Occupational Licensing fees for professional counselors:
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 professional counselors, and also to establish a continuing education course approval and continuing education course reapproval fees.

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 related to the Board of Professional Counselors, including the following:

12 AAC 02.325, Board of Professional Counselors, is proposed to be changed to alter the application, license, renewal, and any board-approved supervisor fees, and also to establish a continuing education course approval and continuing education course reapproval fees.  

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 Professional Counselors 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 August 10, 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 http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ProfessionalCounselors.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 August 3, 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 http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/portals/5/pub/PCO-fees-0715.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
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific:  AS 08.01.065

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

DATE: 7/9/15
Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing

Occupational Licensing fees for professional counselors:
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 02.325.

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:  $75 – $250 per applicant.   
      b. Other State Agencies:  None known.
      c. Municipalities:  None known.

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: 7/9/15
Prepared by: Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist