SENATE RULES COMMITTEE February 7, 1995 11:40 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Mike Miller, Chair Senator Drue Pearce, Vice Chair Senator Bert Sharp Senator Jim Duncan Senator Judy Salo MEMBERS ABSENT All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4 Relating to adoption of the Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, amending those rules; and providing for an effective date. SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4 Naming the Poet Laureate of Alaska. SENATE BILL NO. 55 "An Act repealing the sunset of the enhanced 911 emergency reporting systems." CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13 (O&G) Urging the United States Congress to pass legislation to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, to oil and gas exploration, development, and production. PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION HCR 4 - No previous action to record. SCR 4 - See State Affairs minutes dated 2/2/95. SB 55 - See Labor and Commerce minutes dated 2/2/95. HJR 13 - See Resources minutes dated 2/6/95. WITNESS REGISTER Senator Fred Zharoff State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on amendment to HJR 13 ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 95-1, SIDE A CHAIRMAN MILLER called the Senate Rules Committee meeting to order at 11:40 a.m. SRLS - 2/7/95 SENATOR SHARP moved and asked unanimous consent that HCR 4 (ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF UNIFORM RULES) be approved for calendaring. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. SRLS - 2/7/95 SENATOR PEARCE moved and asked unanimous consent that SCR 4 (POET LAUREATE OF ALASKA) be approved for calendaring. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. SRLS - 2/7/95 SENATOR PEARCE moved and asked unanimous consent that SB 55 (REPEALING SUNSET OF ENHANCED 911 SYSTEM) be approved for calendaring. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. SRLS - 2/7/95 CHAIRMAN MILLER brought CSHJR 13(O&G) (ENDORSING ANWR LEASING) before the committee as the final order of business. He directed attention to a proposed amendment by Senator Lincoln. SENATOR DUNCAN moved the adoption of the following amendment: Page 1, line 15: Insert the following: "WHEREAS the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge comprises a core calving and nursery ground of the Porcupine Caribou herd; and WHEREAS the people residing within the boundaries of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge have relied on caribou for subsistence for thousands of years, and continue to subsist on the Porcupine Caribou herd, a herd that is essential to meet the nutritional, cultural, and spiritual needs of these people; and" Page 3, line 3: Delete "." and insert "; and be it" Page 3, line 4: Insert the following: "FURTHER RESOLVED that the Congress join with the state to ensure the continued health and productivity of the Porcupine Caribou herd, and the protection of land, water and wildlife resources during the exploration and development of the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge." CHAIRMAN MILLER objected to the adoption of the amendment for discussion purposes. SENATOR FRED ZHAROFF explained it was his understanding the amendment was offered in the Senate Resources Committee, although neither Senator Lincoln or Senator Hoffman were present at that meeting. He said the caribou within ANWR is a subsistence herd and the purpose of Senator Lincoln's amendment is to ensure protection of that herd. SENATOR SALO, speaking in support of the amendment, pointed out that in addition to the subsistence issue of the dependence on the Porcupine Caribou herd, there is also an issue of how much the ANWR development is either supported or fought by the people who live there. Although the language doesn't change the resolution a whole lot, it probably assures that the people in that area are supportive of the development rather than in opposition. CHAIRMAN MILLER said it was his understanding that the amendment failed in the Senate Resource Committee, and he maintained his objection. The roll was taken with the following result: Senators Duncan and Salo voted "Yea" and Senators Pearce, Sharp and Miller voted "Nay." The Chairman stated the amendment failed. SENATOR PEARCE moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHJR 13(O&G) be approved for calendaring. SENATOR SALO objected and then requested that the legislation not be calendared until Senator Lincoln is back in town so that she will have the opportunity to offer the amendment on the Senate floor. CHAIRMAN MILLER responded that he and the presiding officer will try to accommodate that request. SENATOR SALO removed her objection, and there being no further objection, HJR 13 was approved for calendaring. There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:47 a.m.