01/31/2002 09:45 AM Senate FIN

     SENATE BILL NO. 115                                                                                                        
     "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Storage                                                             
     Tank Assistance."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the first  hearing  for this  bill in  the Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
HEATHER  BRAKES,  staff  to  Senator  Therriault,   highlighted  the                                                            
details of  the bill, which would  extend the Board of Storage  Tank                                                            
Assistance  an additional two years.  She informed that the  current                                                            
"Board  is  in its  wind-down  year  of  2002."  She referred  to  a                                                            
Division  of Legislative  Budget  and Audit  audit  [copy on  file],                                                            
which concludes  the Board should  be re-established as it  plays an                                                            
integral  role in  promoting compliance  throughout  the state  with                                                            
federal  regulations and  the benefits thereof.  She summarized  the                                                            
audit as recommending extension of this "independent board."                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Donley  voiced concern about taking action  on this bill in                                                            
light of  continuing discussion  about the  Storage Tank  Assistance                                                            
program in SB 153.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Kelly  said this bill would be readdressed  after action on                                                            
SB 153 was concluded.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Kelly ordered the bill HELD in Committee.