02/03/2004 03:40 PM Senate STA

  2d  CSHB 288(RLS)-CHANGING NAME OF DEPT OF COMM & ECON DEV.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  GARY STEVENS  announced  2d  CSHB 288(RLS)  to  be up  for                                                               
consideration  and invited  Representative  Kohring to  introduce                                                               
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   VIC  KOHRING,   sponsor,  explained   that  this                                                               
legislation changes the  name of the Department  of Community and                                                               
Economic  Development to  the Department  of Commerce,  Community                                                               
and  Economic Development.  He said  adding  the word  "commerce"                                                               
more completely  describes the mission of  the department because                                                               
it  is  not only  engaged  in  promoting strong  communities  and                                                               
developing the  economy, it is  also involved in things  that are                                                               
commerce related.  Changing the name  lets other areas  know that                                                               
the State of Alaska is open for business and has commerce.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked if the latest bill version is \H.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING said that is correct.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  GARY STEVENS  commented  that  it makes  sense  to be  the                                                               
Department of  Commerce, Community and Economic  Development, but                                                               
in the  title and throughout  the bill  there is an  "and" rather                                                               
than  a  comma  between  Commerce and  Community.  He  noted  the                                                               
sponsor  omitted the  first "and"  and asked  him which  title he                                                               
preferred.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING  replied he  preferred the comma,  but the                                                               
House  Rules  Committee  didn't  agree. He  said  it  reads  more                                                               
clearly with a comma instead of the first "and."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GARY STEVENS agreed and asked for other comments.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRETCHEN GUESS  agreed there was no reason  for the first                                                               
"and."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked for a motion.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GUESS  made a motion  to delete the word  "and" following                                                               
"Commerce" and replace it with a comma  on page 1, lines 2, 8 and                                                               
11 and on page 2 lines 4 and 5.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
There was no objection and the motion passed.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER   EDGAR  BLATCHFORD,   Department  of   Community  &                                                               
Economic   Development  thanked   the  committee   and  said   he                                                               
appreciates  the effort  to  change the  name  of the  department                                                               
because it  is more  in keeping  with how  Alaskans think  of the                                                               
department.  There are  two major  responsibilities with  the new                                                               
name change. Those are commerce and community development.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GUESS  made a motion  to move  SCS 2d CSHB  288(STA) from                                                               
committee  with  individual   recommendations  and  the  attached                                                               
fiscal note. There being no objection, it was so ordered.