02/20/2004 01:10 PM House RES

HB 345-CAMPSITE FEES: DISABLED VETERANS/SENIORS                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Number 2274                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DAHLSTROM announced  that  the next  order of  business                                                               
would be HOUSE  BILL NO. 345, "An Act relating  to fees for state                                                               
park developed campsites; and providing for an effective date."                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DAHLSTROM  told the members  the HB 345, version  23 LS-                                                               
1299\A, is before the committee.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STEPOVICH asked if  there were previous amendments                                                               
to the bill.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DAHLSTROM  replied that to  her knowledge there  were no                                                               
other previous amendments.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 2209                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GATTO commented  that  the reason  Representative                                                               
Stepovich asked if  there were previous amendments is  that as he                                                               
[Representative Gatto] was going  through the materials and found                                                               
two other amendments that were  labeled Amendment 1 and Amendment                                                               
2.  He  just wanted to verify that the  amendment the members are                                                               
looking at  is Amendment 1  and not Amendment 3.   Representative                                                               
Gatto said  he understands that  Representative Fate  offered the                                                               
amendments.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FATE replied that is correct.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 2:15 p.m. to 2:17 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DAHLSTROM clarified  that  there  were some  amendments                                                               
that were handed  out during the last hearing, but  they were not                                                               
adopted.   She  announced that  the committee  will move  forward                                                               
with Representative Stepovich's amendment.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 2140                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LYNN moved  Amendment  1, labeled  23-LS1299\A.2,                                                               
Luckhaupt, 2/4/04, which reads as follows:                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, lines 5 - 8:                                                                                                       
          Delete all material.                                                                                                  
          Insert "(d) The department shall issue (1) free                                                                   
     of  charge to  a  disabled veteran  [VETERANS] of  this                                                            
     country who is a resident of  this state, or (2) for an                                                                
     annual fee  of $10 to a  resident of this state  who is                                                                
     60  years  of  age  or  older,  an  annual  state  park                                                                
     developed campsite permit."                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STEPOVICH commented  that as  a veteran  a person                                                               
has paid his/her  dues.  He said he believes  since the person is                                                               
a  disabled veteran  means all  the more  that it  should not  be                                                               
necessary  to get  more from  him/her.   Representative Stepovich                                                               
said  he  strongly  supports  veterans.   When  he  thinks  of  a                                                               
disabled veteran he thinks that  person is disabled and served so                                                               
that he can be where he is today.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DAHLSTROM asked  if  there are  any  objections to  the                                                               
motion.  There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Number 2043                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
JIM  POUND,  Staff  to Representative  Hugh  Fate,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, testified on behalf  of Representative Fate, sponsor                                                               
of  HB 345.    He proposed  the that  the  committee address  two                                                               
proposed  amendments  to  HB  345  having  to  do  with  campsite                                                               
location.    He explained  that  in  the  urban areas  of  Alaska                                                               
private campsites  are often  available.   It is  somewhat unfair                                                               
for the State  to compete directly with these  private for profit                                                               
companies, he said.  Mr.  Pound suggested the following amendment                                                               
be considered by the committee:                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 9, after "to use a"                                                                                           
     Insert "non-urban"                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 5, after "Sec. 2"                                                                                             
     Insert "(f)  In this section "non-urban"  is defined as                                                                    
     a state  park developed  campsite located outside  of a                                                                    
     ten-mile radius of a city center."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN asked what number of this amendment is.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DAHLSTROM replied Amendment 2.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA  moved Amendment 2.   [Amendment language                                                               
previously stated]                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
There being no objection, Amendment 2 was adopted.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DAHLSTROM announced that the bill will be held in                                                                      
committee for additional testimony.