HOUSE ECONOMIC TASK FORCE March 31, 1993 5:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Eileen MacLean, Chair Representative Jeannette James, Vice-Chair Representative Bettye Davis Representative Joe Green Representative Bill Hudson Representative Carl Moses Representative Al Vezey Representative Bill Williams MEMBERS ABSENT Representative Jerry Mackie COMMITTEE CALENDAR HJR 11/SJR 11: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to repeal of regulations by the legislature. COMMITTEE DECIDED TO CO-SPONSOR THE BILL HB 147/SB 122: "An Act relating to the disclosure of information by an employer about the job performance of an employee or former employee." COMMITTEE DECIDED TO CO-SPONSOR THE BILL HB 12/SB 40: "An Act relating to health insurance for small employers; and providing for an effective date." COMMITTEE WILL NOT BE CO-SPONSORING THE BILL HB 14: "An Act making an appropriation for capitalization of the BIDCO fund; and providing for an effective date." DECISION TO CO-SPONSOR POSTPONED SB 112: "An Act relating to the Uniform Commercial Code; amending Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure 8 and 82, and Alaska Rule of Evidence 402; and providing for an effective date." COMMITTEE WILL NOT BE CO-SPONSORING THE BILL SB 86: "An Act relating to funds transfers under the Uniform Commercial Code; changing Alaska Rule of Civil Procedure 82; and providing for an effective date." COMMITTEE WILL NOT BE CO-SPONSORING THE BILL HB 180: "An Act relating to the residential housing inspection requirements of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation." DECISION TO CO-SPONSOR LEFT OPEN SB 154/HB 220: "An Act relating to the economic development grant program; and providing for an effective date." COMMITTEE DECIDED TO CO-SPONSOR THE BILL PREVIOUS ACTION BILL: HJR 11 SHORT TITLE: REPEAL OF REGULATIONS BY LEGISLATURE BILL VERSION: SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) PHILLIPS,Brice,B.Davis, Navarre,Menard,Barnes,Mulder,Green TITLE: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to repeal of regulations by the legislature. JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 01/11/93 24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 01/11/93 24 (H) STATE AFFAIRS,JUDICIARY,FINANCE 01/21/93 (H) STA AT 08:00 AM CAPITOL 102 01/21/93 (H) MINUTE(STA) 01/23/93 (H) STA AT 08:00 AM CAPITOL 102 01/23/93 (H) MINUTE(STA) 01/30/93 (H) STA AT 08:00 AM CAPITOL 102 01/30/93 (H) MINUTE(STA) 02/01/93 196 (H) STA RPT 5DP 1NR 02/01/93 196 (H) DP: VEZEY, ULMER, OLBERG, G.DAVIS, KOTT 02/01/93 196 (H) NR: B.DAVIS 02/01/93 196 (H) -FISCAL NOTE (GOV) 2/1/93 02/08/93 (H) MINUTE(ARR) 02/12/93 (H) JUD AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 120 02/15/93 (H) JUD AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 120 02/15/93 (H) MINUTE(JUD) 02/15/93 (H) MINUTE(JUD) 02/17/93 357 (H) JUD RPT 4DP 1DNP 1NR 02/17/93 357 (H) DP:PORTER,PHILLIPS,GREEN,KOTT 02/17/93 357 (H) DNP: DAVIDSON 02/17/93 357 (H) NR: NORDLUND 02/17/93 357 (H) -PREVIOUS FN (GOV) 2/1/93 02/23/93 (H) MINUTE(ARR) 02/24/93 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519 02/25/93 450 (H) FIN RPT 7DP 3NR 02/25/93 451 (H) DP: MACLEAN,LARSON,GRUSSENDORF, 02/25/93 451 (H) DP: NAVARRE,BROWN,THERRIAULT, FOSTER 02/25/93 451 (H) NR: HANLEY, PARNELL, HOFFMAN 02/25/93 451 (H) -PREVIOUS FN (GOV) 2/1/93 03/10/93 592 (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/10/93 03/10/93 592 (H) READ THE SECOND TIME 03/10/93 592 (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN CONSENT 03/10/93 593 (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HJR 11 03/10/93 593 (H) PASSED Y36 N4 03/10/93 593 (H) Hoffman NOTICE OF RECON 03/10/93 595 (H) COSPONSOR(S): B.DAVIS, NAVARRE, MENARD 03/10/93 595 (H) COSPONSOR(S): BARNES, MULDER 03/12/93 628 (H) COSPONSOR(S): GREEN 03/12/93 630 (H) RECONSIDERATION NOT TAKEN UP 03/12/93 630 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 03/15/93 798 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 03/15/93 798 (S) JUDICIARY, FINANCE BILL: SJR 11 SHORT TITLE: REPEAL OF REGULATIONS BY LEGISLATURE BILL VERSION: SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) PEARCE,Kelly,Frank,Phillips,Rieger TITLE: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to repeal of regulations by the legislature. JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 01/11/93 14 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/93 01/11/93 14 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 01/11/93 14 (S) STATE AFFAIRS,JUDICIARY,FINANCE 01/27/93 168 (S) STA RPT 4DP 1NR 01/27/93 168 (S) FISCAL NOTE PUBLISHED (GOV) 01/27/93 168 (S) REFERRED TO JUDICIARY 01/27/93 174 (S) COSPONSOR: RIEGER 01/27/93 (S) STA AT 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205 01/27/93 (S) MINUTE(STA) 02/08/93 (S) JUD AT 01:30 PM BELTZ ROOM 211 02/08/93 (S) MINUTE(JUD) 02/23/93 (H) MINUTE(ARR) BILL: HB 147 SHORT TITLE: EMPLOYER'S LIABILITY FOR REFERENCE INFO BILL VERSION: SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) MACLEAN,Phillips,Porter TITLE: "An Act relating to the disclosure of information by an employer about the job performance of an employee or former employee." 02/10/93 292 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 02/10/93 292 (H) L&C, JUDICIARY 02/25/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17 02/25/93 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/01/93 480 (H) L&C RPT 5DP 03/01/93 481 (H) DP: PORTER, MACKIE, WILLIAMS, GREEN, HUDSON 03/01/93 481 (H) -3 ZERO FNS (ADM, COURT, LAW) 3/1/93 03/08/93 (H) JUD AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 120 03/08/93 (H) MINUTE(JUD) 03/10/93 (H) JUD AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 120 03/29/93 (H) JUD AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 120 03/30/93 848 (H) JUD RPT CS(JUD) 4DP 2NR 03/30/93 849 (H) DP: PORTER,PHILLIPS,JAMES,KOTT 03/30/93 849 (H) NR: NORDLUND, DAVIDSON 03/30/93 849 (H) -3 PREVIOUS ZERO FNS(ADM, LAW, COURT)3/1 03/30/93 849 (H) REFERRED TO RULES BILL: SB 122 SHORT TITLE: EMPLOYER'S LIABILITY FOR REFERENCE INFO BILL VERSION: SB 122 AM SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) SHARP,Frank,Taylor,Kelly, Rieger,Miller,Pearce,Donley TITLE: "An Act relating to the disclosure of information by an employer about the job performance of an employee or former employee." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 02/19/93 411 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 02/19/93 412 (S) LABOR & COMMERCE, JUDICIARY 03/04/93 (S) L&C AT 01:30 PM FAHRENKAMP 203 03/05/93 613 (S) L&C RPT 3DP 1AM 03/05/93 614 (S) ZERO FNS (COURT, ADM, LAW) 03/22/93 (S) JUD AT 01:30 PM BELTZ ROOM 211 03/23/93 911 (S) JUD RPT 3DP 2NR 03/23/93 911 (S) PREVIOUS ZERO FNS (COURT, ADM, LAW) 03/24/93 926 (S) RULES RPT 3 TO CAL 1NR 3/24/93 03/24/93 927 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME 03/24/93 927 (S) ADVANCE TO 3RD RDG FAILED Y11 N8 A1 03/24/93 928 (S) THIRD READING 3/25/93 03/24/93 934 (S) COSPONSOR(S): FRANK, TAYLOR, KELLY, 03/24/93 934 (S) RIEGER, MILLER, PEARCE, DONLEY 03/25/93 949 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 122 03/25/93 950 (S) RETURN TO SECOND FOR AM 1 Y15 N2 E1 A2 03/25/93 950 (S) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT 03/25/93 950 (S) AUTOMATICALLY IN THIRD READING 03/25/93 951 (S) PASSED Y16 N- E1 A3 SB 122 AM 03/25/93 951 (S) DUNCAN NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION 03/29/93 980 (S) RECONSIDERATION NOT TAKEN UP 03/29/93 981 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 03/30/93 844 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 03/30/93 844 (H) JUDICIARY BILL: HB 12 SHORT TITLE: GROUP HEALTH INS. FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS BILL VERSION: SSHB 12 SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)B.DAVIS,Ulmer,Nordlund,Brice TITLE: "An Act relating to health insurance for small employers; and providing for an effective date." