02/01/1996 03:31 PM Senate STA

                                                                               
       SCR  2 REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL TO CAPITAL CITY                       
                                                                               
 TAPE 96-7, SIDE A                                                             
                                                                               
 Number 001                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN SHARP called the Senate State Affairs Committee to order             
 at 3:31 p.m. and brought up SCR 2 as the first order of business              
 before the committee.  The chairman called Senator Randy Phillips             
 to testify.                                                                   
                                                                               
 Number 030                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS, prime sponsor of SCR 2, stated that the               
 resolution is basically a suggestion to the City & Borough of                 
 Juneau to reimburse travel expense to Juneau for purposes of                  
 testifying before committees and meeting with their legislators.              
 Senator Phillips related information contained in the Sponsor's               
 Statement.                                                                    
                                                                               
 Number 063                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN voiced three areas of concern:                                  
  1) would there be full or partial reimbursement for expenses;                
  2) would buying a block of airline seats be an option;                       
  3) how would this affect the effort to keep air fares                        
     reasonable?                                                               
                                                                               
 Number 108                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS responded he envisions that the City &                 
 Borough of Juneau, Legislative Affairs Agency, and the Legislative            
 Council will work out the details.  Hopefully, they can get a block           
 of tickets or a special rate from the Airline, and give people an             
 airline ticket if they have a legitimate reason for coming to                 
 Juneau to talk to their legislators.  The point is access.  CBJ is            
 already spending money on access: they've spent up to $200,000 on             
  Gavel to Gavel .                                                             
                                                                               
 Number 145                                                                    
                                                                               
 JAMIE PARSONS, Chairperson of the Alaska Committee, stated the                
 mission of the Alaska Committee is to enhance Juneau as Alaska's              
 Capital City.  Mr. Parsons stated for the record that the Alaska              
 Committee raises its' own funds for operational expenses.  Several            
 things the committee supports are: two-way video-teleconferencing,            
  Gavel to Gavel  television coverage of legislative meetings and              
 floor sessions and coordinating educational materials, technology             
 education, and transportation access through the new GPS (Global              
 Positioning System) navigational guidance.  The Alaska Committee is           
 also working to secure additional competitive airline service to              
 Juneau and working with the existing carrier to accommodate                   
 legislative needs and fares.  We are also monitoring the Juneau               
 Access Study, which deals with surface access to northern Lynn                
 Canal.  The City & Borough of Juneau is also working to improve               
 housing.                                                                      
                                                                               
 Number 255                                                                    
                                                                               
 MR. PARSONS stated in closing that the Alaska Committee will                  
 continue to work on all issues relating to access, and that the               
 committee does seek the legislature's input and ideas.                        
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN SHARP stated that, there being no further discussion on              
 SCR 2, the committee would go on to the next item of business.