04/11/2010 11:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 234                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act extending the termination date of the                                                                              
     Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; and providing for an                                                                     
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
11:33:33 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JOSH APPLEBEE, STAFF, SENATOR MEYER  explained that the bill                                                                    
is  an  extension bill.  The  Legislative  Budget and  Audit                                                                    
Committee (LB&A) expressed concerns  with the last audit. He                                                                    
discussed the changes made in the last CS.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SHIRLEY GIFFORD, DIRECTOR,  ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARD                                                                    
(ABC) (via teleconference)  discussed the additional changes                                                                    
in the CS. She expressed support  for the change on the vote                                                                    
procedure.  She explained  that  the majority  of ABC  board                                                                    
information is  available to the  public with  the exception                                                                    
of  financial  matters  and security  interests.  She  noted                                                                    
concern with the repeal of 416049  F and 416060 F which give                                                                    
the ABC board the ability  to conduct compliance checks. She                                                                    
believed the compliance checks are  an important function of                                                                    
the  ABC  board.  She   understood  that  improvements  were                                                                    
necessary. Compliance  checks are instituted  throughout the                                                                    
country. Alaska  enjoys the  lowest rate  in the  country of                                                                    
underage persons purchasing alcohol  and she attributed this                                                                    
to  the  compliance checks.  She  discussed  changes to  the                                                                    
compliance  check  program  such  as  the  addition  of  new                                                                    
policies.  She  expressed  understanding  of  the  need  for                                                                    
sensitivity in regard to businesses.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
11:43:34 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman explained the one  year sunset date for the                                                                    
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Thomas  asked about  the process in  the event  of a                                                                    
tie vote. Ms. Gifford responded  that holding the vote would                                                                    
be best if the results  were not time sensitive, otherwise a                                                                    
telephone  vote would  occur.  An  administrative law  judge                                                                    
might also be called upon to break the tie.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Thomas asked about the  penalty of $1500 for the use                                                                    
of  a   false  identification.  He  asked   about  potential                                                                    
conflict  among   police  and   bar  owners   regarding  the                                                                    
penalties. Ms.  Gifford responded that she  was working with                                                                    
police  personnel and  discussing the  issue of  minors with                                                                    
false identification and the enforcement of the penalties.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Thomas believed  that the identification information                                                                    
required posting.  Ms. Gifford agreed that  statute requires                                                                    
posting  of a  sign stating  that underage  persons are  not                                                                    
allowed on premises.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
11:47:28 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  mentioned one fiscal note  form Department                                                                    
of Public  Safety (DPS) for  $1,432,100 for funding  the ABC                                                                    
board for the next fiscal year.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report  CS SB 234 out of Committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CS SB  234 was REPORTED  out of  Committee with a  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendation  and  with  one previously  published  fiscal                                                                    
note: FN 1 (DPS).