04/18/2024 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB279 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 279 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
April 18, 2024
1:32 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. 279(CRA) AM
"An Act relating to the Local Boundary Commission; and providing
for an effective date."
- MOVED SCS CSHB 279(CRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 279
SHORT TITLE: LOCAL BOUNDARY COMMISSION
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CRONK
01/18/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/24 (H) CRA
01/30/24 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
01/30/24 (H) Heard & Held
01/30/24 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
02/13/24 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
02/13/24 (H) Heard & Held
02/13/24 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
02/20/24 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
02/20/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/22/24 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
02/22/24 (H) Moved CSHB 279(CRA) Out of Committee
02/22/24 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
02/23/24 (H) CRA RPT CS(CRA) 3DP 3NR
02/23/24 (H) DP: BAKER, HIMSCHOOT, RUFFRIDGE
02/23/24 (H) NR: MEARS, MCCABE, MCCORMICK
03/08/24 (H) TECHNICAL SESSION 3/8 - ON 3/11
CALENDAR
03/11/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/11/24 (H) VERSION: CSHB 279(CRA) AM
03/12/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/12/24 (S) CRA
03/19/24 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/19/24 (S) Heard & Held
03/19/24 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
04/16/24 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/16/24 (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
04/18/24 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
ARIELLE WIGGIN, Staff
Senator Forrest Dunbar
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the summary of changes on HB 279.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CRONK, District 36
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered closing remarks on HB 279.
DAVE STANCLIFF, Staff
Representative Mike Cronk
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered closing remarks on HB 279.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:32:47 PM
CHAIR FORREST DUNBAR called the Senate Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. Present
at the call to order were Senators Gray-Jackson, Bjorkman,
Giessel, and Chair Dunbar.
HB 279-LOCAL BOUNDARY COMMISSION
1:33:18 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL
NO. 279(CRA) am "An Act relating to the Local Boundary
Commission; and providing for an effective date."
This is the second hearing of HB 279 in the Senate Community and
Regional Affairs Committee. The intent is to adopt a Senate
committee substitute (CS) and look to the will of the committee.
1:33:50 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR solicited a motion.
1:33:53 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to adopt the Senate committee substitute
(SCS) for CSHB 279, work order 33-LS1177\S, as the working
document.
1:34:04 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR objected for purposes of discussion. He invited
Ms. Wiggin to explain the summary of changes.
1:34:18 PM
ARIELLE WIGGIN, Staff, Senator Forrest Dunbar, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the summary of changes on
HB 279. She said the following changes were made to Section 1:
- Page 1, [line 7]
The number of seats on the Local Boundary Commission (LBC)
changes from 5 to 6 members.
- Page 1, line 8
The term changes from a five-year to a six-year term.
- Page 1, lines 9 - 10
Specifies that one member shall be appointed from the
unorganized borough.
MS. WIGGIN said that, after hearing from the LBC, these changes
were made to promote the most participation and the most
representation. She said that the goal of HB 279 is to improve
the representation in unorganized boroughs, and hearing from the
LBC that generally recruitment for this type of position is
challenging and arduous. It was requested that one seat be kept
open to promote participation of those who are interested, able
and qualified while opening a way for individuals, specifically
from the unorganized borough, to participate.
1:35:34 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR noted that the Senate CS preserves the change
allowing the Commission to select its own chair rather than the
governor.
1:35:55 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL said she appreciated that lines 12 and 13
requires the members from each judicial district "maintain a
principal place of abode and be registered to vote in a precinct
in that district."
CHAIR DUNBAR expressed his belief that was included in the
version that came over from the House.
1:36:23 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR removed his objection. He found no further
objection and SCS CSHB 279 was adopted as the working document.
1:36:40 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR invited Representative Cronk and his staff to make
closing remarks.
1:36:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CRONK, District 36, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, offered closing remarks on HB 279.
He said he appreciates that the committee heard HB 279 and
opined it is a fair compromise.
1:37:16 PM
DAVE STANCLIFF, Staff, Representative Mike Cronk, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, offered closing remarks on HB 279,
stating it appears the compromise will work. HB 79 had unanimous
support when it left the House and will muster what it takes to
pass upon its return.
1:37:56 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR solicited the will of the committee.
1:37:59 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SCS CSHB 279, work order 33-
LS1177\S, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached zero fiscal note(s).
1:38:24 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR found no objection and SCS CSHB 279(CRA) was
reported from the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing
Committee.
1:38:53 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dunbar adjourned the Senate Community and Regional Affairs
Standing Committee meeting at 1:38 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 279 CS SCRA Version S 4.17.24.pdf |
SCRA 4/18/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 279 |
| HB 279 Summary of Changes Version B.A to Version S 4.17.24.pdf |
SCRA 4/18/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 279 |