Legislature(2005 - 2006)
2005-02-07 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2005-02-07 House Journal Page 0247 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday February 7, 2005 Twenty-ninth Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Harris at 11:01 a.m. Roll call showed 35 members present. Representatives Croft, Kohring, Kott, and Weyhrauch had been previously excused from a call of the House today. Representative Rokeberg was absent and his presence was noted later. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Pastor Patrick Brayton of the Valley Chapel. Representative LeDoux moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Heavenly Father, I look to You and call for Your blessing and presence to come down upon these, our representatives. May Your favor be strong toward the people of Alaska and may Your spirit move through those in these chambers who labor so faithfully for our well-being. Please give them Your wisdom for every dilemma and may they work together in peace for the good of all. Let this day's labor be fruitful and may we all experience the love and the joy that You alone can give. I pray for them in Jesus' name. Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Gardner. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Coghill moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 26th, 27th, and 28th legislative days be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. 2005-02-07 House Journal Page 0248 REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES HB 97 The State Affairs Committee has considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 97 "An Act relating to the authority to take oaths, affirmations, and acknowledgments in the state, to notarizations, to verifications, to acknowledgments, to fees for issuing certificates with the seal of the state affixed, and to notaries public; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 97(STA) (same title) The report was signed by Representative Seaton, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (6): Lynn, Gatto, Elkins, Gruenberg, Ramras, Seaton No recommendation (1): Gardner The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 97(STA): 1. Fiscal, Office of the Governor HB 97 was referred to the Judiciary Committee. INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 130 HOUSE BILL NO. 130 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: "An Act granting certain state land to the University of Alaska and establishing the university research forest; and providing for an effective date." 2005-02-07 House Journal Page 0249 was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Fish & Game 2. Fiscal, Dept. of Law 3. Fiscal, Dept. of Natural Resources 4. Fiscal, University of Alaska The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 4, 2005, follows: "Dear Speaker Harris: Under authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill that would provide for the conveyance of approximately 260,000 acres of state land to the University of Alaska (university), most of it over the next three years. This bill is the product of more than a year of discussions between the Department of Natural Resources (department) and the university. Its major goal is to supplant the more time-consuming and expensive features of legislation enacted in 2000 (ch. 136, SLA 2000). Statutory changes enacted in ch. 136, SLA 2000 provided for a ten-year process during which the university would select up to 260,000 acres of state- owned land to be conveyed to the university for the primary purpose of generating income for the university. Unfortunately, that process has proved difficult, expensive, time-consuming, and subject to litigation. To date, no land has been conveyed to the university under ch. 136, SLA 2000. Over the course of the past year, the university and the department have reached an agreement on land that may be conveyed to the university without unreasonably conflicting with programs associated with, and uses of, state land managed by the department. The land is identified in a document titled "University of Alaska Land Grant List 2005," dated January 12, 2005, a copy of which will be provided upon request. The bill I transmit today would provide legislative approval for the conveyance of that land to the university, thereby avoiding 2005-02-07 House Journal Page 0250 unnecessary delay and expense, and expediting a highly significant source of income for the university. The bill also would establish a university research forest on certain land to be conveyed under the bill in 2055, or soon after that, that is located mainly in the Tanana Valley State Forest. The research forest would be used to advance research into forest practices, ecology, wildlife management, and recreation. Existing law authorizes the university to create a demonstration forest on land selected and conveyed under ch. 136, SLA 2000. This bill would repeal and reenact that law to establish the research forest without requiring a separate procedure. Because the land designated as the university research forest would not be conveyed to the university until 2055, it would be managed by the department until then under applicable state land use and forest management plans, and other applicable state law. While the research forest land is under department management, the department would be able to dispose of certain natural resources located on that land, so long as the disposal is consistent with the purposes of the research forest and complies with other applicable law. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure, which will provide for the cost-effective and timely conveyance of land to the university in order to ensure a very significant and additional source of income for the support of public higher education in Alaska and to secure the benefits of a research forest. Sincerely yours, /s/ Frank H. Murkowski Governor" CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR LEGISLATIVE CITATIONS Representative Coghill moved and asked unanimous consent that the House approve the citations on the calendar. There being no objection, the following citations were approved and sent to enrolling: 2005-02-07 House Journal Page 0251 Honoring - Rayme L. Vinson By Representatives Harris, Kerttula, Anderson, Berkowitz, Chenault, Cissna, Crawford, Croft, Dahlstrom, Elkins, Gara, Gatto, Gruenberg, Guttenberg, Hawker, Holm, Joule, Kapsner, Kohring, LeDoux, Lynn, McGuire, Meyer, Neuman, Olson, Ramras, Samuels, Seaton, Stoltze, Thomas, Wilson Honoring - Lorene C. Harrison By Representatives Gara, Harris, Anderson, Berkowitz, Chenault, Cissna, Crawford, Croft, Dahlstrom, Elkins, Gatto, Gruenberg, Guttenberg, Hawker, Holm, Joule, Kapsner, Kerttula, Kohring, LeDoux, McGuire, Meyer, Neuman, Olson, Ramras, Samuels, Seaton, Stoltze, Thomas, Wilson; Senator Ellis Honoring - Jean Ward, 2004 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award By Senator Ellis; Representatives Gara, Harris, Anderson, Berkowitz, Chenault, Cissna, Coghill, Crawford, Croft, Dahlstrom, Elkins, Gardner, Gatto, Gruenberg, Guttenberg, Hawker, Holm, Joule, Kapsner, Kerttula, Kohring, LeDoux, McGuire, Meyer, Neuman, Olson, Ramras Samuels, Seaton, Stoltze, Thomas, Wilson Honoring - The Fairbanks Aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Celebrating 100 Years of Dedication to the Community By Senator Wilken; Representatives Harris, Anderson, Berkowitz, Chenault, Cissna, Coghill, Crawford, Croft, Dahlstrom, Elkins, Gara, Gatto, Gruenberg, Guttenberg, Hawker, Holm, Joule, Kapsner, Kelly, Kerttula, Kohring, LeDoux, Lynn, McGuire, Meyer, Neuman, Olson, Ramras, Samuels, Seaton, Stoltze, Thomas, Wilson **The presence of Representative Rokeberg was noted. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Representative Coghill moved and asked unanimous consent that the following members be excused from a call of the House. There being no objection, the members were excused as noted: 2005-02-07 House Journal Page 0252 Representative Olson - from 7:30 p.m., February 9 to 2:30 p.m., plane time, February 13, 2005 Representative LeDoux - from 7:30 p.m., February 10 to 9:30 p.m., plane time, February 14, 2005 Representative Gatto - from 7:30 p.m., February 10 to 9:30 p.m., plane time, February 13, 2005 Representative Rokeberg - from 7:30 p.m., February 10 to 9:30 a.m., plane time, February 14, 2005 Representative Elkins - from 7:00 a.m., February 11 to 10:00 p.m., plane time, February 13, 2005 Representative Neuman - from noon, February 11 to 9:30 a.m., plane time, February 14, 2005 Representative Holm - from 6:00 p.m., February 11 to 9:30 a.m., plane time, February 14, 2005 Representative Gara - from 7:30 p.m., February 11 to 9:30 a.m., plane time, February 14, 2005 Representative Anderson - from 1:00 p.m., February 11 to 3:00 p.m., plane time, February 15, 2005 Representative Meyer - from 7:30 a.m., February 12 to 9:30 p.m., plane time, February 13, 2005 HB 117 The Speaker added a State Affairs Committee referral to precede the Judiciary Committee referral for the following: HOUSE BILL NO. 117 "An Act relating to the liability of the state and municipalities for attorney fees in certain civil actions and appeals; and providing for an effective date." HB 117 is in the Community & Regional Affairs Committee. 2005-02-07 House Journal Page 0253 HB 1 Representatives Lynn and Neuman added their names as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 1 "An Act relating to the base student allocation used in the formula for state funding of public education; and providing for an effective date." HB 15 Representative Foster added his name as cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 15 "An Act relating to seasonal alcoholic beverage licenses; and providing for an effective date." HB 109 Representatives Anderson, LeDoux, Guttenberg, and Lynn added their names as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 109 "An Act relating to establishing a screening, tracking, and intervention program related to the hearing ability of newborns and infants; providing an exemption to licensure as an audiologist for certain persons performing hearing screening tests; relating to insurance coverage for newborn and infant hearing screening; and providing for an effective date." HB 118 Representative Dahlstrom added her name as cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 118 "An Act relating to an address confidentiality program for victims of stalking, domestic violence, or sexual assault." ANNOUNCEMENTS House committee schedules are published daily under separate cover. 2005-02-07 House Journal Page 0254 ADJOURNMENT Representative Coghill moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 10:00 a.m., February 9, 2005. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 11:18 a.m. Suzi Lowell Chief Clerk