01/31/2012 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB154 | |
| SB122 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| = | SB 122 | ||
| = | SB 154 | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
January 31, 2012
3:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Donald Olson, Chair
Senator Thomas Wagoner
Senator Albert Kookesh
Senator Linda Menard
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Johnny Ellis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 154
"An Act creating a low-interest loan program for homeowners who
convert their homes to natural gas-fired heating; and creating
the natural gas home heating conversion loan fund."
- HEARD AND HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 122
"An Act relating to real estate transfer fees and increasing the
length of time title records must be maintained by a title
plant."
- HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 154
SHORT TITLE: NATURAL GAS CONVERSION PROGRAM/FUND
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) THOMAS
01/17/12 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/13/12
01/17/12 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/17/12 (S) CRA, FIN
01/24/12 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
01/24/12 (S) Heard & Held
01/24/12 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
01/31/12 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 122
SHORT TITLE: REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEES/TITLE PLANTS
SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE
04/08/11 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/08/11 (S) CRA, L&C
01/24/12 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
01/24/12 (S) Heard & Held
01/24/12 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
01/31/12 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR JOE THOMAS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: SB 154 sponsor.
GRIER HOPKINS, Staff
Senator Joe Thomas
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided supportive testimony for SB 154.
DAVID SCOTT, Staff
Senator Donny Olson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained how CSSB 122, version B, differs
from the original bill.
DANA OWEN, Staff
Senator Dennis Egan
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided supportive testimony for CSSB
122(CRA).
RAYMOND DAVIS, Vice President
Old Republic Title Insurance Company
Seattle, Washington
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports CSSB 122(CRA).
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:33:58 PM
CHAIR DONALD OLSON called the Senate Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. Present
at the call to order were Senators Wagoner, Kookesh, Menard,
Ellis, and Chair Olson.
SB 154-NATURAL GAS CONVERSION PROGRAM/FUND
CHAIR OLSON announced the consideration of SB 154.
3:34:43 PM
SENATOR JOE THOMAS, SB 154 sponsor, said the bill would create a
low interest loan program for Alaskan families to replace their
oil, coal or wood home-heating appliances with natural gas
fueled appliances. He said families would have the ability to
plan ahead for low cost energy, knowing that when they do get
access to natural gas in their neighborhoods or communities they
will be able to afford to use it.
He said the home heating change-out mechanism would create a
more robust gas distribution system in Southcentral Alaska where
gas is currently distributed. He said Fairbanks would be able to
prepare for delivery of natural gas either by pipeline or truck.
He said the Fairbanks Borough was studying the options and
economics of expanding the current gas distribution system
beyond the current 1100 customers to over 3500 customers in a
relatively short period of time. He said he had a recent
discussion with Fairbanks Natural Gas and was told that over
2000 homes in Fairbanks are within reach of the current pipeline
infrastructure.
He said heavier use of gas in Fairbanks would also assist the
borough in complying with the Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) air quality mandate when 12,000 homes are converted to
natural gas.
3:36:31 PM
SENATOR THOMAS He said by implementing SB 154 and establishing
the natural gas home heating conversion loan fund, upgrading to
cleaner, cheaper gas will become affordable for more families,
making any gas delivery project much more economic. He said the
economy would be vitalized by job creation across the state and
more money would circulate within Alaska rather than on energy
expenditures.
3:37:52 PM
GRIER HOPKINS, staff to Senator Thomas, said he was available
for questions.
CHAIR OLSON asked what the plans were for extending some of the
services in Fairbanks.
SENATOR THOMAS answered that Fairbanks Natural Gas would
continue to address distribution logistics and infrastructure.
He said Golden Valley Electric Association and Flint Hills
Resources' North Pole Refinery could offer the Fairbanks market
with excess natural gas from their Prudhoe Bay shipments.
CHAIR OLSON asked if Fairbanks residents would pay higher taxes
due to the added infrastructure costs.
SENATOR THOMAS answered no.
SENATOR WAGONER commented that SB 154 would benefit both
Fairbanks and other areas in the state that have natural gas
availability.
CHAIR OLSON asked if Senator Wagoner's constituents were in
favor of SB 154.
SENATOR WAGONER replied that he did not know, but said he was in
favor of SB 154.
CHAIR OLSON commented that SB 154 had a large fiscal note and
answers were required.
3:40:47 PM
SENATOR WAGONER said money would come back to the state in
future years.
CHAIR OLSON asked how the money would come back to the state.
SENATOR WAGONER answered that the money appropriated was a loan,
not a grant.
CHAIR OLSON asked about a return on investment at one percent
interest.
SENATOR THOMAS answered that the loans within the program are at
one percent interest to be repaid over a ten-year period.
SENATOR WAGONER confirmed that the loan is at one percent and
the principle would be paid back.
3:41:20 PM
SENATOR KOOKESH moved to report SB 154 from the committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
3:41:33 PM
CHAIR OLSON announced without objection, SB 154 moved from the
Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.
3:42:01 PM
At ease from 3:42 p.m. to 3:43 p.m.
SB 122-REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEES/TITLE PLANTS
3:43:19 PM
CHAIR OLSON announced the consideration of SB 122 [CSSB
122(CRA), 27-LS0789\B was before the committee].
DAVID SCOTT, staff to Senator Olson, aide to the Community and
Regional Affairs Committee, said the committee substitute (CS),
version B, had removed section one from the original bill and
section two became section one.
SENATOR KOOKESH asked for a review of section one from the
original bill.
MR. SCOTT answered that title plants would have been required to
maintain records up to 50 years.
3:44:49 PM
SENATOR KOOKESH moved to adopt CSSB 122( ), labeled 27-LS0789\B
as a working document.
3:44:57 PM
SENATOR WAGONER objected for discussion purposes.
SENATOR WAGONER asked if the CS was acceptable to dissenting and
concurring title insurance parties from previous testimony.
MR. SCOTT answered correct.
3:45:51 PM
SENATOR THOMAS removed his objection.
3:46:04 PM
CHAIR OLSON said CSSB 122( ), version B had been adopted. He
asked if there was public or committee comment on the CS.
DANA OWEN, aide to Senator Egan, said the Senate Labor and
Commerce Committee supported CSSB 122( ), version B.
RAYMOND DAVIS, Vice President, Old Republic Title Insurance
Company, said he supports CSSB 122( ).
3:47:35 PM
SENATOR WAGONER moved to report CSSB 122( ), labeled 27-LS0789\B
from the committee with individual recommendations and a zero
fiscal note.
3:48:07 PM
CHAIR OLSON announced without objection, CSSB 122(CRA) moved
from the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing
Committee.
3:48:31 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Olson adjourned the Senate Community and Regional Affairs
Standing Committee at 3:48 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|