Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/26/2001 08:43 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE BILL NO. 234
An Act relating to the financing of construction and
renovation of certain public facilities; and providing
for an effective date.
Vice-Chair Bunde MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee
substitute: work draft 22-LS0863\O, 4/25/01. There being NO
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
DAVID MORK, WRANGELL testified via teleconference in support
of the legislation. He stressed the importance of funding
Wrangell's harbor project. The harbor is slowly
deteriorating. The cost of the project has increased
approximately 14 percent from the previous year.
ROBERT PRUNELLA MANAGER, CITY OF WRANGELL testified via
teleconference in support of inclusion of the Wrangell
harbor project.
TAPE HFC 01 - 99, Side B
Vice-Chair Bunde MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1. He explained
that Amendment 1 would securitize the remaining 20 percent
of the tobacco settlement funds and provide a funding stream
for tobacco cessation activities. Existing non-profits would
utilize the funds. He acknowledged that the funding would
not be dedicated but emphasized that it would provide a
funding stream that the legislature can appropriate to non-
profits. The amount is estimated at $4 to $5 million dollars
with a decreasing annuity.
Vice-Chair Bunde explained that the projects for the
University of Alaska were not deleted; they were moved to
create a new structure.
Vice-Chair Bunde noted that there were technical
difficulties with the amendment and WITHDREW Amendment 1
with the intention of revising it for the next meeting.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Representative Croft MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 2. Co-Chair
Mulder OBJECTED. Representative Croft explained that the
amendment would fund the first 4 projects on the school
construction list and the first 46 projects on the major
maintenance list. He observed that the projects are
primarily rural, but noted that there are projects from all
over the state. He stressed that there is a process that
should be followed. Many of the projects have been on the
list for a long time. He acknowledged the difficulty of
using harbor and university projects in order to fund the
construction and maintenance projects contained in Amendment
2. He spoke in support of finding other ways to support
ports and harbors.
Co-Chair Mulder spoke against the amendment. He acknowledged
the importance of building and maintaining schools but
observed that there are competing interests statewide. He
stressed that the issue isn't just what is politically
correct but what is politically possible. There are
statewide needs for capital construction dollars. He
maintained that the legislation is reasonable and
responsible. He felt that adoption of the amendment would
amount to winning the battle but losing the war.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Croft, Davies
OPPOSED: Whitaker, Foster, Harris, Hudson, Lancaster,
Mulder, Williams
Representatives Mulder and Bunde were absent.
Representative Hudson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 3 on page 4,
line 15: delete $6 million dollars and insert $7 million
dollars for the Juneau Douglas High School. He stressed that
he agreed to give up $7.1 million dollars in harbor funding
in support for the city's highest priority.
Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to AMEND Amendment 3: delete $1
million dollars from the University Center and add $1
million dollars for the Juneau High School repair. There
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 4 as a technical
amendment: page 4, lines 24 and 25, change the language to
University of Alaska Anchorage University Center Acquisition
and Renovation.
WENDY REDMAN, VICE PRESIDENT, STATEWIDE PROGRAMS, UNIVERSITY
OF ALASKA provided information on the amendment. She stated
that the language should state Anchorage Facility,
Acquisition and Renovation.
Co-Chair Mulder Amended Amendment 4 to Anchorage Facility,
Acquisition and Renovation. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered. There being NO OBJECTION, Amendment 4 was
adopted as amended.
Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 5 page 4, lines 24
and 25, change the language to University of Alaska
Anchorage Facility, Acquisition and Renovation. There being
NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
HB 234 was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
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