Legislature(2003 - 2004)
2003-01-31 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0085 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE -- FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Friday January 31, 2003 Eleventh Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Therriault at 10:03 a.m. The roll showed fifteen members present. Senators Cowdery, Green, Wagoner, Wilken were excused. Senator Olson was absent. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Pastor Larry Rorem of the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. Senator Ellis led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Certification Senator Stevens moved and asked unanimous consent that the journals for the ninth and tenth legislative days be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. Communications The following reports are on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate: Annual Report of the Interstate Commission from Marc Antrim, Commissioner, Department of Corrections in accordance with AS 33.36.110 Report on National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws 2002 Meeting from Deborah E. Behr, Alaska Uniform Law Commissioner 2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0086 Annual Report of the Alaska Drinking Water and Clean Water Loan Funds from Ernesta Ballard, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation in accordance with AS 37.05.035 and AS 46.03.032 Report Listing Alaska Statutes with Delayed Repeals or Delayed Amendments and Examining Court Decisions of the Attorney General Construing Alaska Statutes from Lynn M. Barnes, Special Assistant, Division of Legal and Research Services, Legislative Affairs Agency in accordance with AS 24.20.065(b) Special Report to the Legislature and Administration, State of Alaska from Patrick K. Gamble, President and CEO, Alaska Railroad Corporation Local Boundary Commission Report, received January 30 from Kevin Waring, Chair in accordance with AS 44.33.812 and Article X, section 12 of the Alaska Constitution The Local Boundary Commission recommendations will be published in House and Senate Joint Journal Supplement No. 2. President Therriault referred the report to the Community and Regional Affairs Committee. Standing Committee Reports Report dated January 30 was read, stating: In accordance with AS 39.05.080, the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee reviewed the following and recommends the appointment be forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Commissioner, Department of Labor and Workforce Development Mr. Greg O'Claray 2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0087 There were no stated objections to the confirmation of the named individual by committee members. This does not reflect an intent by any of the members to vote for or against him during any further sessions. Signing the report: Senator Bunde, Chair; Senators Davis, French, Austerman, Seekins. Introduction and Reference of Senate Resolutions SJR 6 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6 BY SENATOR GUESS, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to the duration of a regular session. was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs, Judiciary, and Finance Committees. Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 49 SENATE BILL NO. 49 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, entitled: "An Act making corrective amendments to the Alaska Statutes as recommended by the revisor of statutes; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Judiciary Committees. SB 50 SENATE BILL NO. 50 BY SENATOR WAGONER, entitled: "An Act amending the manner of determining the royalty received by the state on gas production as it relates to the manufacture of certain value-added products." 2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0088 was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. SB 51 SENATE BILL NO. 51 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act relating to revenue bonds issued by the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority and the total amount of bonds and notes outstanding of that authority; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Community and Regional Affairs and Finance Committees. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Revenue Governor's transmittal letter dated January 30: Dear President Therriault: Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to revenue bonds issued by the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority and the total amount of bonds and notes outstanding of that authority. The Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority (AMBBA) was created in 1975 to assist Alaskan municipalities issue bonds for local projects. The AMBBA is able to realize savings for municipalities by pooling bonds in large numbers and obtaining lower interest rates that result in reduced costs for bond issuance, and often better terms overall, that would not be obtainable by municipalities on their own. The purpose of this bill is to raise the limit on the amount of revenue bonds that the AMBBA may issue in any one fiscal year and to raise the limit on the total outstanding bond debt the AMBBA may carry at any one time. These limits have not been raised by the legislature since 1983 and 1984, respectively. An increase in the annual bonding cap under AS 44.85.100(b) from $50,000,000 to $75,000,000, would enable the AMBBA to act on the 2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0089 applications it has already received from municipalities this fiscal year. Current fiscal year applications exceed $56,000,000. Further, an increase in the cap on the total outstanding bonds and notes from $300,000,000 to $500,000,000 under AS 44.85.180(c), would enable AMBBA to issue the bonds and notes already applied for as well as those that are anticipated, which may exceed $70,000,000. Reaching the annual fiscal year limit or the outstanding limits would prevent municipalities from proceeding with projects or prevent municipalities from using the financially more attractive debt terms that could be made available if the bonds are issued by AMBBA. An increase in the amount of the AMBBA's indebtedness limit will not have a fiscal impact on the state's general fund. Debt of the AMBBA is not a direct liability of the state. Additionally, municipalities that use the AMBBA to issue bonds pay all of the debt service on the bonds. And the AMBBA has sufficient reserve capacity to continue financing capital projects up to the requested $500,000,000 cap. Finally, in order to accommodate current fiscal year applications received by the AMBBA, an immediate effective date is included in the bill. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely Yours, /s/ Frank H. Murkowski Governor SB 52 SENATE BILL NO. 52 BY SENATORS ELLIS, Davis, Elton, French, Guess, Hoffman, Lincoln, Olson, entitled: "An Act relating to filling a vacancy in the office of United States Senator." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Judiciary Committees. 