Legislature(2009 - 2010)
04/18/2010 05:16 PM Senate FIN
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB280 |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 369(FIN) am
"An Act relating to an in-state natural gas pipeline,
the office of in-state gasline project manager, and
the Joint In-State Gasline Development Team; requiring
the development of an in-state natural gas pipeline
plan, to be delivered to the legislature by July 1,
2011, that provides for a gasline that is operational
by December 31, 2015; directing the Joint In-State
Gasline Development Team to assume responsibilities
under sec. 19, ch. 14, SLA 2009; requiring expedited
review and action by state agencies or entities
relating to the in-state natural gas pipeline project;
and providing for an effective date."
5:34:19 PM
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee
substitute, work draft #26-LS152\K, Cook, 4/17/10.
DARWIN PETERSON, STAFF, BERT STEDMAN referred to Page 5,
Line 8. He stated that the previous version allowed the
Alaska Railroad chairman of the board to appoint a designee
to the joint instate gas development team created in the
legislation. The reference to the chair's designee has been
deleted specifying that the board chairman is part of the
team versus a designee. He continued that Page 7, Line 28
through Page 8, Line 7 includes the instate hire and job
training language inserted at the request of Senator
Thomas, which instructs the project developer to hire
Alaskans and contract with Alaskan businesses and use job
centers operated by the Department of Labor and Workforce
Development. He described another change on Page 8, Lines
12 and 13 including new language regarding the
confidentiality of proprietary information available to the
joint instate gasline development team. The previous
language was broad and caused concern among the industry
that proprietary information not directly related to a gas
pipeline would be available to the team. The new language
states that the team can access information directly
related to the planning design construction or operation of
the instate natural gas pipeline. He explained that Page 9,
Section 5 allows for the exemption of Enstar's Anchor Point
pipeline from the right of way leasing act since it does
not provide transportation services as defined in the act
and is an expansion of Enstar's existing system and
therefore exempt as it existed prior to 1972 when the act
was adopted. Next change on page 11 and subsection 1 of the
transitional provisions required the team to define the
project parameters by February 15, 2011. Subsection 2
states that between November 15, 2010 and March 15, 2011
the team was required to seek letters of interest from
private companies willing to develop the project. The dates
were removed and the responsibilities of the team remain
unchanged. Finally, section 11 in the previous version was
deleted and would have provided legislative authority for
the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority to issue up to
$250 million in bonds for the project. The deletion of the
section required a title change reflected on Page 1, Lines
10 and 11.
Co-Chair Stedman WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Senator Thomas MOVED Amendment 1 26-LS1527\M.3, Chenoweth,
4/15/10.
Page 7, line 27:
Delete "and"
Following "state"
Insert", and facilitating the project
developer's commitment to negotiate, to the
maximum extent permitted by law, before
construction of the project begins, a project
labor agreement; if, in consideration of
complying with the project labor agreement, the
development team determines that the project may
be constructed by a private pipeline construction
company or companies, the development team shall
direct that this requirement be incorporated into
any construction contract agreement as a binding
commitment applicable to the corporation's
contractors; for this purpose, "project labor
agreement" means a comprehensive collective
bargaining agreement between the project
developer or, if construction is to be undertaken
by one or more private pipeline construction
companies, the project developer's contractor or
contractors and the appropriate labor
representatives to ensure expedited construction
with labor stability for the project by qualified
residents of the state.
5:40:47 PM
Senator Ellis stated appreciation for the amendment and the
expertise of Senator Thomas. He explained that local hire
and state hire and project labor agreements are Senator
Thomas' specialty. He commented that the subject of local
hire and Alaska hire is a difficult legal area and the
legislature has been disappointed and stymied by the courts
in the past. He thought that serious consideration of the
amendment would allow for the movement of this project
without regret. He considered that the amendment would
allow protection for Alaskan workers. He stressed support
of the amendment.
Senator Olson asked how the amendment changes the bill. He
supposed that the changes would necessitate further
conference committee. Co-Chair Stedman responded that a
conference committee would be necessary if the other body
was not supportive of the changes. Senator Thomas stated
that he understood that the issue was difficult to
understand and he hoped that consideration would be given
to the changes.
Senator Thomas WITHDREW Amendment 1.
Co-Chair Stedman described the two fiscal notes.
5:44:40 PM AT EASE
5:46:54 PM RECONVENE
Co-Chair Stedman noted that a new fiscal note matches the
$15,640,000 in general funds.
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report SCS CS HB 369 out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
SCS CS HB 369 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with one previously published
fiscal impact note: FN 4 (GOV) and one new fiscal impact
note from the Department of Revenue.
5:47:29 PM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|