUDICIAL DISTRICT]. The income statement and balance 1
sheet for the two fiscal years preceding the publication of the election pamphlet under 2
AS 15.58 shall be included in that pamphlet. 3
* Sec. 8. AS 37.14.720 is amended to read: 4
Sec. 37.14.720. Powers and duties of the commissioner of revenu e. In 5
carrying out the investment duties under AS 37.14.700 - 37.14.7 40, the commissioner 6
of revenue has the powers a nd duties set out in AS 37.10.071. [ THE 7
COMMISSIONER SHALL PROVIDE REPORTS TO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL 8
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITAR Y AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS ON THE 9
CONDITION AND INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND.] 10
* Sec. 9. AS 38.05.180(b) is amended to read: 11
(b) The commissioner shall annually prepare [AND, BEFORE FEBRU ARY 1 12
OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR NOTIFY THE LEGISLATURE OF] a five-year 13
program of proposed oil and gas lease sales and proposed gas on ly lease sales, 14
specifying as precisely as practicable the location of tracts t o be offered for leasing 15
during the calendar year of the notification and the following four calendar years. The 16
commissioner may, at any time, notify the legislature of revisions, including additions, 17
to the program. [NOTIFICATION TO EACH LEGISLATOR, BY ELECTRONIC 18
MESSAGE OR OTHER WRITTEN MEANS, CONSTITUTES NOTIFICATION TO 19
THE LEGISLATURE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION.] 20
* Sec. 10. AS 44.99.220(a) is amended to read: 21
(a) Each state agency shall 22
(1) compile a list of all pub lications the agency produces as required 23
by law or regulation or as directed by the legislature; 24
(2) identify and highlight on the list compiled under (1) of t his 25
subsection the publications that are 26
(A) outdated, duplicative, or excessive, or that could be 27
improved or consolidated with other publications; or 28
(B) currently delivered physically that could be delivered 29
electronically; and 30
(3) every 10 years, by October 31 [OF EVERY EVEN-NUMBERED 31
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YEAR], electronically submit the list of publications compiled under (1) of this 1
subsection, including the highlighted publications under (2) of this subsection, to the 2
governor and to the senate secretary and chief clerk of the house of representatives and 3
notify the legislature that the list is available. 4
* Sec. 11. AS 44.99.220(b) is amended to read: 5
(b) In addition to the budget, bills, and fiscal plan submitte d under 6
AS 37.07.020(a) and (b), every 10 years [IN EVERY EVEN-NUMBERED YEAR], 7
the governor shall submit a bill to eliminate or modify publica tion requirements for 8
publications that have been identified under (a) of this section 9
(1) as outdated, duplicative, or excessive, or that could be i mproved or 10
consolidated with other publications; or 11
(2) that could be exclusively delivered electronically. 12
* Sec. 12. AS 47.07.039(f) is amended to read: 13
(f) The department shall prepare a plan regarding regional or statewide 14
implementation of a coordinated care project based on the results of the demonstration 15
projects under this section. On or before November 15, 2019, th e department shall 16
submit the plan to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of 17
representatives and notify the legislature that the plan is ava ilable. [ON OR BEFORE 18
NOVEMBER 15 OF EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 19
SUBMIT A REPORT REGARDING ANY CHANGES OR RECOMMENDATIONS 20
