04/30/1998 02:12 PM Senate TRA

    CSHB 386(FIN) - RE AK INDUS. DEVELOP & EXPORT AUTHORITY                    
                                                                               
SENATOR GREEN moved to adopt SCSCSHB 386(TRA), version K, as the               
working document before the committee.                                         
                                                                               
VICE-CHAIR WILKEN informed committee members the change on page 6              
addresses Senator Halford's concerns about access to confidential              
information.                                                                   
                                                                               
MR. JOE FIELDS stated he was available to answer questions via                 
teleconference.                                                                
                                                                               
MR. KEITH LAUFER and MS. KATELYN MARKELY of AIDEA noted they were              
available to answer questions via teleconference.                              
                                                                               
MR. MIKE SCOTT, Mat-Su Borough Manager, stated he was available to             
answer questions and supports the version of the bill under                    
discussion.                                                                    
                                                                               
Number 491                                                                     
                                                                               
SENATOR HALFORD expressed concern that version K still provides for            
confidentiality of credit reports from consumer reporting agencies,            
and other credit information.  He emphasized that when a business              
applies for money from a government, it should agree to public                 
review of financial information as long as the information is not              
to be used in an anti-competitive manner.  He added the Legislature            
should be able to access the confidential items listed in the bill,            
provided legislators swear to keep the information confidential.               
AIDEA wanted to change the list to delete one of the items he had              
a concern with, and to add a section allowing legislators access to            
confidential information.  Senator Halford thought both of those               
changes should be part of the committee substitute.                            
                                                                               
VICE-CHAIR WILKEN informed Mr. Laufer that Senator Halford was                 
suggesting that lines 1 and 2 on page 7 be deleted.                            
                                                                               
KEITH LAUFER, Financial and Legal Affairs Manager for AIDEA,                   
pointed out that a provision allowing legislators to access                    
confidential information was included in the committee substitute              
in Section D.  Regarding credit reports, AIDEA believes that the               
federal Fair Credit Reporting Act prohibits release of that                    
information, which is covered by item 7.                                       
                                                                               
SENATOR HALFORD moved to delete item number 4, on lines 1-2 on page            
2, recognizing that part is covered by federal law.  There being no            
objection, the motion carried.                                                 
                                                                               
VICE-CHAIR WILKEN informed committee members the second change to              
the bill is the addition of the harbor facilities project for the              
City of Whittier, beginning at the bottom of page 13.                          
                                                                               
Number 450                                                                     
                                                                               
JOHN WALSH, a lobbyist for the City of Whittier, made the following            
comments.  The City of Whittier is soon to become a major access               
point for travel around Prince William Sound.  The Whittier access             
project is nearing completion, and has entailed expanding the train            
tunnel to accommodate vehicle traffic.  Phase 1 of the project is              
near completion; it will provide for travel from the Portage                   
Visitor Center to Bear Creek.  DOTPF has received two bids for                 
Phase 2 which will expand the main tunnel.  Phase 3 will include               
moderate road improvements on the Whittier side to allow access to             
the marine terminal.  As soon as this project is completed, DOTPF              
anticipates the number of annual visitors to increase to 875,000,              
and within five years to 1.4 million.  Many of the visitors will be            
Alaska residents who will recreate in Prince William Sound.  The               
moorage capacity at Whittier is about 340 vessels, and there is a              
current waiting list of over 700.  The City of Whittier desperately            
needs to consider harbor expansion; the inclusion of that project              
in this bill is a major step in that direction.                                
                                                                               
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                            
                                                                               
VICE-CHAIR WILKEN informed participants an attempt was being made              
to contact Senator Ward.                                                       
VICE-CHAIR WILKEN announced that HB 386, HJR 63, and HJR 67 are                
pending in committee and that the 24 hour rule is now in effect.               
He asked participants to await Chairman Ward's direction on                    
movement of the legislation.   He then adjourned the meeting.