Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
03/04/2024 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB243 | |
| SB217 | |
| Presentation: the Railbelt Transmission Grid | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 217 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 257 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 243 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 243-ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY GOVERNANCE
3:31:18 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.
243 "An Act relating to the board of directors of the Alaska
Energy Authority."
3:31:28 PM
SENATOR KAUFMAN joined the meeting.
3:31:28 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP solicited a motion.
3:31:31 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 33-
LS1427\A.4, to SB 243.
[Original punctuation provided.]
33-LS1427\A.4
Walsh
2/29/24
AMENDMENT 1
BY SENATOR GIESSEL
TO: SB 243
1 Page 1, line 1, following "Authority":
2 Insert "; and providing for an effective date"
3
4 Page 3, following line 5:
5 Insert a new bill section to read:
6 "* Sec. 5. This Act takes effect July 1, 2024."
3:31:34 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP objected for purposes of discussion.
3:31:37 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL explained that Amendment 1 sets an effective
date of July 1, 2024 for SB 243.
3:31:47 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP removed his objection; finding no further
objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
SENATOR CLAMAN said he would not offer Amendment 2.
[Original punctuation provided.]
33-LS1427\A.4
Walsh
2/29/24
AMENDMENT 2
BY SENATOR CLAMAN
TO: SB 243
1 Page 2, line 16, following "terms":
2 Insert "A public member appointed under (a)(3) of
this section may be removed only
3 for cause."
3:31:59 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP solicited a motion.
3:32:02 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN moved to adopt Amendment 3, work order 33-
LS1427\A.3, to SB 243.
[Original punctuation provided.]
33-LS1427\A.3
Walsh
2/29/24
AMENDMENT 3
BY SENATOR CLAMAN
TO: SB 243
1 Page 3, lines 2 - 5:
2 Delete all material and insert:
3 "TRANSITION. (a) The terms of the members of the
board of directors of the Alaska
4 Energy Authority under AS 44.83.030, as that statute
read before the effective date of this
5 Act, expire on the effective date of this Act.
6 (b) Notwithstanding AS 44.83.030(c), added by
sec. 2 of this Act, public members of
7 the board of directors of the Alaska Energy
Authority under AS 44.83.030(a)(3) are appointed
8 to initial terms as follows:
9 (1) the member appointed under AS
44.83.030(a)(3)(A), added by sec. 1 of
10 this Act, and one member appointed under AS
44.83.030(a)(3)(E), added by sec. 1 of this Act,
11 serve for terms that expire March 1, 2025;
12 (2) the member appointed under AS
44.83.030(a)(3)(B), added by sec. 1 of
13 this Act, and one member appointed under AS
44.83.030(a)(3)(E), added by sec. 1 of this Act,
14 serve for terms that expire March 1, 2026;
15 (3) the members appointed under AS
44.83.030(a)(3)(C) and (D), added by16 sec. 1 of this
Act, serve for terms that expire March 1, 2027.
17 (c) Nothing in this section prevents the
appointment of a person whose term expires
18 under (a) of this section as a member of the board
of directors of the Alaska Energy Authority
19 if the person meets the qualifications in AS
44.83.030, as amended by sec. 1 of this Act."
3:32:04 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP objected for purposes of discussion.
3:32:08 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN said the purpose of Amendment 3 is to establish
more specific terms for the six public members of the board.
Under AS 39.05.055, boards follow staggered terms upon their
creation. However, due to the inclusion of two commissioners on
this board, there are eight members instead of six, resulting in
a deviation from the standard. The amendment seeks to address
this by aligning the terms of non-commissioner board members
with the existing statute and ensuring those terms track
existing statute.
3:33:26 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL voiced opposition to Amendment 3. She expressed
concerns that while the idea behind it might not be bad, it is
highly prescriptive. She emphasized the importance of the Alaska
Energy Authority (AEA) having its own regulatory board.
Currently, the AEA Board is combined with AIDEA, despite their
distinct missions. She highlighted energy issues as top
priorities for the state and suggested the need for an
independent AEA capable of managing potentially substantial
federal funds. She urged the committee to refrain from adding
elements that could make SB 243 objectionable as it proceeds
towards final passage.
3:35:03 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP maintained his objection.
3:35:10 PM
At ease
3:36:24 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP reconvened the meeting.
3:36:26 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR requested further clarification and expressed
difficulty in understanding whether Amendment 3 would stagger
the terms of the board members, potentially leading to earlier
expiration dates in some cases. He suggested that the governor
would retain the authority to promptly make all initial
appointments under this amendment.
3:36:52 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN said that under Amendment 3, the governor would
make immediate appointments of six individuals to the board. Two
of these appointees would serve a one-year term, while the other
two would serve a three-year term. After the initial term, all
appointments would be for three-year terms. Additionally, the
appointments would be rotated to ensure that not all six members
join the board simultaneously.
3:37:16 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR suggested that the amendment could potentially
increase the governor's authority, so he could reappoint board
members and extend their terms that would follow into the
subsequent gubernatorial term. He queried why the governor might
find fault with an amendment that effectively enhances their
control over the board and extends their influence into the
succeeding administration.
3:37:58 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL said while that could be prescribed, the
governor would retain the discretion to determine the length of
terms.
3:38:20 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN noted that one aspect to consider regarding
staggered appointments to the board is that the executive branch
might experience confusion when interpreting AS 39.05.055. Given
that two board members would not be public members, there would
be a clash between the provisions of SB 243 and the existing
statute, which assigns a four-year term. Amendment 3 serves to
clarify the interpretation of terms.
3:39:27 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL said she is not an attorney, so could not speak
at length on this amendment, however, she agreed with Senator
Claman so SB 243 could move forward.
3:39:45 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP acknowledged that SB 243 is moving to the
Finance Committee and requested a Venn diagram to illustrate how
Amendment 3 would work. He said the committee could consult with
the Department of Law (DOL) as it moves forward.
3:39:58 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP removed his objection and Amendment 3 was
adopted.
3:40:13 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP solicited the will of the committee.
3:40:37 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL moved to report SB 243, work order 33-LS1427\A,
as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
3:40:50 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP found no objection and CSSB 234(RES) was
reported from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 217 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SFIN 5/2/2024 9:00:00 AM SRES 3/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 217 |
| SB 217, version A.pdf |
SRES 3/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 217 |
| SB 217 Sectional Analysis, version A.pdf |
SRES 3/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 217 |
| SB 217 Fiscal Note RCA 2.2.24.pdf |
SRES 3/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 217 |
| SB 217 Fiscal Note AEA 2.2.24.pdf |
SRES 3/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 217 |
| Presentation_AK Railbelt Transmission Issues_Holdmann SRES 03.04.24.pdf |
SRES 3/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
|
| SB 217 SRES Presentation 03.04.24.pdf |
SRES 3/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 217 |
| SB 243 Amendment #1.pdf |
SRES 3/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 243 |
| SB 243 Amendment #2.pdf |
SRES 3/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 243 |
| SB 243 Amendment #3.pdf |
SRES 3/4/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 243 |