Legislature(2017 - 2018)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
01/30/2018 01:00 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB126 | |
| HB124 | |
| HB208 | |
| HB102 | |
| HB114 | |
| HB121 | |
| HB86 | |
| HCR8 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 126 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 208 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 102 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 114 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 121 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 124 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 86 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HCR 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HCR 8-KODIAK SEAFOOD & MARINE SCIENCE CENTER
2:53:58 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of HCR 8. [HCR 8 AM
was before the committee.]
2:54:13 PM
MATT GRUENING, Staff, Representative Louise Stutes and aide to
the House Fisheries Committee, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, introduced HCR 8 on behalf of the House Fisheries
Committee. He summarized that the resolution expresses the
legislature's support for the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science
Center (KSMSC) and urges the University of Alaska to find a
solution to keep it operating.
He explained that early in 2016 the University of Alaska
Fairbanks notified KSMSC that due to budget cuts, it was
considering transferring ownership of the center to the
University of Alaska Anchorage for repurposing or possibly
closing the center altogether.
The City and Borough of Kodiak and industry groups such as
Trident Seafoods, Alaska Pacific Seafoods, Alaska Seafood
Marketing Institute, Seafood Processors Association, Icicle
Seafoods, and others sent letters protesting the proposed
closure. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski met with KSMSC's policy
group to express concern and support of the center. In response,
the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Alaska Research Consortium was formed to
act as the operating body for the center. UAF is currently
looking at the possibility of a public/private partnership to
keep the center open.
SENATOR MICCICHE asked if the resolution is trying to manage the
universits decisions about how to handle the significant cuts
it has seen in the last few years
MR. GRUENING clarified that the intent is not to manage what the
Board of Regents does. The university itself has reached out and
is trying to work with the sponsor's office and the City of
Kodiak to find a solution to keep the center open. It is the
state's only pilot processing plant that does significant
research and is of great value to the seafood industry.
He noted that part of the difficulty came about when an
agricultural grant that partially funded the center was no
longer offered.
2:59:18 PM
SENATOR MEYER asked if processors donate to the program because
they make money off it.
MR. GRUENING said he didn't know.
SENATOR MEYER said that would be good to know.
SENATOR MICCICHE stated support for finding creative ways like a
public/private partnership to keep the center open.
3:01:26 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO closed public testimony on HCR 8.
3:01:42 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report HCR 8 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
3:02:06 PM
SENATOR MEYER objected to request the information about the
industry participation.
MR. GRUENING said he would provide the information to the chair
as soon as possible.
SENATOR MEYER removed his objection.
3:02:44 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE restated the motion to report HCR 8 from
committee with individual recommendations and attached zero
fiscal note(s).
CHAIR COSTELLO stated that without objection, HCR 8 AM moves
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.