Legislature(1995 - 1996)
03/29/1995 01:40 PM Senate CRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 96 UNFUNDED MANDATES ON MUNICIPALITIES
CHAIRMAN TORGERSON called the Senate Community & Regional Affairs
Committee meeting to order at 1:40 p.m. He brought SB 96 before
the committee and directed attention to proposed amendments to CSSB
96(CRA) , which was adopted as a working document at the March 22,
1995 meeting.
Number 025
SENATOR KELLY moved the adoption of the following amendment:
Amendment No. 3
Page 3, line 9: Delete "new"
Page 3, lines 14 & 15: Delete ", and each regulation or other
administrative order adopted after January 1, 1996,"
Page 3, line 17, after "division.": Insert "Each regulation or
administrative order adopted under the authority of a bill enacted
after January 1, 1996, that applies to municipalities must include
findings regarding its effect on municipalities prepared by the
Department of Community and Regional Affairs."
Page 4, line 21, through page 5, line : Delete all material
JOSH FINK, aide to Senator Kelly, addressing Amendment No. 3,
explained that the current subsection (b) in Section 2 requires
that Legislative Finance prepare findings on any bill, regulation
or executive order that effects municipalities. The amendment
provides that Legislative Finance prepare a finding on a bill, but
on a regulation or executive order, the Department of Community &
Regional Affairs would prepare the finding. As a result of this
change, Section 3, the fiscal note section, was deleted from the
committee substitute.
Hearing no objection to the adoption of Amendment No. 3, SENATOR
TORGERSON stated the motion carried.
Number 058
JOSH FINK explained that Amendment No. 4 would delete the second
half of the definition of "new funding" because it is not a
workable definition and it is already covered by the mechanism set
up in Section 2.
SENATOR KELLY moved the adopted of Amendment No. 4:
Amendment No. 4
Page 4, lines 26 - 27: Delete "it does not include transfers or
reductions in another appropriation;"
Hearing no objection, SENATOR TORGERSON stated the motion carried.
Number 077
SENATOR TORGERSON, speaking to Amendment No. 5 explained he
believes the first part of the amendment is necessary to further
give explanation to the meaning of subsection (a) in Section 2.
The second part of the amendment is clarifying language.
SENATOR KELLY moved the adoption of the following Amendment No. 5:
Amendment No. 5
Page 3, line 13: Delete "revoked" and insert "inoperative in its
effect upon a municipality until significant state funds are
available to pay the operational costs directly required for the
actual performance of the activity, service or program."
Page 4, line 30: After "$20,000 in" insert new language to read:
"each of"
Hearing no objection to the adoption of Amendment No. 5, SENATOR
TORGERSON stated the motion carried.
Number 185
SENATOR TORGERSON opened the hearing to public comment.
CHARLES MCKEE, testifying from Anchorage, spoke to his financial
duress because of the state having subservient action over the
municipalities, as well as the bond debt that the residents of all
municipalities are suffering under.
Number 196
SCOTT BRANDT-ERICHSEN, representing the Municipality of Anchorage,
stated he was present to respond to questions and further stated
that the municipality agrees with the amendments to the bill.
Number 215
JEROME SELBY, Mayor the Kodiak Island Borough, voiced their support
for CSSB 96(CRA). They think it is positive legislation that
creates a process whereby the people who live in the state at least
can be assured that there will be thoughtful consideration given to
them and the costs of government as bills are considered by the
legislature in the future.
Number 240
SCOTT STERLING, a member of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly, said
although the assembly has not officially adopted a position on CSSB
96(CRA), he believes that it has their support. One way it effects
his borough is that DEC regulations regarding operation of water
and sewer systems require them to obey those regulations as does
Anchorage or Fairbanks or the larger municipalities, and this tends
to drive their costs up quite high. This legislation would help in
a situation like that.
Number 268
TOM ARMOUR, Administrator, City of Pelican, stated the city council
has not adopted a position on CSSB 96(CRA), but he believes it will
go a long way in helping administrators run their communities, as
well as improving the legislature's credibility.
Number 280
KEVIN RITCHIE, Executive Director, Alaska Municipal League, stated
the League strongly supports the legislation as amended and urges
it passage out of committee.
Number 290
There being no further testimony on SB 96, SENATOR TORGERSON asked
for the will of the committee.
SENATOR R. PHILLIPS moved that CSSB 96(CRA) and its accompanying
fiscal note be passed out of committee with individual
recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered
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