Governor Parnell Signs Three Bills Inspired by Juneau Residents

(Juneau) - Governor Sean Parnell today signed into law three bills inspired by Juneau residents and sponsored by Mendenhall Valley Representative Cathy Muñoz.

These bills were based on ideas that constituents brought me.
~ Rep. Cathy Muñoz

They are:

• House Bill 131, which creates an Alaska Community and Public Transportation Advisory Board aimed at helping seniors and people with disabilities have a better voice in state transportation planning;


• House Bill 267, which clarifies statutes that regulate real estate sales and encourages charitable giving by realtors; and,


• House Bill 343, which streamlines how the state discloses records for youth who are adjudicated delinquents in cases involving serious crimes.

"These bills were based on ideas that constituents brought me," Muñoz said. "I'm grateful to Governor Parnell for signing them into law and for holding a bill-signing ceremony in Juneau that allowed some of those who worked on them to attend the event," she said.

HB 131 sets up a 13-member board charged with improving community and public transportation, especially for those with special needs. It has an immediate effective date and is supported by the Alaska Mobility Coalition, the Governor's Council on Disabilities, the Alaska Commission on Aging, the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the Alaska Brain Injury Network, the Alaska Suicide Prevention Council, and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.

HB 267 allows the Alaska Real Estate Commission to designate a licensee to close down a real estate brokerage for medical reasons or violation of law if there is not a licensed broker available to perform the task; makes it clear that licensed assistants only may work for the brokerage in which they are licensed; and, permits real estate licensees to share a portion of their commission with a charity. The measure goes into effect July 1, 2012, and is backed by the Alaska Association of Realtors.

HB 343 simplifies the criteria for releasing state records of minors who have been adjudicated delinquents in cases of serious crimes such as murder, assault, arson, or robbery. It allows former clients who once were children in state custody to have access to old records from the Division of Juvenile Justice to apply for jobs, obtain student loans, or get health care. It improves sharing information between the Division of Juvenile Justice and the Office of Children's Services to help the two agencies better protect, rehabilitate, and provide services to children. The measure takes effect July 1, 2012, and is supported by the Division of Juvenile Justice and the Office of Children's Services.

For more information, call Rep. Cathy Muñoz or her aide, Christopher Clark, at 465-3744.