02/23/2009 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 116                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act making a special appropriation for energy                                                                          
     assistance for rural communities; and providing for an                                                                     
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:33:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman  explained SB 116 as the  appropriation bill                                                                   
to  fund SB  115.  The appropriation  is  for  $5 million  at                                                                   
present.  He did  not  want the  program  to be  underfunded;                                                                   
whatever  is not  utilized will  be returned  to the  general                                                                   
fund.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  queried fund  source  identification.  Co-                                                                   
Chair  Hoffman answered  that  at this  point  the only  fund                                                                   
being considered is the general fund.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:35:04 AM     AT EASE                                                                                                        
9:35:45 AM     RECONVENED                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman opened public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MELODY  NIBECK, TRIBAL  ENERGY PROGRAM  MANAGER, BRISTOL  BAY                                                                   
NATIVE   ASSOCIATION   (BBNA),  DILLINGHAM   (testified   via                                                                   
teleconference), testified in support of the legislation.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:36:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NORMAN  ANDERSON,   ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT   PROGRAM  MANAGER,                                                                   
BRISTOL  BAY NATIVE  ASSOCIATION,  DILLINGHAM (testified  via                                                                   
teleconference)  spoke  in  support of  the  legislation.  He                                                                   
emphasized how the bill would impact villages.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REGAN MATTINGLY,  STATE AFFAIRS  COORDINATOR, ALASKA  PRIMARY                                                                   
CARE   ASSOCIATION    (APCA),   ANCHORAGE    (testified   via                                                                   
teleconference),  testified in  support of  SB 116.  He urged                                                                   
the  committee to  consider health  clinics when  formulating                                                                   
the energy assistance program.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
PAT LUBY,  ADVOCACY DIRECTOR,  ALASKA ASSOCIATION  OF RETIRED                                                                   
PERSONS,  ANCHORAGE  (AARP) (testified  via  teleconference),                                                                   
testified in support of SB 116.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman closed public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB  116  was   HEARD  and  HELD  in  Committee   for  further                                                                   
consideration.