Legislature(2017 - 2018)BARNES 124
03/16/2017 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB9 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 9 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 9-MILITARY FACILITY ZONES
[Contains discussion of HB 4.]
8:03:50 AM
CO-CHAIR FANSLER announced that the only order of business would
be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 9(FIN), "An Act relating to military
facility zones; and providing for an effective date."
CO-CHAIR FANSLER noted that CSSB 9(FIN) is identical to CSHB 4,
which the committee heard previously; therefore, he anticipated
brief discussion before passing the bill from committee, if no
amendments were made.
8:04:39 AM
CHAD HUTCHISON, Staff, Senator John Coghill, Alaska State
Legislature, presented CSSB 9(FIN) on behalf of Senator Coghill,
prime sponsor. He indicated that [CSHB 4] had been vetted on
3/2/17, and he echoed Co-Chair Fansler's remark that CSSB 9(FIN)
mirrored CSHB 4. In response to Co-Chair Fansler, he reviewed
that CSSB 9(FIN) would allow local communities to apply to the
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs for military facility
zones through a local zoning ordinance rather than having to do
a long and expensive comprehensive plan. He said a local zoning
ordinance process is quicker. He noted that $861 million in
military construction (MILCON) spending is flowing into the
Interior. He said there are a lot of improvements being made to
Eielson Air Force Base, Clear Air Force Station, and Fort Greely
Military Base, and the proposed legislation would benefit
communities by supporting infrastructure projects happening in
conjunction with the military installations, as well as
benefiting private industry and contractors and subcontractors -
most of whom are Alaskans working on the installations.
8:07:07 AM
REPRESENTATIVE WESTLAKE expressed gratitude for CSSB 9(FIN) and
remarked there is "a whole bunch of us out there" that could
benefit.
8:07:46 AM
CO-CHAIR FANSLER opened public testimony on CSSB 9(FIN).
8:08:19 AM
JEFF STEPP, Special Assistant/Economic Development Coordinator,
Mayor's Office, Fairbanks North Star Borough, testified in
support of CSSB 9(FIN) and expressed appreciation to the bill
sponsor and the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing
Committee for "ushering it through the process."
8:08:51 AM
ROBERT DOEHL, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Military &
Veterans' Affairs, stated that as with CSHB 4, the department
supports CSSB 9(FIN) for the following reasons: it would
increase the effectiveness of the military in Alaska; it would
increase the opportunity for Alaskans to participate in the
economic benefits of the military in the state; and it would
increase the military's ability to retain its presence in Alaska
in the face of base realignment and closure discussions in
Congress resulting in military base reductions [nationwide].
8:09:39 AM
CO-CHAIR FANSLER, after ascertaining that no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony on CSSB 9(FIN).
8:10:03 AM
CO-CHAIR PARISH recommended that the committee pass CSSB 9(FIN),
because it is identical to HB 4 and "serves the same worthwhile
purpose."
8:10:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH moved to report CSSB 9(FIN) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 9(FIN) was
reported out of the House Community and Regional Affairs
Standing Committee.
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