SENATOR  THERRIAULT  moved  to  calendar  CSHB  296(CRA)-MUNICIPAL                                                          
MERGER  AND  CONSOLIDATION  and   its  zero  fiscal  note  at  the                                                          
Chairman's discretion.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HALFORD objected  for  the  purpose of  a  review of  the                                                              
measure.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. LORI BACKES, staff to Representative  Jim Whitaker, sponsor of                                                              
HB 296, told  members the intent of this legislation  is to create                                                              
fairness and timeliness in the process  of consolidation petitions                                                              
by limiting  the time allowed to  gather signatures on  a petition                                                              
for consolidation to not more than  365 days. Regarding the method                                                              
used to count votes, the petition  must be supported by a majority                                                              
of  the  voters  within  each  of   the  cities  affected  by  the                                                              
consolidation as well as the voters  outside the cities but within                                                              
the boundaries of the borough.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS  asked if the situation in Homer  triggered this                                                              
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  BACKES said  it did  not. She  explained that  Representative                                                              
Whitaker  recognized some  flaws  in the  consolidation effort  in                                                              
Fairbanks that he felt needed to be addressed.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  PHILLIPS announced  that  without  objection to  Senator                                                              
Halford's motion, the bill would be calendared.