04/25/2007 01:30 PM House FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 103                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     An Act authorizing the transfer of land from the Alaska                                                                    
     Railroad Corporation to Eklutna, Inc.; and providing                                                                       
     for an effective date.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Vice  Chair Stoltze  explained  that  SB 103  and  HB 212  are                                                                  
identical bills.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ANNA  FAIRCLOUGH  understood  that  there  had                                                                  
been  no changes  made in  the Senate.    She reiterated  that                                                                  
they are  identical bills and  that the action would  transfer                                                                  
6.3 acres  to the  Alaska  Railroad Corporation  (ARRC).   The                                                                  
land  has historical  value.    She noted  that  she and  Vice                                                                  
Chair Stoltze  represent  the Village of  Eklutna and  support                                                                  
the transfer, which  benefits the State of Alaska  by bringing                                                                  
forward gravel removal for State highway projects.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:24:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker  requested  assurance from  the  Native                                                                  
Corporation  of  Eklutna  that  they  are  supportive  of  the                                                                  
transfer.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:25:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BONNIE WOLDSTAD,  (TESTIFIED  VIA TELECONFERENCE),  FAIRBANKS,                                                                  
appreciated  that ARRC  was working with  the property  owners                                                                  
that have prior property rights.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:27:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEITH  SANDERS,  (TESTIFIED  VIA  TELECONFERENCE),   SR.  VICE                                                                  
PRESIDENT,  LAND  &  LEGAL  AFFAIRS,  COOK  INLET  REGION  INC                                                                  
(CIRI),  responded   to  concerns  voiced  by   Representative                                                                  
Hawker regarding  Section 7, stating  that CIRI is  supportive                                                                  
of  the  legislation,  noting  there  are  significant  issues                                                                  
regarding  the gravel,  which  has already  been removed  from                                                                  
the site.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:29:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PUBLIC TESTIMONY CLOSED                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:29:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice Chair  Stoltze MOVED  to REPORT SB  103 out of  Committee                                                                  
with  individual  recommendations  and with  the  accompanying                                                                  
fiscal note.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SB  103  was  reported  out of  Committee  with  a  "do  pass"                                                                  
recommendation  and with  zero note  #1 by  the Department  of                                                                  
Commerce, Community & Economic Development.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:30:57 PM