With three days remaining in the Legislature’s statutory 90-day session, House lawmakers focused on smaller bills awaiting attention in the statehouse queue.
The House approved one of the final efforts of Anchorage Democratic Rep. Max Gruenberg, who died earlier this session, and four other measures — all with 39-0 votes.
“It is truly his bill,” said Rep. Liz Vazquez, R-Anchorage, about Gruenberg’s relationship to House Bill 147.
The measure includes three significant changes with regard to Alaska’s laws on animals: It holds a pet owner liable for costs incurred by state and local governments if a pet is seized for mistreatment; it allows pets to be considered in divorce proceedings; and it allows pets to be considered when someone seeks a restraining order.
Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, said the latter two provisions mean it shouldn’t be considered a ‘pet bill.’
“It very much is a domestic violence bill,” he said.
The bill advances to the Senate for consideration.
Crane games legal
Senate Bill 157, introduced by Sen. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, clarifies state law to indicate that arcade machines that distribute prizes aren’t considered gambling under state law. The bill also covers machines that distribute tickets that can be exchanged for tickets.
Chuck-e-Cheese, Bullwinkle’s Pizza and other, similar restaurants and arcades have used such machines for years, but national chain Dave and Busters is planning a massive new business at Anchorage’s Dimond Center Mall and requested the bill before beginning construction.
The bill, previously passed by the Senate, will head back to the Senate so lawmakers there can decide whether to agree with changes made in the House. If so, it will move to the desk of Gov. Bill Walker.
No civil forfeiture
House Bill 317, sponsored by Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, is only 11 words long but garnered widespread support Thursday from both Democrats and Republicans.
The measure forbids police from seizing property unless someone has been accused of a crime.
So-called civil forfeitures have garnered national attention after a series of reports showing their widespread use to fund police and prosecutors. In a civil forfeiture, property can be seized and sold if police suspect it has been used in a crime — no actual charges are necessary.
Wilson originally proposed a 20-page bill to address the issue, but the measure was simplified after committee input.
HB 317 moves to the Senate.
Relocation assistance
House Bill 259, brought forward by Gov. Walker and approved Thursday, brings state law into line with new federal law requiring compensation for construction projects.
The federal and state measures increase the amount people must receive if they are displaced by a federally funded construction project. If the state does not approve the measure, more than $500 million in federal construction money could be jeopardized, said Rep. Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks.
The bill goes to the Senate.
Electronic tax returns
One of the features in all nine of the tax bills proposed by Gov. Walker was a provision calling for tax returns to be submitted only electronically.
House Bill 375, approved Thursday in the House, applies that provision to all taxes levied by the state. People unable to submit an electronic tax form can apply for a waiver from the state. Once issued, the waiver is effective for seven years.
HB 375 goes to the Senate.
Progress, but no vote, on
Medicaid
Medicaid reform, the only bill on the Thursday House calendar with a significant fiscal impact, was amended after consideration but will not reach a final vote until Friday.
Senate Bill 74 includes a series of fraud-protection and cost-saving measures. According to figures provided by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the bill will save $31 million in Fiscal Year 2017, which starts July 1. As more aspects of the reform bill are implemented, the savings are expected to rise to $114 million by 2022.
Two House amendments were approved Thursday. One forbids the state from sharing a prescription medicine database with the federal government.
The other legally shields businesses if their employees commit fraud.
No overtime for medevacs
In the Senate, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 203, in a 15-5 vote. The bill, whose prime sponsor is Sen. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, exempts medevac flight crews from the state’s overtime rules.
The state had previously exempted medevac pilots, flight attendants and copilots from the overtime rules; this bill exempts the medical flight crew.
The bill moves to the House for consideration.
The Senate also voted 19-0 to concur with the changes the House made to Senate Bill 142.
SB 142 forbids health insurance companies from charging differently for self-administered cancer drugs and those administered by a doctor.
The Senate vote sends the bill to Walker for signature into law.
