03/28/2002 10:22 AM House FIN

HOUSE BILL NO. 421                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to water use and appropriation."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
JENNIFER YUHUS, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE  MASEK spoke in support                                                                   
of the legislation,  on behalf of the sponsor.  Problems were                                                                   
reveled within the Administration  regarding the distributing                                                                   
of  water rights  and  the  processing of  applications.  The                                                                   
sponsor believes  there should be a standardized  process and                                                                   
that people should have access to their records.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Lancaster observed  that the  fiscal note  is                                                                   
only for  one year. Ms.  Yuhus explained that  the department                                                                   
received  $300 thousand  dollars  for a  five-year period  to                                                                   
address  the 3,000-application  backlog.  The  money has  not                                                                   
been completely expended and the  positions have not all been                                                                   
hired. The sponsor believes that  the cost of the legislation                                                                   
could be taken from the appropriation.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
BOB LOEFFLER, DIVISION OF MINING,  LAND AND WATER, DEPARTMENT                                                                   
OF NATURAL RESOURCES testified  via teleconference in support                                                                   
of the legislation. He noted that  information is made public                                                                   
to anyone who  asks. The funding would revamp  their computer                                                                   
systems so that  regional information, which  is difficult to                                                                   
collect,  would be  available to  the public.  He noted  that                                                                   
they have funds available in the  current fiscal year [due to                                                                   
vacancy], but expect  to expend all of the funds  in the next                                                                   
year.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
In response  to a question  by Representative  Lancaster, Mr.                                                                   
Loeffler clarified that the information would be free.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
In response to a question by Representative  John Davies, Mr.                                                                   
Loeffler  explained  that  the   one-time  cost  would  cover                                                                   
programs to set up the system.  The incremental cost would be                                                                   
part  of  maintaining   the  computer  system.   If  all  the                                                                   
positions  were hired  and the increment  denied there  would                                                                   
not be sufficient funding to hire the programmer.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Loeffler   noted  that  all   of  the  funds  go   to  a                                                                   
reimbursable  services  agreement.  They already  have  their                                                                   
office equipment.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
JAN  KONIGSBERG, ALASKA  PUBLIC  WATERS COALITION,  ANCHORAGE                                                                   
testified via teleconference in support of the legislation.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hudson  MOVED to report CSHB 421  (RES) out of                                                                   
Committee with the accompanying  fiscal notes. There being NO                                                                   
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CSHB  421  (RES)  was REPORTED  out  of  Committee  with  "no                                                                   
recommendation"  and two previously  published fiscal  notes:                                                                   
HRES/DNR (1) and DNR (2).