02/24/2003 02:22 PM House FIN

HOUSE BILL NO. 101                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  making a special  appropriation for a  grant to                                                                   
     Arctic  Power  to  promote  the opening  of  the  Arctic                                                                   
     National  Wildlife Refuge  for oil  and gas  exploration                                                                   
     and development; and providing for an effective date."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Meyer MOVED  to  ADOPT Committee  Substitute  for                                                                   
House Bill 101, Work Draft 23-LS0555/I.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Croft  OBJECTED  and questioned  for  further                                                                   
clarification  regarding   changes  made  in   the  Committee                                                                   
Substitute.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Harris observed that  the Committee Substitute would                                                                   
appropriate  $2.7 million  to Artic Power,  $100 thousand  to                                                                   
Kaktovik,  and $300 thousand  to the  Office of the  Governor                                                                   
for the  specific purpose of  working with the  congressional                                                                   
delegation.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
In response to  a question by Representative  Joule, Co-Chair                                                                   
Harris  clarified that  the  total appropriation  for  Arctic                                                                   
Power would be  $2.8 million, of this $100  thousand would be                                                                   
appropriated to Katovik. The $300  thousand for the Office of                                                                   
the Governor would be a separate appropriation.                                                                                 
Representative  Croft  observed that  Arctic  Power has  been                                                                   
used as  the funding  source of all  the state's  efforts and                                                                   
would  funnel funds  to Katovik.  He noted  that there  was a                                                                   
separate  appropriation to  the  Office of  the Governor  and                                                                   
questioned  why  Arctic Power  was  not  used to  fund  these                                                                   
efforts.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Harris acknowledged that  Arctic Power could be used                                                                   
to fund  the Office  of the Governor  and indicated  that the                                                                   
issue could be discussed after  the adoption of the committee                                                                   
substitute.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Croft WITHDREW his OBJECTION.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
There  being NO  OBJECTION,  the Committee  Substitute,  Work                                                                   
Draft 23-LS0555/I, was adopted.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative Croft  reiterated his concerns  and questioned                                                                   
why it was felt necessary to break  up the appropriation. Co-                                                                   
Chair  Harris  responded  that  the Office  of  the  Governor                                                                   
requested funding  for personnel  located in Washington  D.C.                                                                   
who  are  coordinating  efforts.   He  maintained  that  this                                                                   
coordination was  especially important during  the transition                                                                   
between administrations.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Whitaker  expressed his  belief  that it  was                                                                   
appropriate  to support the  Governor's longstanding  efforts                                                                   
to develop ANWR resources.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Meyer  noted a conflict  of interest and  MOVED to                                                                   
be excused from voting. Co-Chair Harris OBJECTED.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hawker  also noted a conflict  of interest and                                                                   
MOVED  to  be excused  from  deliberations.  Co-Chair  Harris                                                                   
OBJECTED.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Harris  pointed  out  a difference  in  the  intent                                                                   
language  in Section  1 of  the CS.   He  explained that  the                                                                   
intent language  directs Artic  Power to coordinate  with the                                                                   
delegation in Washington D.C.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Williams MOVED  to  report CSHB  101  (FIN) out  of                                                                   
Committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CSHB  101 (FIN)  was REPORTED  out  of Committee  with a  "do                                                                   
pass" recommendation.