04/16/2011 11:00 AM House FIN

CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 23(FIN)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  relating to  transferable film  production tax                                                                    
     credits  and film  production tax  credit certificates;                                                                    
     requiring the  legislative audit division to  audit the                                                                    
     Alaska   film   production   incentive   program;   and                                                                    
     providing  for  an  effective   date  by  amending  the                                                                    
     effective dates of secs. 3 and 4, ch. 63, SLA 2008."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
11:31:32 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Vice-chair  Fairclough moved  workdraft  HCS SB  23 (),  27-                                                                    
LS0252\C, (Bullock,  4/14/11) as  a working  document before                                                                    
the committee.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze relayed that  the committee would deal with                                                                    
the  workdraft  version of  the  bill  the next  legislative                                                                    
session.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MATTHEW MOSER, STAFF, SENATOR ELLIS, concurred with the Co-                                                                     
chair.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Vice-chair  Fairclough  discussed  that  she  initially  had                                                                    
voted no  on the original  bill. She shared that  her office                                                                    
received  many  calls  and letters  of  support  by  Alaskan                                                                    
businesses. She  informed the  committee that  Senator Ellis                                                                    
extended  much of  his time  to discuss  the legislation  in                                                                    
detail with her.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze announced that  the committee would address                                                                    
the concerns of the House Labor and Commerce Committee.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Neuman  noted that he  was a no vote  for the                                                                    
original  bill.  He  wondered   whether  there  would  be  a                                                                    
legislative  audit  to  uncover  the  impacts  of  the  film                                                                    
credits. Vice-chair  Fairclough relayed  that the  state had                                                                    
not paid  out many credits  to date;  there was not  much to                                                                    
audit.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
11:36:15 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stoltze disclosed  that he  had voted  against the                                                                    
original  bill. He  "wanted to  work with  Senator Ellis  in                                                                    
good faith on a resolution."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Doogan  had received a significant  amount of                                                                    
communication on  SB 23. He  discussed that many  people had                                                                    
concerns  about the  bill. He  wanted to  assure the  public                                                                    
that   the  committee   will  continue   to   work  on   the                                                                    
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Gara   wondered  what  the  sunset   of  the                                                                    
original bill was. Mr. Moser  replied that the program would                                                                    
sunset on July 1, 2013.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Costello    echoed   the    comments   from                                                                    
Representative Doogan.  She noted  her support of  an audit.                                                                    
She believed  it was a sensible  idea to hold onto  the bill                                                                    
to examine the impacts further.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CS SB 23  (FIN) was HEARD and HELD in  committee for further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
11:39:22 AM                                                                                                                   
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
11:40:46 AM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED