Occupational Licensing Fees for Professions Regulated by the Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and land Surveyors:
Notice of Proposed Regulations Changes
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:  The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development proposes to change occupational license fees charged to architects, engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects.

The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (Department) proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 12, Chapter 02 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with occupational licensing fees for professions regulated by the Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors, including the following:

12 AAC 02.110, Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors, is proposed to be changed to alter the registration, certification, renewal, review, and examination fees for architects, engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects.

Under AS 08.01.065, the Department must establish fee levels so that the total amount of fees collected for an occupation approximately equals the actual regulatory costs for the occupation.  The Department has reviewed the income and expenses for the occupational licensing program for the Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors and proposes fee changes that reflect, to the extent possible, the actual costs of the activities related to the program.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK  99811-0806.  Additionally, the Department will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-2974 and by electronic mail at jun.maiquis@alaska.gov.  The comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on September 21, 2015.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK  99811-0806 or by e-mail at jun.maiquis@alaska.gov.  The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period.  The Department will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and response available on the Department’s website at  https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofArchitectsEngineersandLandSurveyors.aspx or on the Alaska Online Public Notice System.  The Department may, but is not required to, answer written questions received after the 10-day cut-off date and before the end of the comment period.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Jun Maiquis at (907) 465-2537 no later than September 14, 2015 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

For a copy of the proposed regulation changes, contact Jun Maiquis at the address or phone number above, or go to https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/AELS-Fees-2015.pdf

After the public comment period ends, the Department will either adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action on them.  The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations.  You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.  Written comments and questions received are public records and are subject to public inspection.

Statutory Authority:  AS 08.01.065; AS 08.48.265
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific:  AS 08.01.065; AS 08.48.265

Fiscal Information:  The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

DATE: 8/17/2015
Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing

Occupational Licensing fees for professions regulated by the Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and land Surveyors:
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS NOTICE INFORMATION
(AS 44.62.190(d))

1.   Adopting agency:  Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development – Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.

2.   General subject of regulation:  Occupational licensing fees.

3.   Citation of regulation:  12 AAC 02.110.

4.   Department of Law file number:  To be assigned.

5.   Reason for the proposed action:  Compliance with state statute.

6.   Appropriation/Allocation:  Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing – #2360.

7.   Estimated costs in the aggregate to comply with the proposed action to:
      a. Private Persons: $100 reduction for initial registration or certification; $100 reduction for renewal; $70 reduction for registration by comity review; $25 reduction for corporate changes; $25 reduction for retired status; and a $100 reduction for AKLS exam.
      b. Other State Agencies: None.
      c. Municipalities: None.

8.   Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars):  No costs are expected in FY 2016 or in subsequent years.

9.   The name of the contact person for the regulations:
      Sara Chambers, Professional Licensing Operations Manager
      Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
      Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development 
      Telephone: (907) 465-2144
      E-mail: sara.chambers@alaska.gov  

10. The origin of the proposed action:  Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.

11. Date: 8/17/2015
Prepared by: Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist