02/01/1993 09:00 AM Senate FIN

                                                                               
  SENATE BILL NO. 30                                                           
                                                                               
       An Act  extending the  termination date  of the  Alaska                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
       Minerals Commission.                                                    
                                                                               
  Senator Sharp explained that  the Alaska Minerals Commission                 
  is comprised of "some of the best mining and resource people                 
  in  Alaska."    It has  served  as  an  advocate of  mineral                 
  development and multi-use  of state  lands.  The  Commission                 
  was created to make recommendations to  the Governor and the                 
  legislature on  methods of mitigating constraints on mineral                 
  development, including coal.                                                 
                                                                               
  Commission  members  are  appointed  by  the  Governor,  the                 
  President  of  the  Senate  and the  Speaker  of  the House.                 
  Current  members  include  representatives  of placer,  hard                 
  rock, and coal mining industries and come from diverse areas                 
  of the state.  Administrative  and staff support is provided                 
  by the division of business development  within the Dept. of                 
  Commerce and Economic Development.   The commission recently                 
  distributed its 1992  report to both the  administration and                 
  the legislature.                                                             
                                                                               
  Of   the   $20.4  shown   as   costs  for   the  commission,                 
  approximately  $2.5  relates  to   contractual  funding  for                 
  printing,  and $18.0 covers  travel for  commission members.                 
  Members  serve  without pay  but  are reimbursed  for travel                 
  costs.                                                                       
                                                                               
  Co-chair Pearce noted  file material in support  of proposed                 
  commission  extension.   She  then  inquired  concerning the                 
  number of commission  members.   Senator Sharp advised  that                 
  the commission consists of twelve members.                                   
                                                                               
  Co-chair  Pearce   directed  that  SB  30  be  placed  in  a                 
  subcommittee under Senator Frank.   She voiced hope that the                 
  bill  could  again  be  brought   before  committee  at  the                 
  Wednesday meeting.                                                           
                                                                               
  Co-chair  Pearce  directed  that  the  meeting   be  briefly                 
  recessed prior  to a capital  budget overview by  staff from                 
  the Dept. of Transportation and Public Facilities.                           
                                                                               
                       RECESS - 9:05 a.m.                                      
                      RECONVENE - 9:20 a.m.