HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE April 12, 1994 6:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Rep. Bill Hudson, Chairman Rep. Bill Williams Rep. Joe Sitton Rep. Brian Porter MEMBERS ABSENT Rep. Joe Green, Vice Chair Rep. Jerry Mackie Rep. Eldon Mulder COMMITTEE CALENDAR SJR 51: Expressing support for the development of a fiberboard plant in Sitka; encouraging the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to continue its efforts to assist with that development; and requesting the United States Forest Service to continue a long-term timber purchase contract necessary to supply material to the plant. PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE *HCR 34: Declaring June 5-11, 1994, as Alaska Garden Week. PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE *HJR 64: Relating to the projects of the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation for satellite ground stations and a rocket launch facility. PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE *HB 545: "An Act including marital and family therapists as providers protected from unfair discrimination under group disability insurance; and providing for an effective date." NOT HEARD (* First public hearing.) WITNESS REGISTER SENATOR ROBIN L. TAYLOR Alaska State Legislature State Capitol, Room 30 Juneau, Alaska 99801 Phone: (907) 465-3873 Position Statement: Prime Sponsor of SJR 51 PREVIOUS ACTION BILL: SJR 51 SHORT TITLE: SUPPORT FOR SITKA FIBERBOARD PLANT SPONSOR(S): JUDICIARY JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 03/29/94 3394 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 03/29/94 3394 (S) LABOR & COMMERCE 04/05/94 (S) L&C AT 01:30 PM FAHRENKAMP ROOM 203 04/05/94 3443 (S) L&C RPT 3DP 1DNP 04/05/94 3443 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE PUBLISHED (S.L&C) 04/07/94 (S) RLS AT 09:00 AM FAHRENKAMP ROOM 203 04/07/94 3505 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/7/94 04/07/94 3506 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME 04/07/94 3507 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN CONSENT 04/07/94 3507 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SJR 51 04/07/94 3507 (S) PASSED Y17 N2 04/07/94 3509 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 04/08/94 3186 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 04/08/94 3186 (H) LABOR & COMMERCE 04/12/94 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17 BILL: HCR 34 SHORT TITLE: ALASKA GARDEN WEEK SPONSOR(S): LABOR & COMMERCE JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 04/06/94 3154 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 04/06/94 3154 (H) LABOR & COMMERCE 04/12/94 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17 BILL: HJR 64 SHORT TITLE: PROJECTS OF ALASKA AEROSPACE DEV. CORP. SPONSOR(S): LABOR & COMMERCE JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 04/06/94 3154 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 04/06/94 3154 (H) LABOR & COMMERCE 04/12/94 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17 BILL: HB 545 SHORT TITLE: DISCRIMINATION UNDER HEALTH INSURANCE SPONSOR(S): LABOR & COMMERCE BY REQUEST JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 04/06/94 3155 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 04/06/94 3155 (H) LABOR & COMMERCE 04/12/94 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17 ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 94-36, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN HUDSON called the meeting to order at 5:57 p.m., stated there was a quorum present and announced the calendar. He asked Senator Taylor to present SJR 51. SJR 51 - SUPPORT FOR SITKA FIBERBOARD PLANT Number 014 SENATOR ROBIN L. TAYLOR, Prime Sponsor of SJR 51, agreed with Chairman Hudson that it was timely to hear this resolution, as the United States Forest Service Chief would be making a decision by April 15, 1994, regarding the extension of the contract to purchase timber off of the national forest. He mentioned the concern that sufficient time be allowed for investigating the economic feasibility of a medium density fiberboard mill. He said if this proves viable, he thinks it complies with the restrictions and requirements of the forest service contract because it would be providing for the primary processing facility for timber harvested off of their lands. He said he does not think the word "pulp mill" necessarily means there is a dissolving cellulose process or a medium density fiberboard process. Senator Taylor thanked the committee for addressing this issue. Number 034 REP. SITTON moved that SJR 51 with individual recommendations be passed out of committee. Number 037 CHAIRMAN HUDSON, hearing no objection, declared SJR 51 with individual recommendations and zero fiscal note was so moved. CHAIRMAN HUDSON stated the next order of business was HCR 34. He said this simple resolution was introduced on behalf of the Alaska Garden Society. He pointed out that gardening has established and sustained 28 million dollars in horticultural businesses in Alaska. HCR 34 - ALASKA GARDEN WEEK Number 051 REP. PORTER moved that HCR 34 with individual recommendations and zero fiscal note be passed out of committee. CHAIRMAN HUDSON, hearing no objection, declared HCR 34 was so moved. CHAIRMAN HUDSON announced the next order of business was HJR 64. He explained that HJR 64 recognizes the proposed rocket launch facility on Kodiak Island. HJR 64 - PROJECTS OF ALASKA AEROSPACE DEV. CORP. Number 066 REP. SITTON, ex officio board member of Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation (AADC), said AADC is doing valuable work for Alaska. They have found that as technology changes, people find NASA to be too expensive and too prohibitive and so for commercial purposes people are looking at alternatives. He said HJR 64 relates to site location and although Fairbanks is mentioned as a consideration, he concurs with the choice of Kodiak as it does not have the safety considerations that are in Fairbanks. He said this resolution puts a stamp of approval on getting things going and he hopes to move HJR 64 out of committee. Number 083 REP. PORTER posed a question about clouds affecting take- offs. REP. SITTON said he was not familiar with all of the constraints. CHAIRMAN HUDSON interjected and mentioned over-water trajectory. He said from Kodiak you can go down the Pacific Ocean for literally thousands of miles, whereas from Fairbanks, for example, there are over-land problems that are of concern because of explosions and things of that nature. He said he believes this resolve might attract some federal interest in financially supporting this kind of launch facility. Number 095 REP. SITTON mentioned that the director of AADC has had some success both in attracting grants and in collaborating with the university and he believes these efforts will continue. Number 097 REP. WILLIAMS moved that HJR 64, with individual recommendations and zero fiscal note, pass out of committee. CHAIRMAN HUDSON, hearing no objection, declared HJR 64 was so ordered. CHAIRMAN HUDSON ADJOURNED the meeting at 6:09 p.m. HB 545 - NOT HEARD TODAY