AK SB157

Establishes a seven-member Sunrise Review Board within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to review proposed legislation that creates or modifies professional and occupational licensure requirements.

Board must review all introduced legislation proposing licensure changes unless the same change was reviewed within the preceding four years, and may review other proposed changes upon request from the governor, legislators, department heads, practitioners, or the public (with a fee for non-government requestors).

Review requests must include detailed information about the problem being addressed, previous regulatory efforts, alternatives considered, potential benefits and harms, costs to the state, affected populations, and proposed funding mechanisms.

Board recommendations prioritize least-restrictive regulation and establish a hierarchy of options: strengthening deceptive trade practice protections, periodic inspections, bonding/insurance requirements, state registration, voluntary certification, or formal licensure only when necessary to protect immediate health and safety.

Board must submit review reports to the legislature within specified timeframes: by the next regular session for requests received before April 1, or by the session after next for requests received on or after April 1; the Act takes effect January 1, 2025.