Timber Sale, Nursing Permit Bills Signed into Law
Photo Credit: Mint_Images | Envato
Four new state laws affect a variety of Alaska businesses: timber resources, healthcare, motor vehicles, and military affairs. Governor Mike Dunleavy signed all four pieces of legislation this week in Fairbanks, given that each bill was sponsored by a member of the Alaska Legislature’s Interior delegation.
Expediting Timber Sales on State Land
House Bill 104 (HB104) creates a new category of timber sales, called expedited timber sales, for state forest land with high annual fire danger or subject to insect or disease outbreaks. The intent was to avoid saleable timber spoiling due to insect infestation, disease, or fire. The bill accomplishes those objectives by updating forestry statutes to meet industry demands, resulting in more efficient timber sales.
“Alaska’s forests have amazing potential, and HB104 will help maximize their value,” says the sponsor, Representative Mike Cronk of Tok. “Hazardous fuel changed to biomass energy. Stunted stands of dog hair spruce thinned for better timber. Spruce infested trees harvested before they rot. Carbon sequestration increased. An industry instead of a fire waiting to happen.”
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Temporary Permits for Returning Licensed Nurses
HB237 will bring more qualified nurses into Alaska’s healthcare system by allowing the Board of Nursing to issue temporary permits to nurses seeking to reinstate their lapsed Alaska licenses so they can get back to work in Alaska more quickly while meeting all the reinstatement requirements.
The sponsor, Representative Mike Prax of North Pole, says, “HB237 corrects a statutory oversight. It enables an Alaska-licensed nurse to obtain a temporary permit to practice while they are going through the process of reinstating a lapsed license. Nurses who are applying for their initial Alaska-issued license to practice already enjoy this privilege.”
Establishing Fair Pay for Auto Warranty Work
HB233 by Fairbanks Representative Frank Tomaszewski addresses warranty work on motor vehicles. It requires that the schedule of compensation for labor must include the rates and time allowances for warranty work. It also stipulates that, unless otherwise agreed to by the manufacturer and the dealer, the schedule of compensation may not contain time allowances less than the time allowances provided in independent labor time guides.
The bill prohibits a manufacturer from recovering the costs for compensating a dealer for warranty work by reducing the amount due to a dealer or imposing a separate charge, surcharge, administrative fee, or other similar cost. This bill would not prohibit a manufacturer from increasing the price of a new motor vehicle or changing a schedule of compensation in the ordinary course of business.
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“This legislation provides huge positive impacts for Alaskan mechanics and service technicians,” says Tomaszewski. “The car manufacturers must now pay fair and competitive reimbursements for warranty work performed on their vehicles. This levels the playing field among the automotive service industry and creates a positive boost to car dealers’ ability to retain quality mechanics and service technicians.”
Better Partnership with Alaska-based Military
To help develop economic and infrastructure opportunities for the military in Alaska, HB155 establishes a Military Affairs Commission in the Office of the Governor.
The sponsor, Fairbanks Representative Will Stapp, was inspired by a borough-level advisory panel to make permanent what is usually a short-term commission.
“HB155 takes the successful model of the Fairbanks Tiger Team and applies it at a statewide level, thus strengthening the relationship between the State of Alaska and our military,” says Stapp. “I was honored to carry this legislation because I understand the need for our service members to feel welcome in the communities they are stationed in as well as the need for our state to develop strong economic development through our military partnerships.”
HB155 also adds flexibility for the governor to hire officials serving directly under the head of the Alaska National Guard. It removes the requirement for five years of National Guard service for the Assistant Adjutant General positions, changing it to a preference. The change expands the pool of eligible candidates to attract talent from additional areas, such as service members leaving active service and staying in Alaska.
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