Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/03/2015 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR2 | |
| HB43 | |
| HB1 | |
| SJR12 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SCR 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 43 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| HB 1 | |||
| *+ | SJR 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 1-STATE ARCTIC POLICY
9:32:36 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced consideration of HB 1. [CSHB 1(EDA)AM
was before the committee.]
REPRENSENTATIVE BOB HERRON, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of
HB 1, explained in 2013 and 2014 the Alaska Arctic Policy
Commission, made up of ten legislators, five from each house,
along with 16 peer experts, met to work on an Arctic Policy.
They delivered the final report, the implementation plan, and
executive summary on January 30, 2015, as required by the
legislature. There was much dialogue, debate, and conversation
throughout the state as to the best policies. He said the most
important points are that Alaska people should come first and
the policy will benefit the entire state. The policy strengthens
Alaska's position in the Arctic with the federal government and
other Arctic nations and must lead to economic benefit to
Alaskans.
He noted Section 1 sends the most important message: Alaskans
are Arctic experts.
9:34:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON reviewed the four lines of effort in the
implementation plan: promote economic development, address
infrastructure gap, support healthy communities, and strengthen
Arctic science and research.
CHAIR STOLTZE requested information on a recent amendment on the
House Floor regarding the Law of the Sea.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON explained that the Law of the Sea Treaty
is before the U.S. Senate and does not need to be stated in the
Arctic Policy. He said he supported the deletion of the
amendment.
CHAIR STOLTZE summarized that all endorsements for the Law of
the Sea Treaty are removed.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON answered yes.
9:35:51 AM
SENATOR COGHILL understood that the U.S. would be assuming the
chairmanship of the Arctic Council. He requested to know to whom
the report is targeted.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON answered that there are three audiences
targeted by the report. The first, and most important, is the
Alaska State Legislature. The second audience is the executive
branch. The third audience is the federal government. He pointed
to recent decisions made by the federal government for Alaska.
He stressed that Alaska should determine its own destiny.
He explained that the Arctic Policy also targets the Arctic
Commission in that it explains how Alaska would like to be
treated and involved in decision-making regarding the Arctic. He
noted Alaska has a very close working relationship with the
State Department who will chair the Arctic Council; Ambassador
David Balton will be the chair of the Senior Arctic Officials.
9:39:44 AM
SENATOR COGHILL thanked Representative Herron for his concise
explanation.
CHAIR STOLTZE asked Representative Herron to address page 3,
lines 16 to 18. He requested an explanation of the collaboration
with the stated entities.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON explained that it means Alaska will have
discussions with all the listed entities about having a
transparent and inclusive decision-making process. It asks the
executive branch to participate, as well as the legislature, as
much as possible. The most difficult entity has been the federal
government.
9:41:25 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE noted a reference to non-governmental
organizations (NGOs).
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON clarified that there are NGO's the state
can benefit from, such as environmental NGO's (ENGO's), a term
created by the North Slope Borough. Alaska would like the NGO's
to be as informed as possible and would like to be informed by
their intentions and efforts.
CHAIR STOLTZE asked for NGO specifications.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON said the Pew Foundation is an example of a
friendly NGO. He said the goal is to be informed of the true
intention of entities and for Alaska to be included in the
decision-making process.
9:43:36 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE did not know if he was comfortable with the Pew
Foundations.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON noted that they have done good things for
Alaska, such as opposing the Aleutian Sanctuary.
CHAIR STOLTZE opened public testimony.
9:44:24 AM
DR. JOE MCLAUGHLIN, State Epidemiologist, Department of Health
and Social Services (DHSS) testified in support of HB 1. He said
the bill promotes the health and wellness of Alaskans by
supporting healthy Arctic communities and strengthening a state-
based agenda for Arctic science and research. He noted areas of
health impact prevention due to the Artic Policy: climate
change, environmental contaminants, subsistence food, resource
changes, cultural changes in communities, changing infectious
and chronic disease patterns, access to medical care, and
emergency response capacity. The bill is beneficial in that it
fosters wide-ranging collaboration to achieve transparent,
inclusive, and informed decision-making to maximize the benefit
to Alaskans.
9:46:07 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE closed public testimony. He asked Representative
Herron if he had seen the amendment.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON said he had.
9:46:30 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS moved Amendment 1, labeled 29-LS0013\F.1.
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR STOLTZE
TO: SCS CSHB 1(ARC)
Page 2, following line 23:
Insert a new subsection to read:
"(c) Nothing in the Act is meant to support,
endorse, or reestablish the Alaska Coastal Management
Program that expired in 2011 and was rejected by state
voters in 2012."
9:46:44 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE object for discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON stated support for Amendment 1.
CHAIR STOLTZE explained that the amendment removes the
possibility of including the Alaska Coastal Management Program
in the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON restated support for the amendment.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the amendment refers to not
endorsing or supporting any coastal management program.
CHAIR STOLTZE said yes; the intent is to be much broader.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI objected.
A roll call vote was taken. Senators Coghill, Stoltze, and
Huggins voted in favor of adopting Amendment 1. Senator
Wielechowski voted against it. Therefore, Amendment 1 passed by
a vote of 3 to 1.
9:48:14 AM
SENATOR COGHILL moved that the fiscal notes to HB 1 be approved.
There being no objection, the fiscal notes were adopted.
CHAIR STOLTZE thanked the sponsor for his support of the
amendment and noted that it only applies to HB 1 and not to any
other legislation.
9:50:11 AM
SENATOR COGHILL moved to report SCS CSHB 1(STA) from committee
with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
There being no objection, the motion carried.