Legislature(2017 - 2018)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/13/2018 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB108 | |
| SB160 | |
| HB18 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 108 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 160 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 18-RACE CLASSICS
2:58:50 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of HB 18. [SCS HB
18(CRA) was before the committee.]
2:59:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAN ORTIZ, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of HB 18, said this bill is necessary for the
Ketchikan Greater Chamber of Commerce to be eligible to obtain a
race classic permit. The category "race classic" is so narrowly
defined in statute it only provides for the Mount Marathon Race
held by the Seward Chamber of Commerce. The Ketchikan Chamber
would like to obtain a permit for a non-motorized boat race
beginning in Port Townsend, Washington and ending in Ketchikan,
Alaska. The bill was amended in the Senate Community and
Regional Affairs Committee expanding the scope to allow other
communities to permit race classics.
3:01:13 PM
SENATOR MEYER asked if he supports the CRA amendment to broaden
the scope of the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ said the Ketchikan Chamber would rather not
have the amendment, but the chair of the CRA committee did not
want to address this issue multiple times when different
communities wanted to put on a race classic. As sponsor, he said
his interest is seeing the bill move forward, even with the
amendment.
SENATOR MEYER expressed concern that the amendment makes the
definition overly broad, which could have unforeseen
consequences.
CHAIR COSTELLO said she shares that concern. There's a reason
that the legislature goes through an approval process.
3:03:22 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE stated support for the original intent of HB
18.
SENATOR MEYER asked the sponsor if he would support the
committee returning to the original version of the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ replied, "I'd be perfectly fine with that."
SENATOR MEYER asked if he said that the sponsor of the amendment
supported the bill with or without the amendment.
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ replied he couldn't speak for the sponsor
of the amendment.
3:05:02 PM
At ease
3:06:26 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting and asked Ms. Mitchell why
classics and games of skill and chance must come before the
legislature for authorization. She also asked if the
administration had any concerns with the Senate CRA amendment.
3:07:15 PM
KATRINA MITCHELL, Gaming Group Manager, Tax Division, Department
of Revenue, Juneau, Alaska, explained that statute defines a
variety of classics. Some like the Nenana Ice Classic are
limited to certain organizations while others like the Crane
Classic are open to any organization.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked how many communities or organization have
taken advantage of the Crane Classic authorization.
MS. MITCHELL said the Crane Classic is defined as a game of
chance in which a money prize is awarded for the closest guess
of the arrival time of the first Sandhill Crane to a specific
location. Any organization that holds a gaming permit can
conduct a Crane Classic. Other classics such as the Cabbage
Classic, the Deepfreeze Classic, and the Goose Classic
statutorily limit the authority to conduct the classic to a
certain organization. Any organization that holds a gaming
permit could choose to hold a classic every year, if it is not
specific to an organization.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of
Commerce currently holds a gaming permit or if the bill gives
permission to hold that classic.
MS. MITCHELL said she presumes the chamber already holds a
gaming permit to hold yearly raffles. Should the bill pass, they
would check "raffle and race classic" on the annual permit
request.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if she would advise the committee to limit
the scope of the proposed race classic. She thought she
understood the rationale for the amendment but doing it in the
bill may complicate matters.
MS. MITCHELL said just nonprofit organizations and
municipalities are authorized to apply for and hold a gaming
permit, which limits the field of participants. About 1,000
permits are issued a year. Expanding the field means that more
than one organization that holds a gaming permit would be
allowed to put on a race classic if it wanted to.
SENATOR MICCICHE stated support for adopting version A that
passed the House.
CHAIR COSTELLO polled members and determined there was no
objection to returning to HB 18, 30-LS0199\A.
CHAIR COSTELLO opened public testimony on HB 18, version A.
3:14:16 PM
CHELSEA GOUCHER, President, Board of Directors, Greater
Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, Ketchikan, Alaska, stated that HB
18 would be a great help to Ketchikan Chamber. It is primarily
funded through membership and works with a budget of under
$200,000. She cited the important work underway by the chamber
including maritime workforce development, an initiative
regarding health care pricing transparency, resource development
in timber and mining sectors and most recently an initiative to
attract tech workers to Ketchikan and Southeast generally. HB 18
would help the chamber capitalize on the non-motorized boat race
between Port Townsend, Washington and Ketchikan, Alaska. It's a
race that has already garnered national attention for adventure
and sport enthusiasts.
SENATOR MEYER offered his understanding that the Ketchikan
Chamber didn't care which version of HB 18 passes.
MS. GOUCHER clarified that the Ketchikan Chamber asked the
sponsor to put forward the original version.
3:17:13 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO found no one else who wished to comment and
closed public testimony on HB 18.
3:17:18 PM
At ease
3:17:47 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting.
3:17:52 PM
SENATOR MEYER moved to adopt HB 18, 30-LS0199\A as the working
document.
CHAIR COSTELLO found no objection and version A was adopted.
3:18:14 PM
SENATOR MEYER moved to report HB 18, 30-LS0199\A, from committee
with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
3:18:30 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO found no objection and announced that HB 18,
version A, moves from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee. She noted the fiscal note would change in the next
committee of referral, if needed.