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 01/04/93 27 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 01/11/93 27 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 01/11/93 27 (H) HES, L&C, JUDICIARY, FINANCE 01/27/93 167 (H) COSPONSOR(S): NORDLUND 02/10/93 312 (H) COSPONSOR(S): BRICE 02/18/93 380 (H) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS 02/18/93 380 (H) HES, L&C, JUDICIARY, FINANCE 03/23/93 (H) HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106 03/23/93 (H) MINUTE(HES) 03/24/93 (H) HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106 03/26/93 779 (H) HES RPT 4DP 1DNP 2NR 03/26/93 779 (H) DP: G.DAVIS, B.DAVIS, NICHOLIA, BRICE 03/26/93 779 (H) DNP: VEZEY 03/26/93 779 (H) NR: BUNDE, TOOHEY 03/26/93 779 (H) -ZERO FISCAL NOTE (DCED) 3/26/93 03/26/93 779 (H) REFERRED TO LABOR & COMMERCE BILL: SB 40 SHORT TITLE: GROUP HEALTH INS. FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS BILL VERSION: SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) PEARCE,Salo TITLE: "An Act relating to health insurance for small employers; and providing for an effective date." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 01/11/93 26 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/93 01/11/93 26 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 01/11/93 26 (S) LABOR & COMMERCE, FINANCE 03/23/93 (S) L&C AT 01:30 PM FAHRENKAMP 203 03/24/93 932 (S) L&C REFERRAL WAIVED Y11 N9 03/24/93 933 (S) REFERRED TO FINANCE BILL: HB 14 SHORT TITLE: APPROP: BIDCO FUND BILL VERSION: SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) B.DAVIS,Brown,Nordlund TITLE: "An Act making an appropriation for capitalization of the BIDCO fund; and providing for an effective date." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 01/04/93 28 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 01/11/93 28 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 01/11/93 28 (H) LABOR & COMMERCE, STATE AFFAIRS, FINANCE 01/27/93 168 (H) COSPONSOR(S): NORDLUND BILL: SB 112 SHORT TITLE: UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE REVISIONS BILL VERSION: CSSB 112(JUD) SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) KERTTULA TITLE: "An Act relating to the Uniform Commercial Code; amending Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure 8 and 82, and Alaska Rule of Evidence 402; and providing for an effective date." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 02/11/93 338 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 02/11/93 338 (S) LABOR & COMMERCE, JUDICIARY, FINANCE 03/02/93 (S) L&C AT 01:30 PM FAHRENKAMP 203 03/04/93 (S) L&C AT 01:30 PM FAHRENKAMP 203 03/05/93 613 (S) L&C RPT CS 1DP 3NR SAME TITLE 03/05/93 613 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTES TO SB & CS (DCED, LAW) 03/19/93 (S) JUD AT 01:30 PM BELTZ ROOM 211 03/22/93 (S) FIN AT 09:00 AM SENATE FIN 518 03/22/93 897 (S) JUD RPT CS 4NR SAME TITLE 03/22/93 897 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE TO L&C & JUD CS (DNR) 03/22/93 897 (S) PREVIOUS ZERO FNS APPLY TO CS (DCED,LAW) 03/23/93 (S) FIN AT 09:00 AM SENATE FIN 518 03/23/93 911 (S) FIN RPT 3DP 4NR (JUD)CS SAME TITLE 03/23/93 911 (S) PREVIOUS ZERO FNS APPLY (DCED, LAW, DNR) BILL: SB 86 SHORT TITLE: FUND TRANSFERS UNDER THE UCC BILL VERSION: SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) KERTTULA TITLE: "An Act relating to funds transfers under the Uniform Commercial Code; changing Alaska Rule of Civil Procedure 82; and providing for an effective date." