ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE  April 18, 2001 10:50 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator John Cowdery, Vice Chair Senator Randy Phillips Senator Gene Therriault Senator Johnny Ellis MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Drue Pearce, Chair (Excused) COMMITTEE CALENDAR  SENATE BILL NO. 123 "An Act relating to legislative approval for the design and construction of facilities of the Alaska Railroad Corporation." APPROVED FOR CALENDARING SENATE BILL NO. 166 "An Act relating to the time of filling by appointment a vacancy in the office of United States senator." APPROVED FOR CALENDARING CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 13(JUD) "An Act relating to municipal service areas and providing for voter approval of the formation, alteration, or abolishment of certain service areas." MOVED SCS CSSSHB 13(RLS) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 118 "An Act relating to a mandatory exemption from municipal taxes on certain residences; and providing for an effective date." APPROVED FOR CALENDARING SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 22 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to the retention elections for justices of the Alaska supreme court and judges of the superior court. SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  SB 123 - See Transportation minutes dated 3/22/01. SB 166 - See Judiciary minutes dated 4/9/01. HB 13 - See Community and Regional Affairs minutes dated 3/19/01. See Judiciary minutes dated 4/2/01 and 4/9/01. HB 118 - See Community and Regional Affairs minutes dated 3/28/01. SJR 22 - See Judiciary minutes dated 4/2/01. WITNESS REGISTER  Bill Stoltz Aide to Senator Halford Alaska State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the changes made in SCS CSSSHB 13(RLS). ACTION NARRATIVE [NOTE: NO RECORDING IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS MEETING]   VICE-CHAIRMAN COWDERY called the Senate Rules Committee meeting to order at 10:50 a.m. Present were Senators Phillips, Therriault, and Cowdery. The first order of business to come before the committee was SB 123. SB 123-LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL:RAILROAD FACILITIES  SENATOR THERRIAULT asked if a proposed committee substitute to SB 123 was before the committee. MR. PAT CARTER, committee aide, said there was no proposed committee substitute. SENATOR PHILLIPS moved to calendar SB 123. There being no objection, the motion carried. SB 166-APPOINTMENT OF US SENATORS  SENATOR PHILLIPS moved to calendar SB 166. SENATOR ELLIS objected. A roll call vote was taken. The motion to calendar SB 166 carried with Senators Phillips, Therriault and Cowdery voting "yea," and Senator Ellis voting "nay." HB 13-SERVICE AREAS:VOTER APPROVAL/TAX ZONES  SENATOR PHILLIPS moved to adopt SCS CSSSHB 13(RLS) as the working document before the committee. SENATOR ELLIS objected and asked for an explanation of the changes made in the committee substitute. MR. BILL STOLTZ, legislative aide to Senator Halford, explained that only one change was made on page 2, line 22, to the language that relates to exemptions for voter approval of fire service areas. It adds a second qualifier under which voter approval is not required: that is when the change would add no more than 1,000 residents. He noted that change was added at the request of the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department. SENATOR THERRIAULT asked if the change would put a limitation on the 6 percent. MR. STOLTZ said it keeps the 6 percent limitation but adds another. SENATOR ELLIS removed his objection to adopting SCS CSSSHB 13(RLS) as the working document before the committee, therefore the motion carried.` SENATOR THERRIAULT again questioned the 6 percent figure. SENATOR PHILLIPS said that provision will not affect any fire service areas in Fairbanks. MR. STOLTZ informed Senator Therriault that the change is not draconian. SENATOR PHILLIPS pointed out that Chugiak is close to 6 percent so adding another qualifier of 1,000 residents adds extra protection. MR. STOLTZ added that this provision is similar to the police service area vote. SENATOR PHILLIPS moved to calendar SCS CSSSHB 13(RLS). SENATOR ELLIS objected. The motion to calendar SCS CSSSHB 13(RLS) carried with Senators Phillips, Therriault and Cowdery voting "yea," and Senator Ellis voting "nay." HB 118-SR. CIT./VETERAN PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION  SENATOR THERRIAULT moved to calendar HB 118. There being no objection, the motion carried. There being no further business to come before the committee, CHAIRMAN COWDERY adjourned the meeting at 10:58 a.m.