02/16/2000 09:10 AM House URS

HB 323-REGULATORY COMM. OF ALASKA/ AOGCC                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  HUDSON announced  that  the committee  would hear  HOUSE                                                              
BILL  NO. 323,   "An  Act relating  to the  employment of  hearing                                                              
examiners,   arbitrators,   and   mediators  by   the   Regulatory                                                              
Commission of Alaska;  repealing a requirement that  the principal                                                              
office of the  Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation  Commission move to                                                              
the  same location  as  the  principal  office of  the  Regulatory                                                              
Commission of  Alaska; relating to  the sharing of  record-keeping                                                              
facilities  and  clerical  staff   by  the  two  commissions;  and                                                              
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN HUDSON  described HB 323 as  a companion bill to  SB 229,                                                              
which was  passed by the  Senate Finance Committees  the preceding                                                              
day.  It makes technical changes  to SB 133, which was passed last                                                              
year  by the  House Special  Committee  on Utility  Restructuring.                                                              
The original  bill required  a co-location  of two agencies,  with                                                              
the Alaska Oil  and Gas Conservation Commission  (AOGCC) moving to                                                              
the same location as the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA).                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN HUDSON  referred to a  recent letter in  members' packets                                                              
from Representative  Rokeberg, who had looked into  the relocation                                                              
question and  recommended otherwise.   Chairman Hudson  noted that                                                              
HB 323 also corrects  a drafting error relating  to the employment                                                              
of hearing examiners, arbitrators and mediators by the RCA.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DAVIES  requested  input  from  the  two  agencies                                                              
affected by HB 323.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
NANETTE THOMPSON, Commissioner/Chair  of the Regulatory Commission                                                              
of Alaska, testified  by teleconference from Anchorage.   She said                                                              
that the RCA  was pleased with HB  323 and asked the  committee to                                                              
support it and pass it on.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CAMMI   OECHSLI  TAYLOR,   Commissioner,   Alaska   Oil  and   Gas                                                              
Conservation   Commission,   testified  by   teleconference   from                                                              
Anchorage.   She said the AOGCC also  supports HB 323.   She urged                                                              
its passage.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 0321                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT  made a motion  to move HB 323  from committee                                                              
with individual  recommendations and the accompanying  zero fiscal                                                              
note.  There being  no objection, HB 323 was moved  from the House                                                              
Special Committee on Utility Restructuring.