Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/19/2022 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB227 | |
| SB144 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 227 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 144 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 227-MUNI ENERGY IMPROVEMNT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
3:30:50 PM
CHAIR HUGHES announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 227
"An Act relating to municipal energy and resilience improvement
assessment programs; and providing for an effective date."
She advised that the committee would start with the
consideration of amendments.
3:31:19 PM
CHAIR HUGHES moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 32-
LS1028\I.11.
32-LS1028\I.11
Dunmire
4/13/22
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR HUGHES
TO: HB 227
Page 3, line 24, following "management,":
Insert "snow load management,"
3:31:28 PM
SENATOR D. WILSON objected for discussion purposes.
CHAIR HUGHES explained that Amendment 1 reflects the discussion
during the previous hearing to specifically identify snow load
managementas a resilience improvement project.
3:32:03 PM
SENATOR D. WILSON removed his objection to the adoption of
Amendment 1.
CHAIR HUGHES found no further objection, and Amendment 1 was
adopted.
3:32:15 PM
SENATOR D. WILSON moved to adopt Amendment 2, work order 32-
LS1028\I.9, on behalf of Senator Myers,
32-LS1028\I.9
Dunmire
4/14/22
AMENDMENT 2
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR MYERS
Page 10, following line 22:
Insert new bill sections to read:
"* Sec. 24. AS 29.10.200(64); AS 29.35.200(b)(6),
29.35.210(a)(14), 29.35.210(b)(6); AS 29.55.100,
29.55.105, 29.55.110, 29.55.115, 29.55.120, 29.55.125,
29.55.130, 29.55.135, 29.55.140, 29.55.145, 29.55.150,
29.55.155, 29.55.160, and 29.55.165 are repealed.
* Sec. 25. The uncodified law of the State of
Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read:
TRANSITION: CONTINUED SERVICING OF WRITTEN
CONTRACTS. A municipality that has established an
energy and resilience improvement assessment program
under AS 29.55.100 - 29.55.165 before June 30, 2052,
shall continue to service a written contract made
under the energy and resilience improvement assessment
program through the remainder of the contract.
However, a property owner and a lender may convert a
written contract made under the energy and resilience
improvement assessment program to a loan if both
parties agree to the conversion.
* Sec. 26. Sections 24 and 25 of this Act take
effect June 30, 2052."
Renumber the following bill section accordingly.
Page 10, line 23:
Delete "This"
Insert "Except as provided in sec. 26 of this
Act, this"
CHAIR HUGHES objected for discussion purposes.
3:32:20 PM
SENATOR D. WILSON explained that Amendment 2 adds a 30-year
sunset to the program, but allows the continuation of any
existing contracts. The amendment also provides the opportunity
for property owners and lenders to convert these loans to
conventional financing if both parties agree.
CHAIR HUGHES asked whether this would be the longest sunset date
in statute.
SENATOR D. WILSON answered that he was not aware of any other
30-year sunsets in statute.
CHAIR HUGHES asked for confirmation that municipalities would be
compelled to continue to service a contract made under the
energy and resilience improvement assessment program if it were
written before the sunset date.
SENATOR D. WILSON confirmed that was correct.
CHAIR HUGHES asked the sponsor if he would like to comment on
the amendment.
3:34:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CALVIN SCHRAGE, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of HB 227, stated that Amendment 2 is a little
problematic. He relayed his concern about someone who might
enter a 30-year contract say 10 years from now. Although the
municipality would still have the authority to service the lien,
it's not clear that it would continue to have the authority to
apply the voluntary assessment, which is required for the
program to function. He was waiting for a memo from Legislative
Legal Services to alleviate his concern. He acknowledged that it
was the committee's prerogative to adopt the amendment but he
would point out that this is an existing program and it did not
have a sunset when it became law in 2017.
CHAIR HUGHES expressed her willingness to work with the drafters
to ensure that a municipality could continue to administer the
program for the remainder of any contract that extended beyond
the 30 year sunset. She asked whether the bill had a referral to
another committee.
REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE answered that it will go to the Senate
Labor and Commerce Committee next.
CHAIR HUGHES restated her commitment to ensure that
municipalities would be able to continue to service the loans
for the duration of the contract. If the problem isn't resolved
in the next committee of referral, she would work on it on the
floor.
3:36:42 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked if he had talked to anybody in the
Municipality of Anchorage about his concern.
REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE answered no; he only learned about the
amendment very recently and he was hoping that Legal Services
could answer some of his questions. He added that he might be
more supportive if he had those answers.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON advised him to have a conversation with
Legal Services and someone at the Municipality of Anchorage
before the bill is heard in Labor and Commerce so that she and
the other members of that committee could try to address the
issue before the bill reaches the floor.
CHAIR HUGHES removed her objection; finding no further
objection, Amendment 2 was adopted.
3:38:04 PM
CHAIR HUGHES opened public testimony on HB 227; finding none,
she closed public testimony.
3:38:47 PM
SENATOR D. WILSON moved to report HB 227, work order 32-LS1028\I
as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
CHAIR HUGHES found no objection and SCS HB 227(CRA) was reported
from the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing
Committee.