03/10/2008 01:30 PM House FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 330                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     An  Act relating  to management  of  noxious weeds  and                                                                    
     invasive  plants;  establishing  the Noxious  Weed  and                                                                    
     Invasive  Plant  Board;  and establishing  the  noxious                                                                    
     weed and invasive plant management fund.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Meyer asked  if Vice-Chair  Stoltze was  satisfied                                                                    
with  the  answers  he had  received  from  the  Department.                                                                    
Vice-Chair Stoltze said yes.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer  pointed out the  four fiscal notes  from (1)                                                                    
Department of Environmental  Conservation, (2) Department of                                                                    
Fish  and  Game  and  (1) Department  of  Natural  Resources                                                                    
included  in  the  packet.   He  said  each  department  was                                                                    
available for questions.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:15:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Chenault  inquired  about   the  new  fiscal  note                                                                    
submitted by the Department of Natural Resources.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MELANIE  LESH, LEGISLATIVE  LIAISON,  DEPARTMENT OF  NATURAL                                                                    
RESOURCES, offered to answer questions.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Chenault questioned  the funding  request for  the                                                                    
new position.   Ms.  Lesh explained  that in  FY11 year-end,                                                                    
the position ceases to exist.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:17:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CRAIG JOHNSON,  SPONSOR, clarified  that the                                                                    
position  was   determined  to  sunset  so   as  to  achieve                                                                    
"action".   The  position was  not designed  to be  existing                                                                    
forever.   He  anticipated  satisfaction  by 2011  obtaining                                                                    
federal funds.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Stoltze  asked  what responsibilities  would  be                                                                    
associated with the requested position.   Ms. Lesh addressed                                                                    
the  new   position  for  project  coordinator   within  the                                                                    
Division  of Agriculture,  Department of  Natural Resources,                                                                    
which will focus on developing  the State   invasive species                                                                    
plan.   The  Natural Resources  Conservation District  Board                                                                    
(NRCDB)  will be  the umbrella  agency for  the conservation                                                                    
districts.   The Department is  currently in the  process of                                                                    
creating this position within their Division of Personnel.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze worried about  creating any new boards or                                                                    
positions.  Ms. Lesh noted that  the Board had met in Juneau                                                                    
Saturday, 3/8/08; the board has  basically been inactive for                                                                    
the past couple years.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:20:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Johnson  addressed  concerns  of  Vice-Chair                                                                    
Stoltze, discussing  that the  position will  be responsible                                                                    
for obtaining federal funds  through grant writing projects.                                                                    
He anticipated a lot of  motivation as the funding for their                                                                    
position will be on the  line, the reason for an accelerated                                                                    
sunset.  If the necessary  results have not been achieved by                                                                    
2011, the project will need to be revisited.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Stoltze  appreciated  that the  scope  had  been                                                                    
limited  with an  action plan  in  place.   He observed  the                                                                    
serious  economical  &   environmental  consequences,  which                                                                    
could possibility affect the statewide fishing industry.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze  MOVED to  REPORT CS  HB 330(RES)  out of                                                                    
Committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  with  the                                                                    
accompanying  fiscal notes.   There  being NO  OBEJCTION, it                                                                    
was so ordered.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CS  HB 330(RES)  was reported  out of  Committee with  a "no                                                                    
recommendation" and with  zero note #1 by  the Department of                                                                    
Fish and Game,  zero note #2 by Department of  Fish and Game                                                                    
& a new fiscal note by the Department of Natural Resources.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:24:36 PM