02/25/1993 03:35 PM Senate TRA

  The only order of business to  come before the committee was                 
  SB  82  (OPENING  THE  DALTON   HIGHWAY).    Chairman  Sharp                 
  indicated that there has been three hearings on the measure.                 
  He said he  has received some information that was requested                 
  by  Senator  Lincoln and  distributed  it to  the committee.                 
  Chairman  Sharp asked  committee  staff, Steve  Soenksen, to                 
  contact people and request the  information that hasn't been                 
  received as of yet.  He also indicated that his intent is to                 
  move the bill out of committee.                                              
                                                                               
  SENATOR LINCOLN  said only one  of seven questions  that she                 
  asked has been responded  to.  She said she hope  that isn't                 
  the  normal  way  that  the  committee  will  be  conducted.                 
  Chairman  Sharp   explained  that   he  has   requested  the                 
  information but he  will not hold  a bill up because  people                 
  refuse to supply  the information.   He noted that there  is                 
  another committee  of referral.   Senator  Lincoln said  she                 
  hopes  that  the  committee  will  take  some  action  if  a                 
  commissioner or commissioners refuse to submit the requested                 
  information.  She referred to information she requested from                 
  Commissioner  Blatchford  regarding  negotiations  that  are                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  currently  occurring between  the state,  Arctic  Slope, and                 
  Tanana Chiefs and said she also wanted to know the status is                 
  of the ongoing law suit.  She also indicated that she  asked                 
  a number of questions relating to fish and game  regulations                 
  and monitoring.  She  said she asked a question  relating to                 
  public safety.   Chairman Sharp  said as he  recalls, during                 
  the course of  the last  three hearings,  the Department  of                 
  Fish  and Game  was  in attendance  and  responded to  every                 
  question as  far as  present regulations.   He referred  the                 
  Department of  Public Safety  and said  they have  indicated                 
  that two seasonal  enforcement people will be  needed.  They                 
  also  indicated  that  three  blue  shirts  (???)  would  be                 
  required to patrol  the entire  length of the  highway.   He                 
  noted there currently isn't any.  The Department of Fish and                 
  Game also gave statistics  as to how many caribou  have been                 
  taken along the  highway.  They  also discussed the  problem                 
  with confusion  with hunting  as the  federal government  is                 
  allowing rifle subsistence hunting within a five mile range.                 
                                                                               
  Number 097                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR RANDY  PHILLIPS suggested that the committee request                 
  information,  in writing, from  the various  departments and                 
  that  it  be  sent to  the  Senate  Transportation Committee                 
  before the bill is heard in the Senate Finance Committee.                    
                                                                               
  Senator Lincoln said she thinks the Transportation Committee                 
  is where the questions should be responded to.  She objected                 
  to SB 82 being moved out of the committee.                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR  KELLY indicated  he doesn't care  for the  bill but                 
  supports it  moving out  of committee.   He  moved that  the                 
  committee adopt CSSB 82 (TRA).  Senator Lincoln objected.  A                 
  roll call was  taken.   Senators Sharp,  Phillips and  Kelly                 
  voted "yes."   Senator Lincoln  voted "no."   So the  motion                 
  carried.                                                                     
                                                                               
  Senator Kelly moved to pass CSSB  82 (TRA), out of committee                 
  with individual recommendations.   Senator Lincoln objected.                 
  A roll call was  taken.  Senators Sharp, Phillips  and Kelly                 
  voted "yes."   Senator Lincoln  voted "no."   So the  motion                 
  carried.                                                                     
                                                                               
  Senator  Randy  Phillips  suggested that  a  hearing  not be                 
  scheduled in Senate Finance until all the questions asked by                 
  Senator Lincoln have  been answered.  He suggested sending a                 
  letter to  the appropriate  agencies requesting  information                 
  before  the  bill  would be  heard  for  the  first time  in                 
  Finance.    Senator Lincoln  said  she would  appreciate the                 
  request.  Senator Sharp said he  would also make the request                 
  to   Senate  Finance  but   noted  that  the  Transportation                 
  Committee cannot tell Finance how to schedule bills.