02/27/2013 01:00 PM House RESOURCES

               HB  99-ALASKA MINERALS COMMISSION                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:16:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR FEIGE  announced that  the next  order of business  would                                                              
be HOUSE  BILL NO. 99, "An  Act extending the termination  date of                                                              
the  Alaska  Minerals  Commission."   [Before  the  committee  was                                                              
Version 28-LS0430\N,  Martin, 2/15/13,  adopted as the  work draft                                                              
on 2/25/13.]                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SADDLER  recalled  the  previous discussion  of  HB  99,                                                              
which seeks to  extend the expiration date of  the Alaska Minerals                                                              
Commission,  noting that  the proposed  committee substitute  (CS)                                                              
extends  the expiration  date for  an additional  ten years,  adds                                                              
provisions  for  three-year  staggered   terms  -  including  term                                                              
limits -  and allows for  the election  of a commission  chair and                                                              
vice-chair.   Included  also  are  provisions in  uncodified  law,                                                              
allowing  the commission  to transition  to staggered  terms.   He                                                              
summarized,  saying  the  Alaska Minerals  Commission  has  proven                                                              
effective  and  provides  an affordable  voice  for  an  important                                                              
sector  of the  state's  economy,  and urged  for  passage of  the                                                              
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOHNSON  asked  whether  there  is  a  reason  for                                                              
establishing an  eleven-member board rather than  saving costs and                                                              
seating a nine-member board.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SADDLER  responded  this   board  is  one  of  the  most                                                              
economically  operated boards;  in  fact, its  funding request  of                                                              
$13,000  covers  travel for  members  of  the commission  and  the                                                              
publication  of  its  annual  recommendations.     Seating  eleven                                                              
members allows for  representation of all aspects  of the minerals                                                              
industry, and helps ensure a quorum at meetings.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:18:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR FEIGE opened public testimony on HB 99.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:19:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DEANTHA CROCKETT,  Executive Director,  Alaska Miners  Association                                                              
(AMA),  informed  the  committee   AMA  is  a  statewide  business                                                              
association representing  the mining industry in  Alaska, Alaska's                                                              
seven large  mines, ongoing  exploration projects, placer  miners,                                                              
sand and  gravel operators, and  industry vendors.   She expressed                                                              
AMA's support  for HB 99 and  said the Alaska  Minerals Commission                                                              
is  very beneficial,  and  is appreciated  by  AMA  members.   The                                                              
commissioners  represent a  diverse  background and  are in  close                                                              
contact with AMA  when making recommendations to  the governor and                                                              
the legislature  on mining  policy.   Ms. Crockett encouraged  the                                                              
committee to review  the statement of support from  the Department                                                              
of Commerce,  Community &  Economic Development.   She  provided a                                                              
brief summary  of the mining  industry's economic benefits  to the                                                              
state  and  local  communities.   Her  organization  supports  the                                                              
proposed CS, and she urged for its passage.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:21:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARLEANNA   HALL,   Project  Coordinator,   Resource   Development                                                              
Council  for Alaska,  Inc. (RDC),  said  that RDC  is a  statewide                                                              
membership-funded    business    association   representing    the                                                              
forestry, oil  and gas, mining,  tourism, and fishing  industries.                                                              
She provided  a brief  history of the  mining industry  in Alaska,                                                              
adding that RDC  believes the Alaska Minerals  Commission provides                                                              
a  necessary   voice  on  issues   and  recommendations   for  the                                                              
betterment  of  the  state's mineral  industry.    The  commission                                                              
makes  recommendations in  an effort  to  promote exploration  and                                                              
development,  and to  ensure  policy-makers  have the  information                                                              
they require.   Ms.  Hall said  RDC supports  the proposed  CS and                                                              
urged for passage of the bill.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:23:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  FEIGE,   after  ascertaining  no  one   else  wished  to                                                              
testify, closed public testimony.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:24:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE P.  WILSON moved  to report the proposed  committee                                                              
substitute (CS) for  HB 99, Version 28-LS0430\N,  out of committee                                                              
with  individual  recommendations   and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                              
notes.  There being  no objection, CSHB 99 (RES)  was reported out                                                              
of the House Resources Standing Committee.