SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE March 23, 2018 9:01 a.m. 9:01:41 AM CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair MacKinnon called the Senate Finance Committee meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair Senator Anna MacKinnon, Co-Chair Senator Click Bishop, Vice-Chair Senator Peter Micciche Senator Donny Olson Senator Gary Stevens Senator Natasha von Imhof MEMBERS ABSENT None ALSO PRESENT Senator Mike Shower, Sponsor; SUMMARY SB 65 JONESVILLE PUBLIC USE AREA CSSB 65(RES) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation with a new Statement of Zero Fiscal Impact by the Office of the Governor for the Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of Public Safety; and a new zero fiscal note from Department of Natural Resources. SENATE BILL NO. 65 "An Act establishing the Jonesville Public Use Area." 9:02:13 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon relayed that the committee had heard the bill on March 20, 2018 and had heard public testimony. There had been no proposed amendments. The committee had discussed the fiscal notes. SENATOR MIKE SHOWER, SPONSOR, hoped that he had answered the committee's questions. He had learned more on the topic of the bill and continued to work on the bill as the first phase of a three-part plan. He stated that there would be additional steps in the plan that would come in three to five years. Co-Chair MacKinnon asked the sponsor to describe the purpose of the bill. Senator Shower explained that SB 65 established a public use area that was north of Palmer, Alaska. There had been frequent public safety concerns in the area including one fatal shooting. Additionally, there was litter and drug use in the area as well as an uptick in population and use of the area. There was heavy usage of the area in the summer, which had led to collisions between people and vehicles and people using multi-use areas for discharging firearms. There were conflicting uses of areas that caused public safety concern. Senator Shower continued discussing the purpose of the bill. He stated that by establishing the area and a management plan to follow, it was hoped that public safety would be increased and mitigate the negative effects that had been prevalent in the area. He relayed that the local community and Mat-Su Borough had been very involved in cleaning up to the area to the best of its ability but were overwhelmed by the over-usage. He hoped the establishment of the public use area along with the creation of a management plan by the commissioner of Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would enhance public safety and keep the area clean for future use. 9:05:12 AM Senator Stevens recalled that there was a good shooting range space in the area that would be safe and protect other users. Senator Shower answered in the affirmative. He stated that there were several gravel pits in the area where there had been random public use for shooting. He detailed that a photographer had been shot in such an area. The goal was to find areas with an appropriate backdrop to build established gun ranges. Vice-Chair Bishop reiterated that the committee had addressed the zero fiscal notes. Vice-Chair Bishop MOVED to report CSSB 65(RES) out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSSB 65(RES) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation with a new Statement of Zero Fiscal Impact by the Office of the Governor for the Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of Public Safety; and a new zero fiscal note from Department of Natural Resources. 9:07:00 AM AT EASE 9:08:56 AM RECONVENED Co-Chair MacKinnon discussed the schedule for the following week. She relayed that the committee anticipated receiving the operating budget the following week and that public testimony had been scheduled. She advised of potential schedule changes. ADJOURNMENT 9:10:28 AM The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 a.m.