REGARDING THE PLAN DEVELOPED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION TO THE 21
SENATE SECRETARY AND THE CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF 22
REPRESENTATIVES AND NOTIFY THE LEGISLATURE THAT THE REPORT 23
IS AVAILABLE.] 24
* Sec. 13. AS 47.14.112(a) is amended to read: 25
(a) The department shall impleme nt workload standards and a tr aining 26
program for employees who supervise the care of children commit ted to the 27
supervision or custody of th e department under AS 47.10, work w ith families to 28
prevent the removal of a child from the child's home under AS 4 7.10, or investigate 29
reports of harm under AS 47.17. [THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PREPARE A 30
STAFFING REPORT UNDER (b) OF THIS SECTION IF THE DEPARTMENT IS 31
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UNABLE 1
(1) TO EMPLOY THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES 2
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT 3
(A) THE DEPARTMENT REASONABLY AND SAFELY 4
MINIMIZES THE TIME A CHILD IS NOT IN A PERMANENT LIVING 5
ARRANGEMENT OR UNDER A PERMANENT GUARDIANSHIP; 6
(B) A CHILD IS NOT REMOVED FROM THE CHILD'S 7
HOME WHEN IT IS POSSIBLE AND IN THE CHILD'S BEST INTEREST 8
FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH THE CHILD'S FAMILY TO 9
PREVENT THE REMOVAL OF THE CHILD FROM THE CHILD'S HOME; 10
(C) EACH CHILD IS PLACED IN A PERMANENT HOME 11
NOT MORE THAN 24 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE THE CHILD IS 12
FIRST REMOVED FROM THE CHILD'S HOME; 13
(2) TO MEET BEST PRACTICES STANDARDS SET BY THE 14
DEPARTMENT REQUIRING THE EMPLOYMENT OF MENTORS FOR 15
EMPLOYEES WHO SUPERVISE THE CARE OF CHILDREN COMMITTED TO 16
THE SUPERVISION OR CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT UNDER AS 47.10, 17
WORK WITH FAMILIES TO PREVENT THE REMOVAL OF A CHILD FROM 18
THE CHILD'S HOME UNDER AS 47.10, OR INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF 19
HARM UNDER AS 47.17; 20
(3) FOR A NEW EMPLOYEE WHO SUPERVISES THE CARE OF 21
A CHILD COMMITTED TO THE SUPERVISION OR CUSTODY OF THE 22
DEPARTMENT UNDER AS 47.10, WORKS WITH FAMILIES TO PREVENT 23
THE REMOVAL OF A CHILD FROM THE CHILD'S HOME UNDER AS 47.10, 24
OR INVESTIGATES REPORTS OF HARM UNDER AS 47.17, TO 25
(A) PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF SIX WEEKS OF 26
TRAINING UNLESS THE DEPARTMENT FINDS THAT THE NEW 27
EMPLOYEE HAS SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE TO JUSTIFY A SHORTER 28
TRAINING PERIOD; 29
( B ) L I M I T T H E E M P L O Y E E ' S W O R K L O A D A S 30
FOLLOWS: 31
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(i) BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF AN 1
EMPLOYEE'S FOURTH MONTH OF WORK WITH THE 2
DEPARTMENT, THE EMPLOYEE MAY SUPERVISE NOT MORE 3
THAN SIX FAMILIES; 4
( i i ) A F T E R T H E B E G I N N I N G O F T H E 5
EMPLOYEE'S FOURTH MONTH OF WORK BUT BEFORE THE 6
END OF THE EMPLOYEE'S SIXTH MONTH OF WORK WITH 7
THE DEPARTMENT, THE EMPLOYEE MAY SUPERVISE NOT 8
MORE THAN 12 FAMILIES; 9
(iii) WHEN AN EMPLOYEE SUPERVISES 10
FAMILIES IN A REGION WHERE TRAVEL DISTANCES 11
NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE EMPLOYEE'S ABILITY TO 12
SUPERVISE FAMILIES AND THE EMPLOYEE HAS WORKED 13
FOR THE DEPARTMENT FOR LESS THAN 12 MONTHS, THE 14
EMPLOYEE MAY NOT SUPERVISE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER 15
OF FAMILIES PROVIDED UNDER (i) AND (ii) OF THIS 16
SUBPARAGRAPH; AND 17
(4) FOR AN EMPLOYEE, OTHER THAN A NEW EMPLOYEE, 18
WHO SUPERVISES THE CARE OF CHILDREN COMMITTED TO THE 19
SUPERVISION OR CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT UNDER AS 47.10, 20
