Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/25/2023 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB69 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
April 25, 2023
2:38 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Forrest Dunbar, Chair
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Senator Cathy Giessel
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Donald Olson, Vice Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 69(CRA)
"An Act relating to the reclassification of first class cities
as second class cities; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 69
SHORT TITLE: RECLASSIFICATION OF FIRST CLASS CITIES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CRONK
02/10/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/10/23 (H) EDC, CRA
03/01/23 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
03/01/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/01/23 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/13/23 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
03/13/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/13/23 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/20/23 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
03/20/23 (H) Moved HB 69 Out of Committee
03/20/23 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/22/23 (H) EDC RPT 5DP 2NR
03/22/23 (H) DP: STORY, MCKAY, MCCORMICK, ALLARD,
RUFFRIDGE
03/22/23 (H) NR: HIMSCHOOT, PRAX
04/04/23 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/04/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/04/23 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
04/06/23 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/06/23 (H) Moved CSHB 69(CRA) Out of Committee
04/06/23 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
04/10/23 (H) CRA RPT CS(CRA) 6DP
04/10/23 (H) DP: MEARS, MCKAY, HIMSCHOOT, RUFFRIDGE,
MCCABE, MCCORMICK
04/14/23 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/14/23 (H) VERSION: CSHB 69(CRA)
04/17/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/17/23 (S) CRA
04/25/23 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
DAVE STANCLIFF, Staff
Representative Mike Cronk
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a recap of CSHB 69(CRA), on behalf of
the sponsor, and reviewed the differences between it and the
Senate companion bill, SB 79.
ACTION NARRATIVE
2:38:31 PM
CHAIR FORREST DUNBAR called the Senate Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 2:38 p.m. Present
at the call to order were Senators Gray-Jackson, Bjorkman,
Giessel, and Chair Dunbar.
HB 69-RECLASSIFICATION OF FIRST CLASS CITIES
[Contains discussion of SB 79.]
2:38:50 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL
NO. 69(CRA) "An Act relating to the reclassification of first
class cities as second class cities; and providing for an
effective date."
CHAIR DUNBAR invited Mr. Stancliff to put himself on the record
and give a brief recap and summary of the differences between
the House and Senate versions of the bill, HB 69 and SB 79.
2:39:34 PM
DAVE STANCLIFF, Staff, Representative Mike Cronk, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, gave a recap of CSHB 69(CRA), on
behalf of the sponsor, and reviewed the differences between it
and the Senate companion bill, SB 79. He described two
differences between the bills:
- Time Extension to Interact with the Community
The Local Boundary Commission (LBC) asked for more time to
interact with the community. The original bill allotted 10
days. CSHB 69(CRA) extends that period to 30 days.
- Added Sunset Clause
LBC requested a little time to streamline its process to
prevent this matter from coming before the legislature again. A
two-year timeframe was agreed upon for the sunset provision.
MR. STANCLIFF explained that CSHB 69(CRA) allows a city council
to decide whether to reclassify as a second-class city. This
bill pertains to the City of Tanana. A positive benefit of the
reclassification of Tanana is that it would result in the Tanana
City School District (TCSD) merging with the Yukon-Kuskokwim
School District (YKSD). This change would be fiscally
advantageous to the State. TCSD, YKSD, the Tanana City Council,
and the mayor agree that the school district merger is the way
to go. The City of Tanana dropped below the first-class city
minimum of 400 residents. Four other communities are below the
400-resident level, but the City of Tanana is the only city that
requested reclassification as a second-class city.
2:41:38 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked to hear more about the need for a sunset
clause and sought clarification that the sunset provision
applies to the reclassification streamlining process.
MR. STANCLIFF replied that's right. He explained that LBC
usually meets once or twice per year. LBC has no internal
mechanism for addressing population thresholds that drop below
the minimum for first-class cities. The Commission can only
address this through a lengthy process that takes up to a year
or more. Relief is needed sooner. LBC requested permission to
work on an internal, streamlined process so the legislature does
not have to act again.
CHAIR DUNBAR asked whether LBC could do this through regulation.
MR. STANCLIFF replied yes, LBC can do it internally.
2:42:57 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON sought confirmation that the aim is to have
LBC take care of this issue by the date in the sunset clause,
June 30, 2025.
MR. STANCLIFF answered yes. LBC will establish a process for
communities to rapidly address any crisis that might occur due
to a declining population issue.
2:43:33 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN asked whether the legislature posits the Local
Boundary Commission has the tools and resources to engage in
this process independently.
MR. STANCLIFF answered yes. LBC indicated it needs procedures to
address declining populations and can handle this job. The
Commission asked for a sunset. The legislature takes the
Commission at its word that it can complete the task and that
there will be no need for this statute beyond the sunset. He
said if it does not work out, the legislature always has the
prerogative of extending or repealing the sunset clause.
SENATOR BJORKMAN wondered whether the legislature ought to keep
the statute in law rather than sunset it, because keeping the
statute would empower LBC to handle this process.
MR. STANCLIFF replied that the sunset clause is at the
committee's and the legislature's discretion. The Local Boundary
Commission suggested it to streamline its process; it was
included as a courtesy. He said it is up to the committee
whether or not to grant it.
2:46:23 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR sought confirmation that LBC could figure out a way
to do this without a sunset provision.
MR. STANCLIFF replied that is correct.
2:46:50 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked whether the sponsor of the Senate
companion bill, SB 79, approves of the changes.
MR. STANCLIFF replied that the sponsors worked closely together.
The Senate sponsor agreed to let the House take the lead on the
bill. He is fully informed and in agreement with the House
version of the bill.
2:47:35 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL sought clarification that the Senate version of
the bill, SB 79, does not contain a sunset clause.
MR. STANCLIFF replied that's correct. He explained that the
Senate version was introduced before the House Community and
Regional Affairs Committee adopted an amendment to the House
version that added a sunset provision and an adjustment from 10
to 30 days. He said that is the difference.
2:48:05 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR opened public testimony on HB 69; finding none, he
closed public testimony. He held HB 69 in committee.
2:49:16 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dunbar adjourned the Senate Community and Regional Affairs
Standing Committee meeting at 2:49 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sponsor Statement CSHB-69.pdf |
SCRA 4/25/2023 1:30:00 PM |
HB 69 |
| 2. CSHB 69 vers. B.PDF |
SCRA 4/25/2023 1:30:00 PM |
HB 69 |
| 3. HB 69 vers. A.PDF |
SCRA 4/25/2023 1:30:00 PM |
HB 69 |
| 4. CSHB 69 Summary of Changes, vers. A to vers. B.pdf |
SCRA 4/25/2023 1:30:00 PM |
HB 69 |
| 5. CSHB 69 Sectional Analysis vers. B.pdf |
SCRA 4/25/2023 1:30:00 PM |
HB 69 |
| 6. Supporting Doc - Tanana Resolution_23-4_Join YKSD.pdf |
SCRA 4/25/2023 1:30:00 PM |
|
| 7. Supporting - Doc Y-K dist. bullets.pdf |
SCRA 4/25/2023 1:30:00 PM |
|
| 8. HB 69 FN DCCED; DCRA.pdf |
SCRA 4/25/2023 1:30:00 PM |
HB 69 |