Legislature(2007 - 2008)
2008-01-25 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2008-01-25 House Journal Page 1795 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Friday January 25, 2008 Eleventh Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Harris at 10:07 a.m. Roll call showed 29 members present. Representatives Fairclough, Foster, Gruenberg, Johnson, and Ramras had been excused from a call of the House today. Representative Chenault was absent and his presence was noted later. Representatives Hawker, Kelly, and Meyer were absent. Representative Samuels moved and asked unanimous consent that the following members be excused from a call of the House. There being no objection, the members were excused as noted: Representative Gruenberg - from today to morning plane time, January 28 (amended from page 1757) Representative Joule - from today to evening plane time, January 27 Representative Dahlstrom - today The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, the Reverend Thomas Weise of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Representative Coghill moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. With the deepest respect for the religious beliefs of all Alaskans, I offer the following prayer. 2008-01-25 House Journal Page 1796 From Psalm 20: May the One who created you in wholeness meet your needs when you call! May the Name of Love be your protection and rise up in your heart as a tower of strength! May all you have given in gratitude and with open hands be returned to you a hundredfold! May your heart's desires and all your plans be fulfilled in due season! Let us shout for joy as love triumphs over fear; let our thankful hearts sing in loud acclamation to the Beloved, who answers our heartfelt prayers! Now I know that love comes to all who open their hearts and dwells therein offering gifts of peace and harmony. Gracious God, you created us and placed us within families to learn how to love and be loved. We praise you for your goodness; we thank you for your gifts. Bless our state with your love. Raise up in Alaska good and holy families, loving husbands and wives, devoted parents and children. Raise up from our families and friends dedicated and generous leaders who will serve as models in our communities. Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Neuman. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Samuels moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the tenth legislative day and Senate and House Joint Journal Supplement No. 11 be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES HB 272 The House Special Committee on Economic Development, Trade, & Tourism considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 272 "An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska regional economic assistance program; and providing for an effective date." 2008-01-25 House Journal Page 1797 and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 272(EDT) (same title) The report was signed by Representative Neuman, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (7): Doll, Doogan, Gatto, Lynn, Johansen, Keller, Neuman The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 272(EDT): 1. Fiscal, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development 2. Fiscal, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development HB 272 was referred to the Finance Committee. **The presence of Representative Chenault was noted. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citation was introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Matanuska-Susitna College, Fiftieth Anniversary By Representatives Gatto, Keller, Neuman, Stoltze INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HJR 30 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 30 by Representative Thomas: Disapproving the Local Boundary Commission recommendation regarding the annexation of territory to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough. was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional Affairs Committee. 2008-01-25 House Journal Page 1798 INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 261 SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 261 by Representatives LeDoux, Gardner, and Doll, entitled: "An Act establishing a program of public funding for the financing of election campaigns of candidates for state elected offices, to be known as the Clean Elections Act." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs, Judiciary, and Finance Committees. HB 340 HOUSE BILL NO. 340 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: "An Act establishing the Alaska capstone avionics revolving loan fund and relating to the fund; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and Finance Committees. The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Fiscal, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 24, 2008, follows: "Dear Speaker Harris: Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill establishing the Alaska capstone avionics revolving loan fund and relating to the fund. In Alaska, aviation is relied upon to move people, mail, and cargo throughout the state. Alaska has only 14,788 miles of public roads and many communities are not connected to the highway system. Ninety 2008-01-25 House Journal Page 1799 percent of Alaska is accessible only by air. Because of this situation, commuter and air taxi flights often serve in lieu of the traditional road system. Alaska has seven times more licensed pilots than the national average, but it also has the highest aviation accident rate in the nation. One way to make Alaska's skies safer is with capstone avionic equipment. A study done in Alaska over a six year period determined that the accident rate of aircraft equipped with capstone avionic equipment decreased by 47 percent as compared to other aircraft operating without the equipment. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates the adoption of this technology will result in a 33 percent reduction in fatal accidents statewide. The FAA's Joint Resource Council estimates the benefits of the capstone project would be substantial. These benefits flow from a combination of fewer aviation accidents, improved search and rescue, greater precision in adverse weather and difficult terrain, and increased access to remote villages (including medical evacuations) when the system is fully deployed both on the ground and in the air. In addition, there will be socio-economic improvements for rural Alaska, due to a safer and more reliable transportation infrastructure. This new technology requires both the installation of ground based infrastructure and capstone avionics in the cockpit to achieve these benefits. To be visible to the system, as well as to take advantage of all of capstones capabilities, an aircraft must be equipped with appropriate on-board avionics. The FAA has invested in Alaska by deploying, and continuing to deploy, new ground-based aviation safety and access infrastructure including communications, navigation, and weather reporting systems, and upgraded airport access in Alaska. Support for the acquisition of the onboard avionics necessary to utilize the FAA ground infrastructure will aid in securing the substantial benefits of this technology for Alaskans and enhance, encourage, and make the most of the FAA investment in Alaska. This bill would create the Alaska capstone avionics revolving loan fund within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic 2008-01-25 House Journal Page 1800 Development. The purpose of the fund would be to increase safety of air carrier, air taxi, and general aviation intrastate air transportation, by providing low-interest loans towards purchasing and installing capstone avionic equipment. An applicant for the low-interest loan must be an owner of an aircraft that is operated in the state. An applicant may be an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability corporation, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, or non-federal governmental entity. The broad-based benefits of this legislation will help ensure that people can fly in a safer environment as they conduct their business and personal affairs. Under this new loan program, a loan for $12,000 for avionics equipment at four percent over a ten-year term would result in a monthly payment of $122 or an annual payment of $1,480. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Sarah Palin Governor" HB 341 HOUSE BILL NO. 341 by Representative Doogan, entitled: "An Act repealing certain funds and accounts; relating to receipts of certain state agencies and the accounting for and disposition of those receipts; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. LEGISLATIVE CITATIONS Representative Samuels moved and asked unanimous consent that the House approve the citation on the calendar. There being no objection, the following citation was approved and sent to enrolling: 2008-01-25 House Journal Page 1801 In Memoriam - Geraldine Ivy By Senator Bunde; Representatives Harris, Chenault, Cissna, Coghill, Crawford, Dahlstrom, Doogan, Fairclough, Foster, Gara, Gardner, Gatto, Gruenberg, Guttenberg, Hawker, Holmes, Johansen, Johnson, Joule, Kawasaki, Keller, Kelly, Kerttula, LeDoux, Lynn, Meyer, Nelson, Neuman, Olson, Ramras, Roses, Salmon, Samuels, Seaton, Stoltze, Thomas, Wilson UNFINISHED BUSINESS Representative Samuels moved and asked unanimous consent that the following member be excused from a call of the House. There being no objection, the member was excused as noted: Representative Harris - from 11:30 a.m., January 25 to evening plane time, January 27 HB 303 Representatives Harris, Thomas, and Edgmon added their names as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 303 "An Act relating to marine products and motorized recreational products; and providing for an effective date." HB 317 Representative Dahlstrom added her name as cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 317 "An Act eliminating the limit on compassionate gifts that a legislator or legislative employee may solicit, accept, or receive under the Legislative Ethics Act; and providing for an effective date." ENROLLMENT HB 29 The following was enrolled, signed by the Speaker and Chief Clerk, President and Secretary of the Senate, and the engrossed and enrolled 2008-01-25 House Journal Page 1802 copies were transmitted to the Office of the Governor at 10:00 a.m., January 25, 2008, with a manifest error memorandum (page 1791): CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 29(FIN) "An Act relating to infants who are safely surrendered by a parent shortly after birth." ANNOUNCEMENTS House committee schedules are published daily under separate cover. The following meeting today was changed: Judiciary Committee CANCELED ADJOURNMENT Representative Samuels moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 11:00 a.m., January 28, 2008. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 10:24 a.m. Suzi Lowell Chief Clerk