04/10/2008 02:43 PM House FIN

SENATE BILL NO. 289                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     An Act relating to home energy conservation and                                                                            
     weatherization for purposes of certain programs of the                                                                     
     Alaska Housing and Finance Corporation.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer updated the status of the bill.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
BRYAN BUTCHER,  LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, ALASKA  HOUSING FINANCE                                                                    
CORPORATION  (AHFC), explained  that the  bill would  update                                                                    
weatherization from a low-income  program to a more general,                                                                    
median-income   program.   Another   program,   the   Energy                                                                    
Efficiency  Rebate Program,  provides  incentive for  people                                                                    
who do not qualify for the weatherization program.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:46:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kelly asked  if the  ratio in  the bill  was                                                                    
connected  to another  funding bill  with  a similar  income                                                                    
ratio. Mr. Butcher explained that  the money for the funding                                                                    
bill was separate,  and had been locked in. The  ratio in SB
 could  be adjusted. Representative Kelly  stated that he                                                                    
did not think the one-third/two-thirds ratio was proper.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze MOVED to REPORT SB 289 from Committee                                                                        
with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note.                                                                       
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SB 289 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"                                                                           
recommendation and with attached zero fiscal note #1 by the                                                                     
Department of Revenue.