02/23/1999 01:40 PM House FIN

HOUSE BILL NO. 77                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
"An Act relating to the Joint Armed Services Committee,                                                                         
a permanent interim committee of the Alaska State                                                                               
Legislature; and providing for an effective date."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LISA MURKOWSKI stated that Alaska is being                                                                       
considered as the site for deployment of a national missile                                                                     
defense system.  The Pentagon and the Secretary of Defense                                                                      
recently stated that another round of base realignments and                                                                     
closures are forthcoming.  Because of such challenges,                                                                          
Representative Murkowski noted she introduced HB 77.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Murkowski advised that HB 77 would replace                                                                       
the existing Joint Committee on Military Bases in Alaska                                                                        
which was established in Ch. 31, SLA 1998 with the Joint                                                                        
Armed Services Committee.  Similarly, the Joint Armed                                                                           
Services Committee would have an existence longer than                                                                          
called for in the Uniform Rules, Rules 21(b) & (c). This                                                                        
would be a permanent interim committee so those members                                                                         
could be active year round.  The committee would commence on                                                                    
July 1, 1999. The Legislative Council would provide                                                                             
administrative and other services to that committee.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Murkowski noted that the committee would                                                                         
provide a unified front with House, Senate, military and                                                                        
civilian members to monitor military topics relative to                                                                         
Alaska.  Furthermore, it would review and encourage State                                                                       
policy, in order to ensure the continued well being and                                                                         
education of members of the armed forces in both active and                                                                     
reserve components.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Murkowski advised that military account for                                                                      
approximately $1.7 billion dollars of Alaska's economy.  She                                                                    
stressed that it is imperative that the Legislature takes a                                                                     
leading role to monitor the economic impact of future                                                                           
military related events.  She believed that the Joint Armed                                                                     
Services Committee could provide that focus.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault commented that the Senate Finance                                                                           
Committee (SFC) had placed a 10-year sunset on the                                                                              
legislation.  Representative Murkowski replied that she had                                                                     
no objection to a 10-year sunset, although, less than that                                                                      
would create a problem when addressing the proposed                                                                             
closures.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault referenced the transition language on                                                                       
Page 5, Section #3, which would extend membership to the                                                                        
other committee.  He pointed out that Representative Porter                                                                     
asked that language be removed in order that he could                                                                           
consider the make-up of the committee.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault referenced Page 4, Lines 20-21, and                                                                         
questioned what "well-being encouragement" would consist of.                                                                    
Representative Murkowski suggested such behavior would                                                                          
enhance the military feeling "welcome and accepted" in                                                                          
Alaska.  She acknowledged that language could be                                                                                
"troublesome" as it is non-discript.  Co-Chair Therriault                                                                       
offered to work with Representative Murkowski on changing                                                                       
that language.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bunde suggested the referenced language could                                                                    
create a duplication of the work done by the Department of                                                                      
Military and Veterans Affairs.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Grussendorf asked if there had been                                                                              
discussion regarding the U.S. Coast Guard.  Representative                                                                      
Murkowski replied that there was definitely discussion of                                                                       
the Coast Guard, and that the inclusion of the Coast Guard                                                                      
in HB 77 would make the legislation different from the                                                                          
formation of the Joint Military Bases Committee.  One member                                                                    
would represent the Coast Guard.  Co-Chair Therriault noted                                                                     
that in Southeast Alaska, the Coast Guard represents the                                                                        
military presence and that the State of Alaska has the                                                                          
largest Coast Guard support than any other state.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Murkowski commented that she agreed with the                                                                     
House Speaker that he should be the party responsible for                                                                       
appointing committee members.  She did not oppose adding                                                                        
language to reflect that.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault pointed out that the fiscal note would                                                                      
need to be adjusted.  He thought that the fiscal impact                                                                         
could be absorbed in the current level of funding in the                                                                        
Legislature's budget and that those costs must be adequately                                                                    
reflected.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
HB 77 was HELD in Committee for further consideration.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
(Tape Change HFC 99 - 27, Side 2).