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 02/03/93 220 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 02/03/93 221 (S) LABOR & COMMERCE, JUDICIARY 03/02/93 (S) L&C AT 01:30 PM FAHRENKAMP 203 03/03/93 588 (S) L&C RPT 1DP 2NR 03/03/93 588 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTES (DCED, LAW) 03/12/93 (S) JUD AT 01:30 PM BELTZ ROOM 211 03/15/93 (S) JUD AT 01:30 PM BELTZ ROOM 211 03/19/93 (S) JUD AT 01:30 PM BELTZ ROOM 211 03/22/93 896 (S) JUD RPT 4NR 03/22/93 896 (S) PREVIOUS ZERO FNS (DCED, LAW) BILL: HB 180 SHORT TITLE: AHFC HOUSING INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS BILL VERSION: SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) MACLEAN TITLE: "An Act relating to the residential housing inspection requirements of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 02/25/93 455 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 02/25/93 455 (H) CRA, LABOR & COMMERCE 03/11/93 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124 03/11/93 (H) MINUTE(CRA) 03/17/93 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124 03/19/93 (H) MINUTE(CRA) 03/22/93 730 (H) CRA RPT 3DP 4NR 03/22/93 730 (H) DP: TOOHEY, OLBERG, WILLIAMS 03/22/93 730 (H) NR: SANDERS,BUNDE,DAVIES,WILLIS 03/22/93 730 (H) -ZERO FISCAL NOTE (REV) 3/22/93 BILL: SB 154 SHORT TITLE: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT FUND BILL VERSION: CSSB 154(L&C)(EFD FLD) SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) JACKO,Halford,Pearce,Kelly,Taylor TITLE: "An Act relating to the economic development grant program." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 03/09/93 691 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 03/09/93 691 (S) LABOR & COMMERCE, FINANCE 03/15/93 811 (S) COSPONSOR: TAYLOR 03/16/93 (S) L&C AT 01:45 PM FAHRENKAMP 203 03/19/93 876 (S) L&C RPT CS 1DP 2NR (SAME TITLE) 03/19/93 876 (S) FISCAL NOTE TO SB (DCED) 03/19/93 876 (S) FISCAL NOTE TO CS (ADM) 03/22/93 (S) FIN AT 09:00 AM SENATE FIN 518 03/23/93 912 (S) FIN RPT 7DP (L&C)CS 03/23/93 912 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (DCED) 03/23/93 912 (S) PREVIOUS FISCAL NOTE (ADM) 03/24/93 926 (S) RULES RPT 3CAL 1NR 3/24/93 03/24/93 928 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME 03/24/93 928 (S) L&C CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT 03/24/93 928 (S) ADVANCE TO 3RD RDG FLD Y11 N9 03/24/93 929 (S) THIRD READING 3/25/93 03/25/93 951 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 154(L&C) 03/25/93 951 (S) HELD IN 3RD RDG TO 3/29 CALENDAR 03/25/93 952 (S) COSPONSOR WITHDRAWN: ZHAROFF 03/29/93 975 (S) RETURN TO 2ND FOR AM 1 FLD Y10 N8 E2 03/29/93 976 (S) RETURN TO 2ND FOR AM 2 FLD Y10 N8 E2 03/29/93 976 (S) RETURN TO 2ND FOR AM 3 FLD Y10 N8 E2 03/29/93 977 (S) RETURN TO 2ND FOR AM 4 FLD Y10 N8 E2 03/29/93 978 (S) RETURN TO 2ND FOR AM 5 FLD Y10 N8 E2 03/29/93 978 (S) HELD TO 3/31 CAL IN 3RD PSD Y10 N8 E2 BILL: HB 220 SHORT TITLE: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT FUND BILL VERSION: SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) MOSES TITLE: "An Act relating to the economic development grant program; and providing for an effective date." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 03/12/93 619 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 03/12/93 619 (H) CRA, LABOR & COMMERCE, FINANCE 03/25/93 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124 03/25/93 (H) MINUTE(CRA) 03/26/93 789 (H) CRA RPT CS(CRA) 6DP 1NR 03/26/93 790 (H) DP: SANDERS, BUNDE, WILLIS, WILLIAMS 03/26/93 790 (H) DP: TOOHEY, OLBERG 03/26/93 790 (H) NR: DAVIES 03/26/93 790 (H) -ZERO FISCAL NOTE (DCED) 3/26/93 03/26/93 790 (H) REFERRED TO LABOR & COMMERCE ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 93-9, SIDE A Number 000 CHAIR EILEEN MACLEAN called the meeting of the House Economic Task Force to order on March 31, 1993, at 5:15 p.m. She asked the committee to consider co-sponsoring several bills which had been supported in testimony during the Economic Mini-Summit. HJR 11 REPEAL OF REGULATIONS BY LEGISLATURE SJR 11 REPEAL OF REGULATIONS BY LEGISLATURE The first bills under consideration were HJR 11 and SJR 11 (Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to repeal of regulations by the legislature.) These bills allow the legislature to repeal regulations adopted by agencies. REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY expressed strong support for the resolution and added that in order to get over fifty percent of the electorate votes in 1994 a campaign would be needed to emphasize that a very serious effort was being made to reduce regulations. Number 120 CHAIR MACLEAN suggested that businesses should be notified and notices published in the news media when this resolution passes both bodies of the legislature. Hearing no objections, CHAIR MACLEAN stated that the Task Force would co-sponsor HJR 11. HB 147 EMPLOYER'S LIABILITY FOR REFERENCE INFO Number 142 CHAIR MACLEAN next discussed HB 147 ("An Act relating to the disclosure of information by an employer about the job performance of an employee or former employee.") She stated that the new bill presumes an employer to be acting in good faith and, unless lack of good faith could be shown, relieves the employer of liability for the disclosure. Hearing no objections, CHAIR MACLEAN stated that the Task Force would co-sponsor HB 147. HB 12 GROUP HEALTH INS. FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS Number 165 CHAIR MACLEAN summarized HB 12 ("An Act relating to health insurance for small employers; and providing for an effective date.") saying the bill created a source of health insurance for all small employers in the state, guaranteeing access to health insurance but not mandating company participation. Number 215 REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY stated he was opposed to co-sponsoring this bill because it would drive up the cost of insurance by attempting to restrict the ability of insurance companies to exclude preconditions; meaning people that were healthy would pay more to subsidize those that were not. Number 232 REPRESENTATIVE B. DAVIS disagreed, stating that in the 24 states where this bill had been implemented, the overall costs had not increased because healthy people helped absorb the risks for those that were not able to get insurance on their own. She added that the bill was backed by the Chamber of Commerce representing small businesses. Number 262 CHAIR MACLEAN said, "There was one objection, so what we will do is, if we have consensus, then we will co-sponsor. But we will watch the progress, and we each have our own individual opinions on it. I believe that this is a good start; it does afford access to it, so we all have our personal opinions on bills." (CHAIR MACLEAN did not officially announce the committee's decision. The committee aide later confirmed that the committee would not be co-sponsoring HB 12.) HB 14 APPROP: BIDCO FUND CHAIR MACLEAN announced that the next bill was HB 14 ("An Act making an appropriation for capitalization of the BIDCO fund; and providing for an effective date.") She stated that this was the BIDCO bill with $10,000,000 from the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation endowment. Number 272 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS said, "The figures had been changed to read for a total amount of $10,000,000 with $3,000,000 to be given in this particular year so they can begin the BIDCO process because Science and Technology said they do not have that without going into the corpus of their $100,000,000." Number 288 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON said the bill was good for business and the revised amounts made it more "do-able." Number 298 REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked if the $3,000,000 