05/01/2006 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

     CSHB 378(RES)-CHILKAT BALD EAGLE PRESERVE ADV COUNCIL                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BERT STEDMAN announced HB 378 to be up for consideration.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:35:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BILL THOMAS, Sponsor of  HB 278, explained that in                                                               
1982 when the Bald Eagle  Preserve was created a 12-seat advisory                                                               
council was established.  One of the seats was  designated to the                                                               
mayor of the  City of Haines. Since that time  the City of Haines                                                               
and  the Borough  of Haines  have  consolidated and  there is  no                                                               
longer  a city  mayor,  thus the  seat is  vacant.  HB 378  would                                                               
designate  that  position  to  a member  of  the  Haines  Borough                                                               
Assembly who is  selected by the assembly. A  stipulation is that                                                               
selection preference  is given to a  member who does not  have an                                                               
existing interest in the Bald Eagle Preserve.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:36:26 PM Senator Ellis arrived.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BERT STEDMAN asked if  the community of Haines supports the                                                               
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS replied yes; there is wide support.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARY  STEVENS questioned whether it  is satisfactory that                                                               
the position would be ex officio.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS replied it's been that way.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
JERRY LEWANSKI,  Director of  the Division  of Parks  and Outdoor                                                               
Recreation Department  of Natural  Resources, stated  support for                                                               
the HB 378  and referred to it as a  housekeeping measure to make                                                               
the council whole.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GARY  STEVENS  motioned  to  report  CSHB  378(RES)  and                                                               
attached   fiscal   note(s)   from  committee   with   individual                                                               
recommendations. There being no objection, it was so ordered.