04/10/2007 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION

            HB   8-J. KEVIN  LAMM TRAINING FACILITY                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:45:49 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KOOKESH called  the meeting back to order  and announced HB
 to be under consideration.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS, sponsor  of HB 8, explained  that the bill                                                               
pertains to  naming a planned  shooting range in  Fairbanks after                                                               
J. Kevin  Lamm, a police  officer who died  in the line  of duty.                                                               
The current  shooting range used to  be part of the  airport, but                                                               
now is  a separate  facility. He  explained the  circumstances of                                                               
Mr. Lamm's death, and said  that once homeland security funds are                                                               
made available the  new facility will be built so  as to separate                                                               
law enforcement and public target practicing.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:49:52 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR OLSON asked for clarification  on the plans for expanding                                                               
the existing shooting range.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS said that  people from Sitka have expressed                                                               
concern about  the idea of  a new training facility  elsewhere in                                                               
the state, but  the title is something of a  misnomer; the future                                                               
facility will only  be a simple shooting range.  There is already                                                               
an  indoor shooting  range in  the  basement of  the local  DOTPF                                                               
facility,  but  it  would  require  extensive  renovation  to  be                                                               
useable.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:52:00 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR OLSON moved  to pass HB 8 from  committee with individual                                                               
recommendations  and  attached  fiscal note(s).  There  being  no                                                               
objection, the motion carried.