HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE March 3, 1999 1:05 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Scott Ogan, Co-Chair Representative Beverly Masek, Vice Chair Representative John Harris Representative Carl Morgan Representative Mary Kapsner MEMBERS ABSENT Representative Jerry Sanders, Co-Chair Representative Ramona Barnes Representative Jim Whitaker Representative Reggie Joule COMMITTEE CALENDAR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to initiatives regarding natural resources belonging to the state. - MOVED HJR 3 OUT OF COMMITTEE (* First public hearing) PREVIOUS ACTION BILL: HJR 3 SHORT TITLE: CONST. AM: WILDLIFE INITIATIVES SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVES(S) BUNDE Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action 1/19/99 16 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/99 1/19/99 16 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S) 1/19/99 16 (H) RESOURCES, JUDICIARY, FINANCE 1/27/99 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 1/27/99 (H) HEARD AND HELD 1/27/99 (H) MINUTE(RES) 2/01/99 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 2/01/99 (H) HEARD AND HELD 2/01/99 (H) MINUTE(RES) 2/05/99 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 2/05/99 (H) MINUTE(RES) 3/03/99 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 WITNESS REGISTER REPRESENTATIVE CON BUNDE Alaska State Legislature Capitol Building, Room 501 Juneau, Alaska 99801 Telephone: (907) 465-4843 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as sponsor of HJR 3. ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 99-11, SIDE A Number 0001 CO-CHAIR SCOTT OGAN called the House Resources Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. Members present at the call to order were Representatives Ogan, Masek, Harris, Morgan and Kapsner. HJR 3 - CONST. AM: WILDLIFE INITIATIVES Number 0086 CO-CHAIR OGAN announced the committee would hear House Joint Resolution No. 3, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to initiatives regarding natural resources belonging to the state. He asked whether the sponsor had anything to add to the previous discussion. Number 0097 REPRESENTATIVE CON BUNDE, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor, reiterated that it is appropriate to raise the bar so that any initiative addressing Alaska's resources will more closely reflect the will of the majority of Alaskans, keeping in mind the public need to address government through the initiative process. He said this resolution offers a compromise that does both. CO-CHAIR OGAN asked whether there were questions, other testimony or comments from the committee. He said he would not hold the resolution up but would probably be recommending an amendment, as HJR 3 doesn't address getting these issues on the ballot. The big issue for the current committee is whether this is appropriate for the resources of the state. However, questions regarding whether it is the best approach legally, what precedents there are, or whether this is likely to be found constitutional by the Alaska Supreme Court would more appropriately be decided in the House Judiciary Standing Committee. Number 0365 REPRESENTATIVE JOHN HARRIS made a motion to move HJR 3 out of committee with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, HJR 3 moved from the House Resources Standing Committee. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the committee, the House Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:10 p.m.