Davis's Bill to License Midwifery Birth Centers Passes
Senate Labor and Commerce

Senator Bettye Davis

Senate Bill 349, sponsored by Senator Bettye Davis (D-Anchorage), will require the licensure of midwifery birth centers. Currently there are 6 birth centers in Alaska, 5 registered and 1 licensed. The owners of these birth centers, both certified direct entry and certified nurse midwives, concluded the need to have one licensed standard for all birthing centers. These licensed birth centers will have one set of regulations to follow, comply with annual inspections, and put safeguards in place to guarantee the birth center is a safe environment for families. With this bill, the registered birth centers will be given six months to become licensed facilities. The midwives of Alaska have agreed there should be one uniform standard birthing center and encourage the members of the Legislature to support the passage of this important legislation.

SB 349 now moves to Senate Finance.

Gruenberg Co-authors Bill to Change Small Claims and
District Procedures, Bill Passes House Unanimously

Representative Max Gruenberg

House Bill 227, co-authored by Representative Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage) and introduced by the House Judiciary Committee, will update the jurisdictional limit for small claims and certain civil cases, and extends small claims jurisdiction for out-of-state defendants. The measure is supported by the State Chamber of Commerce.

The jurisdictional limit on small claims court and magistrate court was last raised in 1997 when the legislature raised the limit from $5,000 to $7,500. Small claims court offers many advantages over district court to private litigants, including less formal discovery requirements, reduced filing fees, and relaxed evidentiary rules. This bill will increase the limit to $10,000.

The bill also removes prohibitions against the district court hearing claims for false imprisonment, libel, slander, and malicious prosecution. These restrictions were adopted shortly after statehood. District court judges are well qualified and there is no reason to prohibit them from hearing these types of cases.

HB 227 now moves to the Senate.

Elton's Bill to Protect University Students from Infectious Diseases Passes Senate Health Education and Social Services

Senate Bill 243, sponsored [sponsor statement] by Senator Kim Elton (D-Juneau), will require postsecondary educational institutions in Alaska to provide written notice to each student who intends to reside in campus housing with information about meningococcal meningitis. All students who will be attending postsecondary educational institutions in Alaska would be required to sign a document provided by the institution indicating they have received an immunization or a notice that they have received the information regarding immunization.

SB 243 now goes to the Senate Floor.

Croft's Bill to Protect Victims of Violence
Passes House State Affairs

House Bill 411, sponsored [sponsor statement] by Representative Eric Croft (D-Anchorage), will allow a Permanent Fund Dividend applicant to check a box to keep the information disclosed on their form private, except in cases where disclosure of such information is required by the state or federal government. Currently, the list of PFD applicants and their addresses are public information. Although this appears benign on the surface, to victims of violent crime disclosing their mailing address can be a terrifying and potentially life-threatening mistake.

HB 411 now moves to House Judiciary.

Olson's Resolution to Aid Rural Villages With Flooding
And Erosion Control Assistance Passes the Senate

Senate Joint Resolution 25, sponsored by Senator Donny Olson (D-Nome), urges the federal government to ease the strict cost and benefit analysis rules associated with federal assistance for flood and erosion damage so that more villages in Alaska would qualify.

SJR 25 now moves to the House.

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