04/27/2001 10:55 AM Senate RLS

CHAIRWOMAN PEARCE  announced that a proposed Senate  Rules Committee                                                            
Substitute for HB  72-ASST.ADJUTANT  GEN.: MISSILE/SPACE DEFENSE was                                                        
before the committee.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT moved  to adopt SCS HB 72(RLS), Version F, as the                                                            
working document  of the committee.   There being no objection,  the                                                            
motion carried.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. CAROL CARROLL,  Administrative Services Division,  Department of                                                            
Military  and Veterans  Affairs,  explained  the difference  in  the                                                            
Senate  Rules Committee  version  is the  removal  of the  five-year                                                            
sunset clause.   General Oates advised her that the  development and                                                            
deployment of  the space and missile defense system  in Alaska could                                                            
take at least seven years.   He prefers that the bill have no sunset                                                            
clause  as  that  could  send  the  wrong  message  to  the  federal                                                            
government.   This program is a joint  effort between the  state and                                                            
federal government.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRWOMAN  PEARCE said the  position is  funded with federal  funds                                                            
and it  is her understanding  that the federal  government  will not                                                            
approve the  continuation of the actual  position once the  national                                                            
missile  defense  program is  in place.   She  asked  if the  Senate                                                            
Finance Committee was concerned  that the state would not be able to                                                            
carry that employee after the program is in place.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARROLL said that is correct.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT  noted that General Oates informed  him yesterday                                                            
that  the name  of the  program  has been  changed  to the  national                                                            
missile defense  and space  program so there  is a possibility  that                                                            
the federal  government  may continue  to fund that  position  for a                                                            
longer term.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
There being  no further questions  or testimony, SENATOR  THERRIAULT                                                            
moved to  calendar SCS  HB 72(RLS)  with its  attached fiscal  note.                                                            
There being no objection, the motion carried.