03/25/2002 01:40 PM Senate JUD

          SB 324-MUNICIPAL PUB.UTIL.COMPETING W/TELECOM                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  TAYLOR announced  that he  would bring  up SB 324  under                                                              
Bills Previously Heard. The committee  heard and held that bill at                                                              
a previous meeting because he was  not present. He noted SB 324 is                                                              
a simple matter and he would like  to move it out. It provides one                                                              
community,  Ketchikan,  from  RCA   regulatory  involvement  if  a                                                              
competing  private utility,  which  is not  regulated under  state                                                              
law, were to enter the field.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY  moved  SB 324  from  committee  with  individual                                                              
recommendations.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT  objected to ask  if SB 324 will  still require                                                              
regulation by a local utility board.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR  said it  would and, in  fact, the local  board is                                                              
appointed  by the  city council  but the  city council  sits as  a                                                              
supervisory board over the utility board.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY  said  this  situation  is  similar  to  the  ATU                                                              
situation in Anchorage.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR said that is correct.  He then announced that with                                                              
no further  objection  to moving  SB 324 from  committee with  its                                                              
zero fiscal note, the motion carried.