New Bills Introduced Inspired by Juneau Residents
Four bills released today on housing development, naturopathy, pharmacy audits, and realtors
Juneau, Alaska, January 13, 2012 – Four new bills inspired by Juneau residents were released today as part of a package of legislation that came out before the legislative session begins on Tuesday.
Introduced by Juneau Representative Cathy Muñoz, the measures would promote land development to improve housing opportunities; assure naturopaths continue to have the ability to provide natural medicines to their patients; set guidelines for auditing pharmacies; and, give the Alaska Real Estate Commission the authority to designate a current licensee as a temporary broker to conclude required broker duties if a broker becomes incapacitated and is unable to function.
“These are all based on ideas that constituents have brought to me over the past year,” Muñoz said. “Each one is designed to benefit the public by providing such things as incentives to develop land – especially in places like Juneau where more housing opportunities are needed – to being sure that people who rely on naturopaths for their well-being will continue to receive natural medicines. Homebuilders, naturopaths, pharmacists, and realtors asked for my help and these bills aim to do just that.”
The measures are among pre-filed legislation that came out today and will be formally introduced in the House on the first day of the session, Tuesday.
What follows are brief summaries of each bill.
House Bill 264 – Providing an incentive to develop land for housing
House Bill 264 would give municipalities the flexibility to defer increases in property taxes on subdivided parcels until a lot is sold or a city grants a building permit for that piece of property. It limits a tax deferral to five years. The purpose is to encourage land development for more housing.
House Bill 266 – Assuring naturopaths continue to have the ability to provide natural medicine
House Bill 266 would set in statute what is now in regulations to allow naturopaths to give, prescribe, or recommend natural medicines. Naturopaths say the measure is needed because some places are refusing to supply naturopathic doctors with natural or herbal medicines.
House Bill 259 – Setting guidelines for auditing pharmacies
House Bill 259 would establish procedures and guidelines for auditing pharmacy records so that all pharmacies are held to the same standards. The main purpose is to help small-business pharmacies who, because of their smaller pool of assets, may face dire consequences due to an audit. Wrangell Representative Peggy Wilson is a co-prime sponsor of this measure.
House Bill 267 – Resolving legal ambiguities relating to realtors
House Bill 267 would allow the Alaska Real Estate Commission to issue temporary permits to a real estate licensee in order to deal with brokerages that must be closed for violation of law or in the event a broker becomes incapacitated. The measure also would clarify that licensed real estate salespersons or licensed associate real estate brokers may employ a licensed assistant, but that person must work for the same broker who employs them. This is to prevent conflicts of interest that now may occur if an assistant were to work for more than one broker. Lastly, the legislation would allow realtors to share commissions with charities. Soldotna Representative Kurt Olson is a co-prime sponsor of this bill.
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My Turn: Munoz speaks on oil issues - March 17, 2011
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May 2010 Newsletter: 2010 End of Session Wrap Up.pdf (419.72 kb)
April 2009 Newsletter: end of session wrap up final.pdf (668.18 kb)
June 2009 Newsletter: June 2009_Legislative Update.pdf (1.52 mb)
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Imagination Library Looks to Expand in Area - Best Beginnings is seeking applications for communities to either start a Dolly Parton Imagination Library or seeking additional funds to maintain an existing program. For more information contact Barbara Brown at bbrown@bestbeginningsalaska.org
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