ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE  June 17, 2004 1:07 p.m. TAPES 04-41, 42  MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Con Bunde, Chair Senator Gary Stevens Senator Bettye Davis Senator Hollis French MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Ralph Seekins, Vice Chair OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT  Representative Mike Hawker Representative Ralph Samuels COMMITTEE CALENDAR ^Overview: Tobacco Tax Issues SUMMARY OF INFORMATION CHAIR CON BUNDE convened the meeting of the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee at 1:07 p.m. COMMISSIONER STEVE GILBERTSON, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), summarized use of tobacco and its effects on health related issues. MS. JOANNA BALES, Program Manager, Cigarette and Tobacco Excise Tax Division, Department of Revenue (DOR), apprised the committee on the fiscal and administrative impacts of likely changes in the tobacco tax law. MS. PAT LUBY, AARP, testified on the effects of tobacco usage on society and individual health. MS. KATARYNA STILES, Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB), emphasized ways tobacco use impacts the health of Native Alaskans, primarily its youth, and how important prevention is. MS. STACY THEUSCH, Girdwood resident, informed the committee of the community's support of the tax. MS. JENNIFER APP, Advocacy Director, American Heart Association, related how tobacco use is the number one cause of disease and preventable death in general. MS. EMILY NENON, CEO, American Cancer Society, related how the tax is the single best way to prevent youth from smoking. MS. CHRISTIE GARBE, CEO, American Lung Association, urged legislators to act quickly and related how youth, in general, would be sensitive to the tax increase and that public support for it is great and growing. ANNOUNCEMENTS  No announcements. COMMITTEE ACTION  No committee action.   ADJOURNMENT  CHAIR CON BUNDE adjourned the meeting at 2:48 p.m. NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by contacting the Senate Records Office at State Capitol, Room 3, Juneau, Alaska 99801 (mailing address), (907) 465-2870, and after adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-Third Alaska State Legislature this information may be obtained by contacting the Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.