would just "sit there" in the fund. Number 310 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS said it would not just sit there, it would be used to start setting up BIDCOs. Number 323 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON suggested waiting until a committee substitute was adopted before deciding whether the Task Force wanted to co-sponsor this bill. SB 112 UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE REVISIONS SB 86 FUND TRANSFERS UNDER THE UCC Number 334 CHAIR MACLEAN next discussed SB 112, which updated the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) relating to leasing, financial terminology, certain commercial transactions and other provisions to bring the UCC in line with other states. Number 350 CHAIR MACLEAN also discussed SB 86, which updated the Uniform Commercial Code relating to electronic funds transfers and addressed questions of responsibility and liability during the various stages of electronic funds transfers. Number 375 REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY said there was no advantage in co- sponsoring these two complex commercial bills because he was confident they would "wind their way through the system" anyway. (CHAIR MACLEAN did not officially announce the committee's decision. The committee aide later confirmed that the committee would not be co-sponsoring the bills.) HB 180 AHFC HOUSING INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS Number 400 CHAIR MACLEAN next presented HB 180 ("An Act relating to the residential housing inspection requirements of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.") saying the new inspection requirements were not intended to apply to rural housing loans, so this bill would allow flexibility in substituting videotape or other methods for on-site visits. She added that the banks were in favor of it. Number 420 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON stated this was a good bill and would pass even without a Task Force endorsement. (CHAIR MACLEAN did not officially announce the committee's decision. The committee aide later confirmed that the decision to co-sponsor had been left open.) SB 154 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT FUND Number 450 CHAIR MACLEAN summarized SB 154 ("An Act relating to the economic development grant program; and providing for an effective date.") saying it established an economic development grant fund available to municipalities and ARDORs (Alaska Regional Development Organizations). She asked if the Task Force wanted to co-sponsor this bill. Number 470 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN suggested holding off until three members of the Task Force hear this bill in another committee. Number 480 CHAIR MACLEAN stated that the Office of Management and Budget would administer this bill. Hearing no objections, she stated the Task Force would co-sponsor it. CHAIR MACLEAN commented that the Task Force would continue the process of reviewing bills through the interim. HB 14 APPROP: BIDCO FUND Number 508 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS asked for a time certain for a decision on co-sponsoring the BIDCO bill (HB 14). REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON said he saw no reason not to co- sponsor it. Number 527 REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY stated that the committee substitute made no sense in the change from $3,000,000 to $10,000,000. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS said the total appropriation would be $10,000,000. Number 540 CHAIR MACLEAN added that the $3,000,000 would be for start- up and the $10,000,000 would be in the pot to be used. To provide a "time certain," she stated that a decision regarding co-sponsorship of this bill would be made at the next meeting. Number 555 The meeting was ADJOURNED at 6:00 p.m.