05/06/2025 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

                      HB  50-SNOW CLASSICS                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:01:01 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   MERRICK  reconvened   the   meeting   and  announced   the                                                              
consideration  of HOUSE  BILL  NO.  50 "An  Act  relating to  snow                                                              
classics."                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:01:30 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE   SARA    HANNAN,   District   4,    Alaska   State                                                              
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, said that snow classics  are limited                                                              
to a specific location,  date, and time. She explained  that HB 50                                                              
changes the  charitable gaming  statute by  removing the  specific                                                              
location,  date,  and  time requirements.  This  would  allow  any                                                              
qualified charitable  entity to apply to host a  snow classic. She                                                              
emphasized  that  no other  changes  are  made to  the  charitable                                                              
gaming  statute.  Charitable  organizations  would still  need  to                                                              
meet applicable permitting and other requirements.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:02:53 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR asked what a snow classic is.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HANNAN  replied  that "classics"  are  defined  in                                                              
charity  gaming  laws.  A  snow   classic  is  when  a  charitable                                                              
organization  specifies  a  location,  date, and  time  and  sells                                                              
tickets to participants, who guess the snow accumulation.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:03:41 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DUNBAR  asked  if  Mt. Alyeska  currently  holds  a  snow                                                              
classic.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   HANNAN  replied   that  there   is  a   statutory                                                              
authorization  for a snow  classic at Mt.  Alyeska to  benefit the                                                              
Girdwood Community  School. She noted that this  snow classic does                                                              
not take place every year.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:04:11 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE  HANNAN commented that  there are fifteen  classics                                                              
in statute and listed them.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:04:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MERRICK announced invited testimony on HB 50.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:05:10 PM                                                                                                                    
FRANKIE  PILLIFANT, President,  Juneau  Nordic  Ski Club,  Juneau,                                                              
Alaska, introduced  herself and  said that  the Juneau  Nordic Ski                                                              
Club (JNSC) is a 501(c)(3).                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:05:32 PM                                                                                                                    
TRISTAN KNUTSON-LOMBARDO,  Executive  Director, Juneau  Nordic Ski                                                              
Club, Juneau,  Alaska, explained  that JNSC  considered holding  a                                                              
snow   classic  fundraiser   before   discovering  the   statutory                                                              
limitations.  He  said  JNSC is  a  low-barrier,  "pay-as-you-can"                                                              
program  for  Juneau  youth.  Due to  increasing  costs,  JNSC  is                                                              
seeking new  and fun ways to raise  revenue. He opined  that HB 50                                                              
is  manageable  and stated  that  this  legislation would  have  a                                                              
meaningful impact on the youth in Juneau and across the state.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:06:15 PM                                                                                                                    
MS.  PILLIFANT added  that snow  classics would  be an  additional                                                              
tool  that   would  help  communities   raise  funds   to  sustain                                                              
volunteer programs. She expressed support for HB 50.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:06:44 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  MERRICK opened  public testimony  on HB  50; finding  none,                                                              
she closed public testimony.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:07:12 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN  gave closing comments on HB  50. She shared                                                              
a brief  anecdote to  illustrate  the benefits  of an ice  classic                                                              
for organizations like JNSC.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:07:52 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MERRICK held HB 50 in committee.