04/18/2001 01:44 PM House FIN

SENATE BILL NO. 93                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the Arctic Winter Games Team Alaska                                                                    
     trust; and providing for an effective date."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR RANDY  PHILLIPS, SPONSOR  testified in support  of SB
. He  observed that the  legislation relates to  the Arctic                                                                   
Winter Games  Team Alaska  Trust Fund  and was modeled  after                                                                   
the  Alaska Children's  Fund.  The legislation  would  permit                                                                   
state, federal and private money  to be deposited in the Fund                                                                   
and invested.  The interest  from the fund  would be  used to                                                                   
support Team Alaska  and the Arctic Winter Games.  The Arctic                                                                   
Winter Games  occur every two  years. The next games  will be                                                                   
held  in Greenland.  It  is the  second  level winter  games.                                                                   
Approximately 2,000 athletics  participate. Approximately 330                                                                   
athletics  participate from Alaska.  State participation  for                                                                   
the games has been around $250,000  to $300,000 dollars every                                                                   
two years.  The trust fund  would provide funding  stability.                                                                   
The games have been in existence  for 30 years. The state has                                                                   
provided financial support since 1970.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Croft  noted that there is a  zero fiscal note                                                                   
and questioned  how funding  would be  established without  a                                                                   
fiscal  note. Senator  Phillips  noted  that the  legislation                                                                   
would only establish the shell.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hudson spoke in  support. He questioned  if a                                                                   
permanent  fund  dividend  check  off  had  been  considered.                                                                   
Senator   Phillips  stated   that  he   had  considered   the                                                                   
possibility  of using a  check off. He  stated that  he would                                                                   
consider it for  the next year. He emphasized  the uniqueness                                                                   
of  the Arctic  Winter  Games. He  provided  examples of  his                                                                   
experience with the Arctic Winter Games.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DAN  SULLIVAN,  DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR,  ARCTIC  WINTER  GAMES,                                                                   
ANCHORAGE testified  via teleconference in support  of SB 93.                                                                   
He  observed that  one part-time  employee working  out of  a                                                                   
donated office  manages the event.  More than  100 volunteers                                                                   
assist.  He  observed  that  Alaska   is  lagging  behind  in                                                                   
equipment and uniforms  and the ability to manage  the event.                                                                   
Athletes pay a third of their  participations cost; currently                                                                   
each athletic  pays about $450  dollars to participate.  This                                                                   
cost is estimated  to double due to transportation  costs. He                                                                   
suggested the  use of Tobacco  Settlement Funds  to establish                                                                   
the trust. He  noted that sports help keep  young people from                                                                   
tobacco.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Lancaster  MOVED to report CSSSB  93 (FIN) out                                                                   
of   Committee    with   the   accompanying    fiscal   note.                                                                   
Representative   John  Davies   spoke  in   support  of   the                                                                   
legislation.  He  noted that  he  participated  in the  first                                                                   
Arctic  Winter games.  He  emphasized the  cultural  exchange                                                                   
that occurs at the event.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
There  being NO  OBJECTION,  CSSSB 93  (FIN)  was moved  from                                                                   
Committee.