04/18/2024 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

                HB 279-LOCAL BOUNDARY COMMISSION                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:33:18 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL                                                                   
NO. 279(CRA) am "An Act relating to the Local Boundary                                                                          
Commission; and providing for an effective date."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
This is the second hearing of  HB 279 in the Senate Community and                                                               
Regional  Affairs Committee.  The  intent is  to  adopt a  Senate                                                               
committee substitute (CS) and look to the will of the committee.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:33:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR solicited a motion.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:33:53 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL  moved to adopt  the Senate  committee substitute                                                               
(SCS)  for  CSHB 279,  work  order  33-LS1177\S, as  the  working                                                               
document.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:34:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR objected  for purposes  of  discussion. He  invited                                                               
Ms. Wiggin to explain the summary of changes.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:34:18 PM                                                                                                                    
ARIELLE  WIGGIN,  Staff,  Senator Forrest  Dunbar,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented  the summary of changes on                                                               
HB 279. She said the following changes were made to Section 1:                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
- Page 1, [line 7]                                                                                                              
The  number  of seats  on  the  Local Boundary  Commission  (LBC)                                                               
changes from 5 to 6 members.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
- Page 1, line 8                                                                                                                
The term changes from a five-year to a six-year term.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
- Page 1, lines 9 - 10                                                                                                          
Specifies   that  one   member  shall   be  appointed   from  the                                                               
unorganized borough.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. WIGGIN said  that, after hearing from the  LBC, these changes                                                               
were  made  to  promote  the  most  participation  and  the  most                                                               
representation. She  said that the goal  of HB 279 is  to improve                                                               
the representation in unorganized  boroughs, and hearing from the                                                               
LBC  that generally  recruitment  for this  type  of position  is                                                               
challenging and arduous.  It was requested that one  seat be kept                                                               
open to promote  participation of those who  are interested, able                                                               
and qualified  while opening a way  for individuals, specifically                                                               
from the unorganized borough, to participate.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:35:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR  noted that  the  Senate  CS preserves  the  change                                                               
allowing the Commission  to select its own chair  rather than the                                                               
governor.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:35:55 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GIESSEL  said  she  appreciated that  lines  12  and  13                                                               
requires  the members  from each  judicial  district "maintain  a                                                               
principal place of abode and be  registered to vote in a precinct                                                               
in that district."                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNBAR  expressed his  belief  that  was included  in  the                                                               
version that came over from the House.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:36:23 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR   removed  his  objection.  He   found  no  further                                                               
objection and SCS CSHB 279 was adopted as the working document.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:36:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR invited  Representative Cronk and his  staff to make                                                               
closing remarks.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:36:54 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE   MIKE   CRONK,    District   36,   Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, offered closing remarks  on HB 279.                                                               
He  said he  appreciates  that  the committee  heard  HB 279  and                                                               
opined it is a fair compromise.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:37:16 PM                                                                                                                    
DAVE STANCLIFF,  Staff, Representative  Mike Cronk,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, offered closing remarks  on HB 279,                                                               
stating it appears the compromise  will work. HB 79 had unanimous                                                               
support when it  left the House and will muster  what it takes to                                                               
pass upon its return.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:37:56 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR solicited the will of the committee.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:37:59 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GIESSEL moved  to report  SCS CSHB  279, work  order 33-                                                               
LS1177\S,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached zero fiscal note(s).                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:38:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR  found  no  objection and  SCS  CSHB  279(CRA)  was                                                               
reported from the Senate Community  and Regional Affairs Standing                                                               
Committee.