Legislature(1999 - 2000)
04/11/2000 09:05 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
MINUTES
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 11, 2000
9:05 AM
TAPES
SFC-00 # 82, Side A
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair John Torgerson convened the meeting at
approximately 9:05 AM
PRESENT Co-Chair John Torgerson, Co-Chair Sean Parnell,
Senator Al Adams, Senator Lyda Green, Senator Pete Kelly,
Senator Loren Leman, Senator Gary Wilken, Senator Donley,
Senator Phillips.
Also Attending: SENATOR LEMAN; WENDY LINDSKOOG, Alaska
Railroad Corporation; GREG CASHEN, Community Development
Quota Specialist, Department of Community and Economic
Development.
Attending via Teleconference: From Anchorage: JOHN TETPON.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
SB 235-APPROVING LAND TRANSFERS FOR RAILROAD
The Alaska Railroad Corporation testified. The bill was
passed out of Committee.
SB 26-FALSE REPORT TO POLICE/HINDER PROSECUTION
Senator Leman and the general public testified. The bill
was passed out of Committee.
SB 240-CHARGE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA
The Department of Community and Economic Development
testified. The bill was held in Committee.
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 235(TRA)
"An Act authorizing the exchange of land between the
Alaska Railroad Corporation and Eklutna, Inc., between
the Alaska Railroad Corporation and the United States
Department of the Army and the United States
Department of the Air Force, between the Alaska
Railroad Corporation and Chugach Alaska Corporation,
and between the Alaska Railroad Corporation and the
Municipality of Anchorage; authorizing the transfer of
land between Alaska Railroad mileposts 133 and 134
from the Alaska Railroad Corporation to certain named
individuals; and providing for an effective date."
SENATOR LEMAN, as sponsor to this legislation recommended
the adoption of the work draft to SB 235, version "1-
LS1282\S." He explained that this legislation authorizes
land exchanges between the Alaska Railroad, the Air Force
and the Army through the base and post at Elmendorf and
Fort Richardson, as well as Eklutna, Inc. closer to Eagle
River, the Chugach Alaska Corporation, near Seward and the
Municipality of Anchorage. He continued that this
legislation included a railroad track-straightening
project, with the overall goal of maintaining a safer
railroad while at the same time implementing upgrades that
will reduce the travel time between Anchorage and Wasilla.
Senator Leman continued that this project would cost from
$45 to $60 million dollars. He noted that the Senate
Transportation Committee included a provision in the
legislation that provided for the conveyance of slightly
over five acres to private landowners in the Chugach area.
He pointed out that these individuals would have received
this land under federal law, but this legislation would
accelerate this transfer. He added that Article 2, on page
4, was the proposed section providing for transfers between
the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities and
the railroad, primarily for the Potter to Girdwood section
improvements including avalanche prevention upgrades.
Senator Leman made a motion to adopt SB 235, version "1-
LS1282\S as a work draft. Hearing no objection this
version was ADOPTED.
WENDY LINDSKOOG, Alaska Railroad Corporation went on record
to state that the railroad was in favor of SB 235. She
added that the railroad would like to commence construction
this year.
Senator Leman asked if there was some federal legislation
that was necessary to authorize these changes as outlined.
Ms. Lindskoog confirmed that this was the case and that
this federal legislation was moving along. She noted that
this legislative appropriation was expected to pass, while
the railroad received a very positive vote on Proposition 2
at the municipal level also.
Senator Leman made a motion to move SB 235, version "1-
LS1282\S" from Committee with individual recommendations
and a zero fiscal note from the Alaska Railroad
Corporation. Hearing no objection SB 235 was MOVED FROM
COMMITTEE.
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 26(JUD)
"An Act relating to hindering prosecution and to
providing false information or reports to a peace
officer."
SENATOR LEMAN voiced his disappointment that the
departments affected by this legislation submitted
additional fiscal notes. Because of this he agreed to
modify this legislation by adding language regarding false
information about one's identity. He noted that in doing
so, the fiscal notes were reduced. He continued that the
Senate Judiciary version made to the original bill was on
page 2, line 5 with the addition of language regarding a
person's identity. He specified that lines 15 and 16,
regarding a false report to the Department of Natural
Resources was deleted.
Senator Leman made motion to adopt version 1-LS0119\K as a
work draft. Hearing no objection this version was ADOPTED.
JOHN TETPON testified via teleconference from Anchorage.
He asked if this legislation addressed forwarding false
information to police, the attorney general, or related law
enforcement individuals regarding custody of children.
Senator Leman responded that this legislation would only
apply if someone gives false information about his or her
identity.
Senator Leman tried to address Mr. Tetpon's related
concerns in an earlier version of this legislation. He
then made a motion to move SB 26, version "1-LS0119\K from
committee with individual recommendations, along with a
zero fiscal note from the Department of Public Safety and a
fiscal note in the amount of $26,800 from the Department of
Administration. Hearing no objection CSSB 26 (Jud) was
MOVED FROM COMMITTEE.
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 240(L&C)
"An Act relating to the establishment of and
accounting for an administrative cost charge for the
state's role in the community development quota
program and to the appropriation of receipts from the
charge; and providing for an effective date."
GREG CASHEN, Community Development Quota (CDQ) Specialist,
Community Development Quota, Department of Community and
Economic Development stated that this legislation allowed
CDQ groups that participate in this program to pay
assessment fees to the state. He continued that the
proposed fee schedule has two components, the first being a
standard flat amount paid by each group totaling half the
state's administrative costs. He noted that the other
half, also paid by this group, would be a variable portion
of the administrative costs based on the value of this
group's fishery quota allocation. He stated that the
Department of Community and Economic Development would
administer the cost charge added to the statutory list of
program receipts subject to separate accounting procedures.
He noted that each CDQ group supports this legislation. He
outlined the differences of this version versus the
companion HB 334. He added that the exemption in the house
bill would allow for new CDQ groups into the program
without paying fees for up to two years. He cited that
this exemption was taken out of the House version,
including a $400,000 cap that was deleted as well.
Co-Chair Parnell referred to the exemption mentioned by Mr.
Cashen and wondered if it was the one noted on page 3,
lines 10 - 13. He read this clause and wondered what the
policy reason was behind leaving this exemption in place.
Mr. Cashen responded that a Northern Alaska constituency
put this exemption forth.
Senator Adams added that this group was out of Kotzebue,
which is trying to start a new CDQ group, which explained
this exemption language.
Co-Chair Parnell asked if this group needed this exemption
from an economic perspective in order to help with start up
costs.
Senator Adams responded that this group was having a hard
time getting started and a federal initiative would be
needed in order to change the existing bond situation.
Co-Chair Torgerson asked how much money was involved with
this exemption.
Mr. Cashen responded that this standard portion would total
$125,000 divided between six CDQ groups.
Co-Chair Torgerson noted that this bill would be set aside,
and added that the companion house bill had been amended
into another bill on the House floor. He would hold this
version in Committee until the House bill catches up to SB
240 in the referral system. SB 240 was HELD IN COMMITTEE.
RECESSED
Senator Torgerson recessed the meeting at 9:26 AM to the
call of the Chair.
SFC-00 (5) 04/11/00
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