04/23/2024 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

          HCR 13-RECOGNIZING NCSL ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:33:44 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR  announced  the consideration  of  HOUSE  CONCURRENT                                                              
RESOLUTION  NO.   13  Recognizing  and  commending   the  National                                                              
Conference  of  State  Legislatures  on its  50th  anniversary  in                                                              
2025.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
This is the introductory  hearing of HCR 13.  The Senate companion                                                              
resolution,  SCR 8,  was  heard previously.  The  intention is  to                                                              
hear a brief introduction of the resolution.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:34:06 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR invited the sponsor to introduce HCR 13.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:34:16 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE   DAN   SADDLER,    District   24,   Alaska   State                                                              
Legislature,  Juneau,  Alaska,  Sponsor  of  HCR 13.  He  gave  an                                                              
overview of  the resolution and  the National Conference  of State                                                              
Legislatures   (NCSL).   He  stated   HCR   13  acknowledges   and                                                              
celebrates the  50th anniversary  of NCSL. The  NCSL is  a primary                                                              
voice   for  state   legislatures  and   serves  many   functions,                                                              
including:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
- National voice for state legislatures                                                                                         
- Legislator and staff development training                                                                                     
-  Advocating  with the  federal  government  on behalf  of  state                                                              
  issues                                                                                                                        
- Fostering cooperation among state legislatures                                                                                
-  Conducting  public  policy  research   and  answering  research                                                              
   requests                                                                                                                     
-  Repository  for  update  information   on  public  policy  that                                                              
   affects states and state legislatures.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER  stated he  has participated  proudly  and                                                              
willingly in  NCSL's programs that  develop policy  statements. He                                                              
said  by  doing  this  he  advanced   Alaska's  interest  in  land                                                              
management,  resources development  and other  issues in  sympathy                                                              
with western states.  He stated he is proud to  have advanced some                                                              
of Alaska's  interests  at the national  level.  In the last  four                                                              
years  between 16  and 27  legislators have  participated in  NCSL                                                              
events either  in person or online.  In the last 3 years  NCSL has                                                              
fielded 175 research  requests from Alaska legislators  and staff.                                                              
NCSL  has  played  an  important  role  in  advocating  for  state                                                              
legislatures. HCR 13 commends NCSL.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:36:30 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON  thanked the  sponsor  for  bringing HCR  13                                                              
forward.  She said  NCSL is an  amazing organization,  and  she is                                                              
glad to participate in its Budget and Revenue Committee.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:36:49 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   DUNBAR  invited   Ms.  Wilterdink   to   testify  on   the                                                              
resolution.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:37:10 PM                                                                                                                    
MELODIE  WILTERDINK,  Staff, Representative  Dan  Saddler,  Alaska                                                              
State Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  offered testimony  in support                                                              
of  HCR 13.  She  stated  that she  has  availed herself  of  NCSL                                                              
programs  and  has  received  helpful  answers  to  many  research                                                              
requests.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:37:53 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR held HCR 13 in committee.