Legislature(1999 - 2000)
02/16/1999 05:02 PM House MLV
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 77 - JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIR MURKOWSKI announced the first order of business would be 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." As sponsor, she called on staff member Casey Sullivan to present the bill. Number 0094 CASEY SULLIVAN, Legislative Assistant to Representative Lisa Murkowski, Alaska State Legislature, explained that the sponsor had introduced HB 77 to assist in the many challenges facing Alaska's military in the imminent future. He read in part from the sponsor statement, with comments, as follows: House Bill 77 would replace the existing Joint Committee on Military Bases in Alaska, established in chapter 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) and (c). In fact, this would be a permanent interim committee, so that members may be activated year-round. Creating this committee for longer than the duration of the Twenty-first Legislature requires a change in statute and cannot be done with a concurrent resolution; hence, this bill. The committee would be activated on July 1, 1999, and the legislative council would provide administrative and other services to the committee. This committee would provide a unified front by House, Senate, military and civilian members to monitor timely military topics relative to Alaska. Furthermore, ... it would review and encourage state policies to ensure the continued well-being and education of members of the armed forces, both active and reserve components. As we are in the crux of two swaying forces with regard to our military, the potential creation of new sites for the national missile defense and the possible consolidation of existing operations both require our considerable and constant attention. With the military accounting for approximately $1.7 billion of Alaska's economy, it is imperative that the legislature take a leading role to monitor the economic impact of future military-related events. This Joint ... Armed Services Committee will provide that focus. Number 0219 REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS noted that administrative services oversight would come from the legislative council. She asked whether a full-time interim staff member is anticipated, and if so, where. MR. SULLIVAN replied that some staff is anticipated during that time, although probably not full-time. REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS asked whether it would be staff from the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs, the Senate or the legislative council. CHAIR MURKOWSKI expressed her understanding that any interim staff would be located in Anchorage. Noting that Senator Kelly has introduced a similar measure in the Senate, she said Chris Nelson might have additional information from the Senate hearings. Number 0348 CHRIS NELSON, Staff to Senator Tim Kelly; and Staff Director, Joint Committee on Military Bases in Alaska, Alaska State Legislature, noted that the Joint Committee on Military Bases in Alaska is what HB 77 proposes to replace. Although the initial approach when forming it last year was a "stand-alone committee," the legislature had been reluctant to institutionalize it that far with a permanent, separate staff. Mr. Nelson stated the intention with HB 77 that committee members will provide the staff resources from their own staffs. MR. NELSON suggested Anchorage is the most appropriate location for staff because it provides access to the Alaskan Command and to the U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK) at Fort Richardson, the major components being served with this; it also allows access to the state regional area headquarters for the National Guard. Mr. Nelson stated the intention with the new committee of doing more with less, using existing resources and stretching them as far as possible. Number 0459 REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL asked why there is an allowance for per diem but no fiscal note. MR. NELSON said members' per diem will be borne either by the legislative council or by session funds, if they are in session. The obligation would be for the five public members; the intent is to look to the legislative council to fund that, and they expect the expense to be minimal. They don't anticipate a lot of travel. The current prototype committee met in Fairbanks and took the public members up there, for example, doing an outstanding tour of Eielson Air Force Base. Mr. Nelson expressed hope that committee members would get up-to-date tours of current installations, with an eye to protection and use of those resources to expand military participation and basically sell the U.S. Department of Defense on the tremendous resources currently available but under-utilized in Alaska. He pointed out that members on the existing committee have primarily participated by teleconference. Number 0561 REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS clarified that for any committee established which doesn't have its own staff, those expenses are borne either by the legislative council or by the individual offices. The travel could also be borne by the leadership. Therefore, there is no need for a fiscal note for legislative members. Number 0594 MR. NELSON referred members to a thick document titled, "The Defense Community in Texas: A Master Plan for the Future," a comprehensive report outlining a proposal to the Texas legislature and governor on what it is believed is needed to support the military community there; he said it contains some excellent ideas. Mr. Nelson emphasized that other states are working actively to promote military presence in their states. For example, New York appropriates about $4 million annually through its community and regional development funds to promote activities on its military bases; at least one, Fort Drum, directly competes with Alaska. MR. NELSON said he believes Alaska has done a pretty good job with the resources available; it is now positioned to take the next step, the establishment of this committee, with public members and representing all the armed services. They have been conscientious about including the U.S. Coast Guard, by increasing the number of public members on the committee and having one appointed upon the recommendation of the commander of the U.S. Coast Guard district. Number 0709 REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked where the public members' per diem will come from. MR. NELSON said the legislative council. REPRESENTATIVE JAMES said it seems that a fiscal note for additional per diem would be required if an interim committee is added that includes people who need per diem, unless they take the place of others who had been receiving per diem. Number 0786 CHAIR MURKOWSKI explained that her office had been informed there was no independent fiscal note, that the expenditures would be basically through legislative council. She agreed with a comment by Representative Croft that it would be money already budgeted. REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS suggested that for the most part, the expenses of the public members will probably be picked up by the respective entities. For example, the Municipality of Anchorage would pick up costs for its representative, as would the North Star Borough, and costs for the person from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs would come out of that budget. Number 0874 MR. NELSON informed members that on the current Joint Committee on Military Bases, the legislative council picked up expenses of the three public members for the two meetings. For the Anchorage meeting, they paid for the Fairbanks public member to attend, and for the Fairbanks meeting, they provided transportation and one day's per diem for the Anchorage public member, a total of three days' per diem in the last eight months. Number 0910 REPRESENTATIVE CROFT asked whether the legislative council had made a corresponding cut to another part of the legislature's budget. MR. NELSON offered to provide an answer. Number 0943 REPRESENTATIVE CROFT said although it probably would be a low fiscal note, unobjectionable even in these times, he didn't see how it could truly be a zero fiscal note, when it would cost more. CHAIR MURKOWSKI responded that they could request a fiscal note that accounts for it. She pointed out the bill's House Finance Standing Committee referral. Number 1035 PHILLIP OATES, Brigadier General, Adjutant General/Commissioner Designee, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, testified via teleconference from Anchorage, saying his overall comments would be in favor of HB 77. He said as a general statement that establishing a more permanent Joint Armed Services Committee is good for the state; longevity will count in considering these matters, which are not on a year-to-year basis. In addition, he likes the idea of a unified front by the House and Senate, as well as by military and civilian members. Number 1133 REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS made a motion to move HB 77 out of committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, HB 77 moved from the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
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