WORKS WITH FAMILIES TO PREVENT THE REMOVAL OF A CHILD FROM 21
THE CHILD'S HOME UNDER AS 47.10, OR INVESTIGATES REPORTS OF 22
HARM UNDER AS 47.17, TO ENSURE THAT THE AVERAGE STATEWIDE 23
CASELOAD IS NOT MORE THAN 13 FAMILIES FOR EACH WORKER]. 24
* Sec. 14. AS 47.14.112(c) is amended to read: 25
(c) Notwithstanding any other p rovision of this section, the d epartment is 26
immune from suit under this sec tion if the department was unabl e to meet the 27
workload standards and adjusted workload standards because of a lack of sufficient 28
appropriations or because the department's efforts to recruit o r retain employees did 29
not result in an adequate number of qualified applicants to mee t the workload 30
standards [, AS OUTLINED IN THE STAFFING REPORT]. 31
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* Sec. 15. AS 47.14.112(d) is amended to read: 1
(d) The division of the department with responsibility over th e custody of 2
children shall prepare and make available to the legislature an annual report on 3
employee recruitment and retention, including a five-year plan, for the division. Not 4
later than November 15 of each yea r, the department shall deliv er the report to the 5
senate secretary and the chief cl erk of the house of representa tives and notify the 6
legislature that the report is a vailable. The report prepared u nder this subsection [IS 7
SEPARATE FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE 8
REQUIRED UNDER AS 18.05.020 AND] must include, for the previous 12 months, 9
(1) the number of frontline social workers employed by the div ision, 10
the annual average turnover rate of the workers, and the averag e caseload of the 11
workers on January 1 and July 1 of that year; 12
(2) the number of children removed from their homes; 13
(3) the achievement of success measured by the following: 14
(A) rate of family reunification; 15
(B) average length of time children spent in custody of the 16
department; 17
(C) rate of placement with an adult family member or family 18
friend; 19
(D) number of children placed in a permanent living 20
arrangement with a guardian or biological or adoptive parent; 21
(E) number of children released from the custody of the 22
department; 23
(4) if the department has met or exceeded the caseload standar ds under 24
this chapter and, if the standard s were exceeded, the number of caseworker positions 25
in the division that could be eliminated and the amount of fund ing that could be 26
reduced while continuing to meet but not routinely exceed the caseload standards; 27
(5) the performance of the depa rtment on federal benchmarks fo cused 28
on the safety, well-being, and pe rmanent placements of foster c hildren compared with 29
the previous five years. 30
* Sec. 16. AS 03.22.060; AS 05.15.090; AS 16.20.041(f), 16.20.162(f); AS 1 8.05.020; 31
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AS 18.09.070(c); AS 18.15.393; AS 18.29.105(e); AS 18.65.086(b) , 18.65.340(c); 1
AS 19.75.111(b)(1); AS 23.15.100(a)(3), 23.15.125(d)(3), 23.15.652(c); AS 33.30.011(a)(12); 2
AS 37.05.035; AS 37.07.040(9), 37.07.040(11), 37.07.080(f); AS 37.10.088(c); 3
AS 37.14.230(a)(8), 37.14.610(6); AS 37.15.170(c); AS 38.04.020 (d), 38.04.205; 4
38.05.180(e); AS 39.30.440; AS 41.37.220(f); AS 43.05.085; AS 4 3.55.180(b); 5
AS 43.90.400(d); AS 44.23.020(b)(7); AS 44.37.027(e); AS 44.41. 070(b), 44.41.070(c); 6
AS 46.15.020(b)(5); AS 47.05.270(d); AS 47.07.075(b)(3); AS 47. 14.112(b); AS 47.20.350; 7
AS 47.37.040(17); and AS 47.38.100(c) are repealed. 8
* Sec. 17. Section 6, ch. 95, SLA 2005, is repealed. 9