05/08/2002 09:31 AM Senate RLS

The committee took up CSHB 225(FIN)am-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TAX.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  PHILLIPS   announced  that  a  Senate   Rules  Committee                                                              
substitute (Version X) had been prepared.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY moved  to adopt SCS CSHB 225(RLS)  for the purpose                                                              
of discussion.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS  asked Representative  Murkowski if she  had any                                                              
objections to Version X.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MURKOWSKI, sponsor  of HB 225,  said if  Version X                                                              
gives certain members  the comfort level they need  to support the                                                              
measure, she  does not object. She  said that she sees  this as an                                                              
attempt to direct  certain monies toward treatment  programs while                                                              
recognizing that funds cannot be dedicated.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS  said Sections 3 and  4 were added in  Version X                                                              
and offered to hold  it in committee for 24 hours  so that members                                                              
could study it further.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI  clarified that Section 4 is  new as well                                                              
as the purpose clause. Section 3 was in the existing bill.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  THERRIAULT  asked  what  happened  to  the  section  that                                                              
allowed local governments to adjust  the rates and deal with local                                                              
problems.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI said that  was in the initial draft of HB
 but became  complicated with the discussion of  an increase to                                                              
the excise  tax. One section of the  bill was about an  excise tax                                                              
while another was  about the ability to assess on  a sales tax. It                                                              
became far more  complicated than the House was able  to deal with                                                              
at that point  in time so  the House Labor and  Commerce Committee                                                              
deleted that portion of the bill.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS again asked Representative  Murkowski if Version                                                              
X was acceptable to her.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI said it is.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY  moved to calendar  SCS CSHB 225(RLS)  [Version X]                                                              
with any accompanying fiscal notes.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  PHILLIPS announced  that without  objection, the  motion                                                              
carried.