Sec. 24.55.340. Short title.
This chapter may be cited as The Ombudsman Act.
Sec. 24.55.260. Ombudsman’s privilege not to testify or disclose documents.
(a) The ombudsman and staff of the ombudsman may not testify or be deposed in a judicial or administrative proceeding regarding matters coming to their attention in the exercise of their official duties, except as may be necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter. (b) The records of the ombudsman and staff of the […]
Sec. 24.55.270. Letters to or from ombudsman.
A letter to the ombudsman from a person held in custody by an agency shall be forwarded immediately, unopened, to the ombudsman. A letter from the ombudsman to a person held in custody by an agency shall be delivered immediately, unopened, to the person.
Sec. 24.55.275. Procurement procedures.
The ombudsman shall adopt by regulation procurement procedures that are appropriate for the office of the ombudsman and that are similar to those adopted by the legislative council under AS 36.30.020, as they may be amended from time to time. The procedures shall be followed by the office of the ombudsman in contracting for professional […]
Sec. 24.55.280. Time for judicial review of agency action.
This chapter in no way extends the time limit in which judicial review of agency action must be sought.
Sec. 24.55.140. Notice to the agency.
If the ombudsman decides to investigate a complaint, the ombudsman shall notify the agency of the intention to investigate unless the ombudsman believes that advance notice will unduly hinder the investigation or make it ineffectual. Notice given under this section may be oral or written, at the discretion of the ombudsman.
Sec. 24.55.290. Penalty.
A person who wilfully hinders the lawful actions of the ombudsman or the staff of the ombudsman, or who wilfully refuses to comply with their lawful demands, or who wilfully violates AS 24.55.270, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.
Sec. 24.55.150. Appropriate subjects for investigation.
(a) An appropriate subject for investigation by the ombudsman is an administrative act of an agency that the ombudsman has reason to believe might be (1) contrary to law; (2) unreasonable, unfair, oppressive, arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or unnecessarily discriminatory, even though in accordance with law; (3) based on a mistake of fact; […]
Sec. 24.55.300. Administrative Procedure Act.
The administrative acts of the ombudsman are not subject to the provisions of AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act), except as provided in AS 24.55.090.
Sec. 24.55.160. Investigation procedures; privileged communications.
(a) In an investigation, the ombudsman may (1) make inquiries and obtain information considered necessary; (2) enter without notice to inspect the premises of an agency, but only when agency personnel are present; (3) hold private hearings; and (4) notwithstanding other provisions of law, have access at all times to records of every agency, including […]