NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR FEES IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Summary of proposed changes: 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 fees for the Board of Professional Counselors, including the following: (1) 12 AAC 02.325. Board of Professional Counselors, is proposed to be changed as follows: increase the license fee and renewal fee for professional counselors; remove the outdated fee for board-approved supervisors; add fees for associate counselors for: applications, initial licenses, and renewals; and add new fees for initial certification and renewal for approved counselor supervisors. 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. Written comments: 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 Stefanie Davis, 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 RegulationsAndPublicComment@alaska.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessing this notice on the system at http://notice.alaska.gov/223526, and using the comment link. Written comment deadline: The written comments must be received not later than 4:30 p.m. on May 26, 2026. Questions: You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Stefanie Davis, Regulations Specialist, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811-0806 or by e-mail at RegulationsAndPublicComment@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 responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and on the Board of Professional Counselors' website at https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ProfessionalCounselors. Public nature of comments and questions: Public comments and questions, once submitted, are public records and subject to disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act. See AS 40.25.100 - 40.25.295. Do NOT include in your comments or questions any information that you do not want made public. Accommodations: If you are a person with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Stefanie Davis at (907) 465-2537 or RegulationsAndPublicComment@alaska.gov not later than May 18, 2026 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided. Obtaining copies of proposed regulations: A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Stefanie Davis at (907) 465-2537, RegulationsAndPublicComment@alaska.gov, or at https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/Regulations/PCO-Fees-0925.pdf. Final version of regulations: After the public comment period ends, the Department will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. 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. How to receive further notices: For each occupation regulated under the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, the Division keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in the regulations of that occupation. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of the notices of proposed regulation changes in that occupation's regulations. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Division at the address above, giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices, and the occupational area in which you are interested. Individuals can also sign up to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx. DATE: 4/22/2026 /s/ Stefanie Davis, Regulations Specialist Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing Pub: Apr. 22, 2026