03/20/2023 01:00 PM House RESOURCES

            HB 103-EXTEND ALASKA MINERALS COMMISSION                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:37:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY  announced that the  next order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 103,  "An Act extending  the termination  date of                                                               
the Alaska Minerals Commission."                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:37:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MIKE CRONK,  Alaska State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor,  introduced  HB 103  by  reading  the sponsor  statement                                                               
[included  in  the  committee  packet],  which  read  as  follows                                                               
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     HB  103 is a technical change to statute.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
        The Mineral Commission's present sunset date is                                                                         
     February 2024.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
       HB  103 amends that date to February 2034. (A ten-                                                                       
     year extension.)                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:38:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  MCKAY asked  what duties  the  Alaska Minerals  Commission                                                               
performs.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
DAVE STANCLIFF,  Staff, Representative  Mike Cronk,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, on behalf of Representative  Cronk, prime sponsor of                                                               
HB 103, explained  that the Alaska Minerals  Commission (AMC) had                                                               
been around  since 1985  and it  makes recommendations,  files an                                                               
annual report,  and strives to  give good advice  to policymakers                                                               
and  administration  on how  best  to  expand and  stimulate  the                                                               
economy through  the extraction of  minerals.  He stated  that he                                                               
had heard  nothing but good  things about  AMC and he  added that                                                               
the commission is not a "huge expense" to the state.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY asked about a fiscal note.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANCLIFF related there was a zero fiscal note.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:41:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY opened public testimony on HB 103.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:41:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRONK JORGENSEN,  representing self,  told the committee  that he                                                               
is a trustee  for the 40 Mile Mining District  and has served two                                                               
terms  on  the  Alaska  Mineral Commission.    He  described  the                                                               
commission  as  excellent  for the  industry;  it  raises  hidden                                                               
concerns  among the  industry that  can  be brought  to light  by                                                               
various agencies.  Agencies can  bring problems to the commission                                                               
for  resolution.     He  highly  recommended  the   term  of  the                                                               
commission be  extended [as proposed  under HB 103].   He pointed                                                               
out that  there is [a zero]  fiscal note; those who  serve on the                                                               
commission pay their own "per diem  and way," and everyone on the                                                               
commission "is very committed to the  goals stated."  He spoke in                                                               
support  of  extending the  commission.    In response  to  Chair                                                               
McKay, he confirmed that he supports HB 103.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:42:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY, after ascertaining there  was no one else who wished                                                               
to testify, closed public testimony on HB 103.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  MCKAY ascertained  that no  one  on the  committee had  an                                                               
amendment to offer.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK thanked the committee.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY entertained a motion.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:43:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER moved  to report HB 103  out of committee                                                               
with individual recommendations and  the accompanying zero fiscal                                                               
note.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:43:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER  objected to  note that  he had  carried a                                                               
bill  ten years  previously to  extend the  commission.   He then                                                               
removed his objection.  There  being no further objection, HB 103                                                               
was reported out of the House Resources Standing Committee.