00                       CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 278(STA)                                                                    
01 "An Act establishing the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission; and providing for an                                          
02 effective date."                                                                                                        
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1. AS 44.33 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                  
05                 Article 7A. Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission.                                                          
06            Sec. 44.33.440. Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission. (a) The Alaska-Ireland                                    
07       Trade Commission is established in the department.                                                                
08            (b)  The commission consists of five members appointed by the governor. The                                  
09       members of the commission serve staggered three-year terms at the pleasure of the                                 
10       governor.                                                                                                         
11            (c)  The purpose of the commission is to                                                                     
12                 (1)  advance bilateral trade and investment between the state and                                       
13       Ireland;                                                                                                          
14                 (2)  initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to the state                             
01       and Ireland;                                                                                                      
02                 (3)  promote business, entrepreneurship, new venture development, and                                   
03       academic exchanges between the state and Ireland;                                                                 
04                 (4)  promote research collaborations and funding opportunities that                                     
05       advance the mutual interests of the state and Ireland;                                                            
06                 (5)  encourage mutual economic support between the state and Ireland;                                   
07                 (6)  encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of the state and                                 
08       Ireland; and                                                                                                      
09                 (7)  address other issues as determined by the commission.                                              
10 (d)  The commission shall elect a chair from among its members. A majority of                                           
11       the members of the commission constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.                                
12 (e)  Except for meetings held outside of the state that the commission                                                  
13 determines should be conducted in person, the commission shall meet by electronic                                       
14 means. The commission shall provide public notice of a meeting at least seven days                                      
15       before the meeting.                                                                                               
16 (f)  If the department obtains the information required under (h)(1) of this                                            
17 section and provides a copy of that information to the commission, the department                                       
18       may accept a grant, donation, or gift from a public or private source to pay for                                  
19                 (1)  per diem and travel expenses of the commission; or                                                 
20 (2)  other assistance and support the commission requires to carry out                                                  
21       the purposes of this section .                                                                                    
22 (g)  Except as permitted under (f)(1) of this section, members of the                                                   
23 commission serve without compensation and are not entitled to per diem and travel                                       
24       expenses authorized by law under AS 39.20.180.                                                                    
25 (h)  By the 30th day of each regular legislative session, the commission shall                                          
26 prepare a report, deliver the report to the governor, senate secretary, and chief clerk of                              
27 the house of representatives, and notify the legislature that the report is available. The                              
28       report must include                                                                                               
29 (1)  information on the grants, donations, and gifts accepted under (f) of                                              
30       this section in the previous year, including                                                                      
31 (A)  the date and amount or value of each grant, donation, and                                                          
01            gift;                                                                                                        
02                      (B)  the total amount or value of all grants, donations, and gifts;                                
03                      (C)  the name and address of each person who made a grant,                                         
04 donation, or gift, and the dates and total amount or value of the grants,                                               
05            donations, or gifts; and                                                                                     
06                      (D)  for grants, donations, or gifts in excess of $50 in the                                       
07            aggregate during the previous year, the principal occupation and employer of                                 
08            the person who made the grant, donation, or gift; and                                                        
09                 (2)  the commission's findings, results, and recommendations.                                           
10 (i)  The commission may not contract for writing services or support to prepare                                         
11 the report required under (h) of this section unless a grant, donation, or gift is made for                             
12 that purpose under (f) of this section. The department may not provide staff to the                                     
13 commission to provide writing services or support to prepare the report required under                                  
14       (h) of this section.                                                                                              
15 (j)  In this section, "department" means the Department of Commerce,                                                    
16       Community, and Economic Development.                                                                              
17    * Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
18 read:                                                                                                                   
19 INITIAL APPOINTMENT; STAGGERED TERMS. Notwithstanding                                                                   
20 AS 44.33.440(b), enacted by sec. 1 of this Act, the members of the Alaska-Ireland Trade                                 
21 Commission appointed under AS 44.33.440(b), enacted by sec. 1 of this Act, are appointed to                             
22 initial terms as follows:                                                                                               
23            (1)  one member shall serve a one-year term;                                                                 
24            (2)  two members shall serve two-year terms; and                                                             
25            (3)  two members shall serve three-year terms.                                                               
26    * Sec. 3. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).