04/23/2024 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 155(FIN) am                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  establishing   the  Alaska  Military  Affairs                                                                    
     Commission; and  relating to the  duties and  powers of                                                                    
     the Alaska Military Affairs Commission."                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:08:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WILL STAPP, SPONSOR, introduced himself.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:09:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HONOUR MILLER-AUSTIN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE WILL STAPP,                                                                         
introduced herself.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp provided and overview of the bill.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:10:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Miller-Austin provided a Sectional Analysis (copy on                                                                        
file):                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1                                                                                                                  
     •  Establishes the  Alaska Military  Affairs Commission                                                                    
     in the Office of the Governor                                                                                              
     •  Defines the  Commission membership  to include  nine                                                                    
     voting members                                                                                                             
     • Sets (staggered) three-year member terms                                                                                 
     •  Details  Commission   meetings,  quorum  rules,  and                                                                    
     authorizes per diem and travel expenses                                                                                    
     • Enumerates the duties of the Commission                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2                                                                                                                  
     •  Ensures  that  the administrative  support  for  the                                                                    
     Commission is held within the Office of the Governor                                                                       
     • Sunsets  the Alaska  Military Commission on  June 30,                                                                    
     2030                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section 3                                                                                                                  
     • Adds  uncodified law regarding  the initial  terms of                                                                    
     Alaska Military Affairs Commission members                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl queried the definitions  of "armed forces" and                                                                    
"military installations."                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp responded  that he  did not  know that                                                                    
the  Coast  Guard  did  not fall  under  the  Department  of                                                                    
Defense, so  that was amended  on the House side.  He wanted                                                                    
to  be  sure   that  all  branches  were   included  in  the                                                                    
commission.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bishop surmised  that it  related  to the  economic                                                                    
indicators in Kodiak at only nineteen personnel.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp replied in the affirmative.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:14:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KELLY  HOWELL,  CHIEF  OF STAFF,  LIEUTENANT  GOVERNOR  (via                                                                    
teleconference), spoke to the fiscal note.                                                                                      
2:15:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:16:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRYCE  WARD,  MAYOR,  FAIRBANKS   NORTH  STAR  BOROUGH  (via                                                                    
teleconference), spoke in support of the bill.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Merrick  wondered whether  there was a  concern that                                                                    
the lieutenant governor may not have time to participate.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  responded that the intent  was to have                                                                    
a centralized  weight, and the  other states  used executive                                                                    
members a role on the commission.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 155(FIN)am was HEARD and  HELD in committee for further                                                                    
consideration.