NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON COMPENSATION FOR COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEYS IN THE REGULATIONS OF OFFICE OF PUBLIC ADVOCACY

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Office of Public Advocacy proposes to change regulations on compensation for court-appointed attorneys, guardians ad litem, and investigators. 

The Office of Public Advocacy proposes to adopt regulation changes in 2 AAC 60.010 and 2 AAC 60.030 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with compensation for court-court appointed attorneys, guardians ad litem, and investigators, including the following:

1. 2 AAC 60.010, is proposed to be changed as follows: increase maximum compensation for court-appointed attorneys.

(2)        2 AAC 60.030 is proposed to be changed as follows: increase maximum compensation for guardians ad litem and investigators. 

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 Jonathon Torres, Deputy Director, Office of Public Advocacy, 900 West 5^th Ave., Suite 525, Anchorage, Alaska, 99501. Additionally, the Office of Public Advocacy will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 269-1071 and by electronic mail at jonathon.torres@alaska.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 4:30pm on April 15, 2024.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Jonathon Torres, Deputy Director, Office of Public Advocacy, 900 W 5^th Ave., Suite 525, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, or by email to jonathon.torres@alaska.gov. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Office of Public Advocacy will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Jonathon Torres at jonathon.torres@alaska.gov or 269-3500.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Jonathon Torres, Deputy Director, Office of Public Advocacy at jonathon.torres@alaska.gov or 907-269-3500 not later than 4:30 p.m. on April 8, 2024, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Jonathon Torres, Deputy Director, Office of Public Advocacy at jonathon.torres@alaska.gov or 907-269-3500. 

A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System. A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference may be viewed at the agency's office at 900 West 5^th Ave., Suite 525, Anchorage, Alaska, 99501.

After the public comment period ends, the Office of Public Advocacy will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.

Statutory authority: AS 44.21.410

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 44.21.420

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

The Office of Public Advocacy keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the Office of Public Advocacy’s notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Office of Public Advocacy at jonathon.torres@alaska.gov giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.

Individuals can also signup to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx.

Date: 3/12/2024

/s/  Jonathon Torres                                                     

Jonathon Torres, Deputy Director