HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON UTILITY RESTRUCTURING February 16, 2000 9:10 a.m.  MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Bill Hudson, Chairman Representative Pete Kott Representative Norman Rokeberg Representative John Davies Representative Joe Green (alternate) MEMBERS ABSENT Representative John Cowdery, Vice Chairman Representative Brian Porter Representative Ethan Berkowitz COMMITTEE CALENDAR HOUSE BILL NO. 323 "An Act relating to the employment of hearing examiners, arbitrators, and mediators by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska; repealing a requirement that the principal office of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission move to the same location as the principal office of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska; relating to the sharing of record-keeping facilities and clerical staff by the two commissions; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED HB 323 OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS ACTION BILL: HB 323 SHORT TITLE: REGULATORY COMM. OF ALASKA/AOGCC Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action 1/31/00 2045 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 1/31/00 2045 (H) URS, L&C, FIN 2/16/00 2204 (H) URS AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 120 WITNESS REGISTER NANETTE THOMPSON, Commissioner/Chair Regulatory Commission of Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development 1016 West Sixth Avenue Anchorage, Alaska, 99501-1963 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 323. CAMMI OECHSLI TAYLOR, Commissioner Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission 3001 Porcupine Drive Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3192 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 323. ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 00-3, SIDE A Number 0001 CHAIRMAN BILL HUDSON called the House Special Committee on Utility Restructuring meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. Members present at the call to order were Representatives Hudson, Kott, Rokeberg, Davies, and Green. HB 323-REGULATORY COMM. OF ALASKA/ AOGCC CHAIRMAN HUDSON announced that the committee would hear HOUSE BILL NO. 323, "An Act relating to the employment of hearing examiners, arbitrators, and mediators by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska; repealing a requirement that the principal office of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission move to the same location as the principal office of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska; relating to the sharing of record-keeping facilities and clerical staff by the two commissions; and providing for an effective date." CHAIRMAN HUDSON described HB 323 as a companion bill to SB 229, which was passed by the Senate Finance Committees the preceding day. It makes technical changes to SB 133, which was passed last year by the House Special Committee on Utility Restructuring. The original bill required a co-location of two agencies, with the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) moving to the same location as the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA). CHAIRMAN HUDSON referred to a recent letter in members' packets from Representative Rokeberg, who had looked into the relocation question and recommended otherwise. Chairman Hudson noted that HB 323 also corrects a drafting error relating to the employment of hearing examiners, arbitrators and mediators by the RCA. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES requested input from the two agencies affected by HB 323. NANETTE THOMPSON, Commissioner/Chair of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, testified by teleconference from Anchorage. She said that the RCA was pleased with HB 323 and asked the committee to support it and pass it on. CAMMI OECHSLI TAYLOR, Commissioner, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, testified by teleconference from Anchorage. She said the AOGCC also supports HB 323. She urged its passage. Number 0321 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT made a motion to move HB 323 from committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, HB 323 was moved from the House Special Committee on Utility Restructuring. ADJOURNMENT CHAIRMAN HUDSON adjourned the House Special Committee on Utility Restructuring meeting at 9:25 a.m.