The Senate prefiled bills from Friday, Jan. 10 include a major rewrite of Alaska’s oil taxes, to increase the taxation on the largest fields on the North Slope. The list of bills filed by senators on Friday:
SB 128, sponsored by Mia Costello: Requiring legislative approval for certain state charges, rentals, and fees related to aviation. Details here.
SB 129, sponsored by Bill Wielechowski: Relating to the oil and gas production tax; relating to credits against the oil and gas production tax; relating to payments of the oil and gas production tax; relating to lease expenditures and adjustments to lease expenditures; making public certain information related to the oil and gas production tax; relating to the Department of Revenue; and providing for an effective date. This bill is similar to the oil tax voter initiative called “Our Fair Share,” and has a slim chance of passage, but shows that the Our Fair Share initiative is not as simple as it’s made out to be, a case made by the Attorney General’s opinion on the initiative language. Details here.
SB 130, sponsored by Gary Stevens: Relating to a seafood product development tax credit; repealing secs. 32 and 35, ch. 61, SLA 2014. Adds pollock and cod to the list of seafood covered by this tax. Details here.
SB 131, sponsored by Elvi Gray-Jackson: Relating to special registration plates for vehicles owned by a person with a disability. People can can get special license plates if deemed disabled by a speech therapist, physical therapist or occupational therapist under this bill. Details here.
SB 132, sponsored by Tom Begich: Limiting the pay of certain state officers and employees in the executive branch. No head of a department would be able to be paid more than the governor. Details here.
SB 133, sponsored by Elvi Gray-Jackson: Relating to testing of sexual assault examination kits. This is companion legislation to that filed by Rep. Geran Tarr in the House, requiring the processing of rape kits in six months, rather than 12. Details here.
SB 134, sponsored by David Wilson: Relating to medical assistance (Medicaid) reimbursement for the services of licensed professional counselors. Details here.
SB 135, sponsored by Shelley Hughes: Relating to health care insurers; relating to availability of payment information; relating to an incentive program for electing to receive health care services for less than the average price paid; relating to filing and reporting requirements; relating to municipal regulation of disclosure of health care services and price information. Bill is also known as Alaska Health Care Consumer’s Right to Shop Act. Details here.
SB 136, sponsored by Gary Stevens: Providing for the establishment of public schools through state- tribal compacts. Appears to not be coordinating with legislation coming from the Office of the Governor. Details here.
SB 137, sponsored by Peter Micciche: Extending the termination date of the Board of Parole. Details here.
SB 138, sponsored by Elvi Gray-Jackson: Relating to correctional facilities; relating to the authority of the commissioner of corrections to designate the correctional facility to which a prisoner is to be committed. Companion to legislation filed by Rep. Zack Fields to strip the Department of Corrections of its authority. Details here.
SJR 12, sponsored by Click Bishop: This is considered a “butt-hurt bill,” as it proposes to strip the governor of much of his veto authority over budget items. Details here.
