ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE RULES STANDING COMMITTEE  March 29, 2001 11:32 a.m.   MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Pete Kott, Chair Representative Brian Porter Representative Carl Morgan Representative Lesil McGuire Representative Ethan Berkowitz Representative Reggie Joule MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Vic Kohring COMMITTEE CALENDAR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1 Relating to establishing a Task Force on a Statewide Comprehensive Energy Plan. - MOVED CSHCR 1(RLS) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS ACTION BILL: HCR 1 SHORT TITLE:STATEWIDE COMP ENERGY SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)BERKOWITZ Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action 01/12/01 0066 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/12/01 0066 (H) CRA, L&C 01/17/01 0117 (H) COSPONSOR(S): KAPSNER 01/19/01 0134 (H) COSPONSOR(S): LANCASTER 02/19/01 0375 (H) COSPONSOR(S): HALCRO 02/20/01 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 124 02/20/01 (H) Moved CSHCR 1(CRA) Out of Committee 02/20/01 (H) MINUTE(CRA) 02/21/01 0382 (H) CRA RPT CS(CRA) 4DP 1NR 02/21/01 0382 (H) DP: HALCRO, SCALZI, GUESS, MORGAN; 02/21/01 0382 (H) NR: MEYER 02/21/01 0382 (H) FN1: ZERO(H.CRA) 02/26/01 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17 02/26/01 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard 02/28/01 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17 02/28/01 (H) Moved CSHCR 1(L&C) Out of Committee 02/28/01 0472 (H) COSPONSOR(S): MURKOWSKI 02/28/01 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/07/01 0493 (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 4DP 2NR 03/07/01 0494 (H) DP: HALCRO, CRAWFORD, HAYES, MURKOWSKI; 03/07/01 0494 (H) NR: MEYER, ROKEBERG 03/07/01 0494 (H) FN1: ZERO(H.CRA) 03/09/01 0528 (H) COSPONSOR(S): GUESS 03/22/01 0696 (H) COSPONSOR(S): KERTTULA 03/29/01 (H) RLS AT 11:30 AM BUTROVICH 205 ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 01-5, SIDE A Number 0001 CHAIR PETE KOTT called the House Rules Standing Committee meeting to order at 11:32 a.m. Representatives Kott, Porter, Morgan, McGuire, Berkowitz, and Joule were present at the call to order. Representative Lancaster was also present. HCR 1-STATEWIDE COMP ENERGY PLAN TASK FORCE   CHAIR KOTT announced that the only order of business before the committee would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1, Relating to establishing a Task Force on a Statewide Comprehensive Energy Plan. [Before the committee was CSHCR 1(L&C).] Number 0045 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ, Alaska State Legislature, testified as the sponsor of HCR 1. He explained that HCR 1 establishes a statewide comprehensive energy task force. The meeting today is because various groups have decided to be substituted for one another. Number 0123 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ moved that the committee adopt Amendment 1 that reads as follows: Page 2, lines 14 and 15, following "the", Delete "Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc." Insert "Alaska Coal Association" Representative Berkowitz noted that both the aforementioned organizations support Amendment 1. CHAIR KOTT asked if there was any objection to Amendment 1. There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. Number 0166 REPRESENTATIVE McGUIRE moved that the committee adopt Amendment 2 that reads as follows: Page 2, line 16, following "the", Delete "Alaska Conservation Alliance" Insert "Anchorage Audubon Society" There being no objection, Amendment 2 was adopted. Number 0180 REPRESENTATIVE McGUIRE moved that the committee adopt Amendment 3 that reads as follows: Page 2, line 18, Delete "(10) one member appointed by the Alaska Public Interest Research Group;" Renumber accordingly. REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ objected. REPRESENTATIVE McGUIRE said, "I think the task force is well- balanced. I think that there are a wide variety of groups represented. And I think it's going to be important that the groups that are there are able to have a fruitful discussion and I'm not sure what that adds. And I can see where it might add barriers to good discussion." Number 0274 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ acknowledged that the Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AkPIRG) is not favored by many in the legislature and the group can be difficult. However, he said he believes they have much to contribute to the debate. Representative Berkowitz pointed out that there are no other entities that are part of this that truly represent consumers. Therefore, he requested that AkPIRG be included. REPRESENTATIVE JOULE pointed out that there is no fiscal note for this legislation and thus deleting a group wouldn't save any money. If AkPIRG is the only consumer group on the task force, it would seem appropriate to keep them as a member. He asked if AkPIRG, as a consumer group, will be able to bring a statewide perspective of consumer issues. REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ replied, "Yes, as much as any of the other groups that are part of this task force." REPRESENTATIVE McGUIRE encouraged the sponsor to consider other consumer groups, if this legislation is passed from the committee. She offered to also research what other consumer groups would be more representative. Number 0469 REPRESENTATIVE LANCASTER said that he could understand the concern regarding AkPIRG. However, he pointed out that AkPIRG is a member of the Alaska Electric Consumers Alliance and is very active in the power industry with national and state legislation. A roll call vote was taken. Representatives McGuire, Porter, and Kott voted for Amendment 2. Representatives Morgan, Berkowitz, and Joule voted against Amendment 2. Therefore, Amendment 2 failed to be adopted. Number 0543 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ moved to report CSHCR 1(L&C) as amended out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHCR 1(RLS) was reported from the House Rules Standing Committee. ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Rules Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 11:41 a.m.