Legislature(2003 - 2004)

05/08/2003 04:03 PM Senate RES

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
         HB 61-OIL & GAS TAX CREDIT FOR EXPLORATION/DEV                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR OGAN  informed committee  members that  the bill  contains a                                                              
10-year   sunset  provision.   He  wrestled   with  the   idea  of                                                              
shortening  that  timeframe  but  instead decided  to  propose  an                                                              
amendment [Amendment  1] that  treats the  problem in  a different                                                              
manner.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Amendment 1 reads as follows.                                                                                                   
                                                      23-LS0270\S.1                                                             
                                                          Chenoweth                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                      A M E N D M E N T  1                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
OFFERED IN THE SENATE                           BY SENATOR OGAN                                                                 
     TO:  CSHB 61(FIN)                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Page 4, following line 30:                                                                                                      
     Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                         
   "*  Sec. 4.   The  uncodified  law of  the State  of Alaska  is                                                            
amended by adding a new section to read:                                                                                        
     REPORT ON EFFECT OF GAS EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT TAX                                                                    
CREDIT.   Not  later  than November 30,  2008,  the Department  of                                                              
Revenue shall  prepare and publish a  report on the effect  of the                                                              
gas  exploration   and  development   tax  credit  authorized   by                                                              
AS 43.20.043, added by  sec. 1 of this Act.   The department shall                                                              
advise  the legislature  of the  availability of  the report  and,                                                              
within  the first  10 days  of the  First Regular  Session of  the                                                              
Twenty-Sixth  Alaska State  Legislature,  transmit  copies of  the                                                              
report  to  the  chairs  or co-chairs  of  the  House  and  Senate                                                              
Resources  Committees and  the chairs  or co-chairs  of the  House                                                              
and  Senate Special  Committees on  Oil and  Gas, if  established.                                                              
The report must address                                                                                                         
          (1) the number of successful gas discoveries for which                                                                
a tax credit is provided under AS 43.20.043;                                                                                    
          (2) the volume or amount of new gas reserves brought                                                                  
into  production  for  which  a   tax  credit  is  provided  under                                                              
AS 43.20.043;                                                                                                                   
          (3) the total credits allowed under AS 43.20.043 that                                                                 
are applied to  the tax liability through the  date of preparation                                                              
of the report;                                                                                                                  
          (4) the total credits applied for under AS 43.20.043                                                                  
that are  not yet approved  as of the  date of preparation  of the                                                              
report;                                                                                                                         
          (5) royalties obtained and oil and gas property                                                                       
production  taxes paid  from new  gas  production and  anticipated                                                              
from gas production  for production for which credits  are allowed                                                              
under AS 43.20.043; and                                                                                                         
          (6) any other information that, in the judgment of the                                                                
commissioner of  revenue, would evaluate the effectiveness  of the                                                              
gas  exploration  and  development  tax  credit  authorized  under                                                              
AS 43.20.043."                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Page 5, line 1:                                                                                                                 
     Delete "sec. 4"                                                                                                            
     Insert "sec. 5"                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WAGONER  objected to the  adoption of Amendment 1  for the                                                              
purpose of discussion.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR OGAN  explained that  Amendment 1  instructs the  Department                                                              
of Revenue  (DOR) to provide  a report  in five years.  The report                                                              
is to  contain information  specific to items  1 through  6 listed                                                              
in the  amendment. That report will  let the legislature  know how                                                              
this  program is  working out  in 5  years from  now. He  believes                                                              
that is  a better approach than  sunsetting the program,  which is                                                              
cause for uncertainty.  The report will be delivered  to the House                                                              
and  Senate Resources  Committee  co-chairs and  House and  Senate                                                              
Special Committees on Oil and Gas, if established.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WAGONER  withdrew  his   objection  to  the  adoption  of                                                              
Amendment 1, therefore it was adopted.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  OGAN announced  that Mr.  Logsdon was  available to  answer                                                              
questions. With no questions, he took public testimony.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. LARRY HOULE,  Alaska Support Industry Alliance,  stated strong                                                              
support for  this legislation.  It is  a successful efforts  bill,                                                              
meaning  no credits  are given for  dry holes.  The Alliance  sees                                                              
this as  the proper  role of government  and applauds  the sponsor                                                              
for introducing this legislation.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
[SENATOR LINCOLN arrived.]                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WAGONER  moved  SCS  CSHB  61(RES)  from  committee  with                                                              
individual recommendations  and its zero fiscal note.  There being                                                              
no objection, the motion carried.                                                                                               

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