2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0090 SB 53 SENATE BILL NO. 53 BY SENATOR OGAN, entitled: "An Act relating to disposition of a traffic offense involving the death of a person; providing for the revocation of driving privileges by a court for a driver convicted of a violation of traffic laws in connection with a fatal motor vehicle or commercial motor vehicle accident; amending Rules 43 and 43.1, Alaska Rules of Administration; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Transportation and Judiciary Committees. SB 54 SENATE BILL NO. 54 BY SENATORS OLSON, Bunde, entitled: "An Act exempting flight crew members of certain air carriers from overtime pay requirements." was read the first time and referred to the Transportation and Labor and Commerce Committees. The presence of Senator Olson was noted. Consideration of the Calendar Citations Commemorating - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Senator(s) Davis, Austerman, Cowdery, Elton, Green, Lincoln, Taylor, Therriault, Wilken, Dyson, Hoffman, Guess, Ellis, Olson, Stevens, Ogan, Seekins Commemorating - Black History Month Senator(s) Davis, Austerman, Cowdery, Elton, Lincoln, Taylor, Therriault, Wilken, Dyson, Hoffman, Guess, Ellis, Olson, Stevens, Ogan, Bunde, Seekins 2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0091 In Memoriam - Mike O'Neill Representative(s) Samuels Senator(s) Cowdery, Austerman, Davis, Elton, Green, Lincoln, Taylor, Therriault, Wilken, Hoffman, Guess, Olson, Stevens, Ogan, Bunde, Seekins Senator Stevens moved and asked unanimous consent that the citations be adopted. Without objection, the citations were adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. Unfinished Business Senator Elton moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate on February 14. Without objection, Senator Elton was excused. Senator French moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate on February 3. Without objection, Senator French was excused. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. Engrossment and Enrollment SR 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 Establishing a Senate Special Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations, was engrossed and enrolled, signed by the President and Secretary and the engrossed and enrolled copies transmitted to the Office of the Governor at 3:40 p.m., January 29, 2003. 2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0092 Adjournment Senator Stevens moved and asked unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment until 11:00 a.m., February 3, 2003. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 10:21 a.m. Kirsten Waid Secretary of the Senate January 2003 2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0093 Announcements Americans with Disabilities Act Notice - Persons with disabilities who require special accommodation or alternative communication formats to access committee meetings may contact the appropriate committee office or the Legislative Information Office in their community. Reasonable advance notice is needed to accommodate the request. For further information, call the ADA Coordinator at 465-3854 Voice/465-4980 TDD. STANDING COMMITTEES + indicates teleconference = indicates bill previously heard/scheduled COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS Jan 31 Friday Fahrenkamp 203 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 03 Monday Fahrenkamp 203 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 05 Wednesday Fahrenkamp 203 1:30 PM + Confirmation Hearing: Commissioner, Dept of Community & Economic Development- Edgar Blatchford Feb 07 Friday Fahrenkamp 203 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- FINANCE Jan 31 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 03 Monday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 04 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled 2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0094 FINANCE (continued) Feb 05 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 06 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 07 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES Feb 03 Monday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 05 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Jan 31 Friday Capitol 122 1:00 PM -- Meeting Canceled -- + Joint w/(H) Judiciary Confirmation Hearings: Select Committee on Legislative Ethics- Dennis "Skip" Cook Shirley McCoy Herman G. Walker, Jr. Feb 03 Monday Beltz 211 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 05 Wednesday Beltz 211 1:30 PM AK Court System Overview: C.S. "Chris" Christensen III, Deputy Administrative Director Doug Wooliver, Administrative Attorney Feb 07 Friday Beltz 211 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled 2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0095 LABOR & COMMERCE Feb 04 Tuesday Beltz 211 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 06 Thursday Beltz 211 1:30 PM SB 20 EXTEND BOARD OF MARINE PILOTS Feb 26 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 3:15 PM -- Time and Location Change -- Joint w/(H) Labor and Commerce Confirmation Hearings: Regulatory Commission of Alaska- Dave Harbour Mark Johnson ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES Jan 31 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 03 Monday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM Organizational Meeting + SJR 4 ENDORSING ANWR LEASING Feb 05 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM Confirmation Hearings: Commissioner, Dept of Environmental Conservation- Ernesta Ballard Commissioner, Dept of Natural Resources- Tom Irwin <Confirmation Postponed> Board of Game- Pete Buist, Michael R. Fleagle, Cliff Judkins, Sharon McLeod-Everette, Ron Somerville, Ted Spraker Feb 07 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- 2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0096 RULES Feb 03 Monday Fahrenkamp 203 1:00 PM Organizational Meeting Longevity Pay Increment Policy ---------------------------------------- STATE AFFAIRS Feb 04 Tuesday Beltz 211 3:30 PM + Confirmation Hearings: Commissioner, Dept of Corrections- Marc Antrim Commissioner, Dept of Military and Veterans' Affairs- Colonel Craig E. Campbell Feb 06 Thursday Beltz 211 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION Feb 11 Tuesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM SB 31 RAILROAD UTILITY CORRIDOR TO & IN CANADA Feb 18 Tuesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM SB 40 CONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAYS BY DOTPF ---------------------------------------- JOINT COMMITTEES ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION REVIEW Feb 05 Wednesday Beltz 211 8:30 AM Introductory Organizational Meeting ---------------------------------------- LEGISLATIVE BUDGET & AUDIT Feb 19 Wednesday House Finance 519 12:00 PM Audits and Other Committee Business 2003-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0097 OTHER MEETINGS FISH CAUCUS Feb 05 Wednesday Butrovich 205 12:00 PM + Status of AK Commercial Seafood Industry: Chris McDowell ---------------------------------------- JOINT SESSION Mar 05 Wednesday House Chamber 11:00 AM State of the Judiciary Chief Justice Dana Fabe