Governor Palin 4 President

Soldotna, Alaska - Governor Palin today signed legislation that will outlaw unwanted telephone solicitations to cellular phones. The bill was signed at a joint luncheon meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce.
House Bill 93, sponsored by House Speaker Mike Chenault, adds mobile phones to the “unlawful, unwanted telephone advertisements & solicitations” section of state law. Mobile phone users not wishing to receive solicitations will have the added protection of state law.

The Governor also signed 4 other bills into law, including House Bill 221, which allows the state to participate in the federal Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. This will bring the state in compliance with this portion of the Secure & Fair Enforcement of Mortgage Lending Act of 2008. HB 221 will give borrowers greater protection from unscrupulous lenders. It was sponsored by Soldotna Representative Kurt Olson.

House Bill 78 is sponsored by the House Labor and Commerce Committee, which is chaired by Representative Olson. The bill extends the Board of Public Accountancy from 2009 through June 30, 2013. The 7-member board regulates & controls applications, licenses, & permits of the accounting profession.

House Bill 175, also sponsored by the House Labor & Commerce Committee, will streamline Alaska statutes to bring them in greater compliance with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners standards. HB 175 will in part allow the director of the Division of Insurance to suspend a license when needed for the protection of the public, provide greater confidentiality requirements & clarify how deposits of an insolvent insurer will be treated.

House Bill 170, also sponsored by House Speaker Chenault, who represents Kenai & Nikiski, repeals the authority established for day fines. Day fines were established by the legislature in 1994, but never implemented. The fines were meant to impose punishment equally across economic levels by basing an offender's fine on a calculation of his daily income. Establishing this calculation proved to be unachievable.