04/19/2004 02:15 PM House FIN

HOUSE BILL NO. 476                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     An Act establishing the Alaska Statehood Celebration                                                                       
     Commission; and providing for an effective date.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
JIM SHINE, STAFF  TO REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON,  explained that                                                                   
the Alaska  Statehood Celebration Commission  would celebrate                                                                   
the landmark fifty-year anniversary  of Alaska's statehood in                                                                   
January, 2009.   He discussed the nine-member  composition of                                                                   
the Commission  and its role.  He pointed out that  the State                                                                   
Affairs  Committee   Substitute  reduces  the   size  of  the                                                                   
Commission and the fiscal note.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Williams noted  the funding  for two  years of  the                                                                   
five.  Mr.  Shine  replied  that  the  fiscal  note  analysis                                                                   
reflects  the  best estimate  of  the  startup costs  of  the                                                                   
Commission.  After  the  Commission  is  organized,  it  will                                                                   
prepare its  own budget for  subsequent years as  required in                                                                   
the legislation.  He referred  to the bill's language on page                                                                   
3, lines  3-4 that  states: "prepare  a timetable and  budget                                                                   
for completion of its responsibilities under this Act;"                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stoltze asked  if the  history of the  Silver                                                                   
Anniversary  Celebration had  been reviewed  for guidance  in                                                                   
avoiding waste  and diversion  of funding. Mr.  Shine replied                                                                   
that he  had considered it,  and it resulted  the appointment                                                                   
of subcommittees  to spread out  duties and costs over  a few                                                                   
years.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hawker referred  to the fiscal note reflecting                                                                   
a full time position to support  the Commission and commented                                                                   
that  civic  or  business  organizations  could  provide  the                                                                   
needed support.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative Chenault noted  that no positions are shown on                                                                   
the  fiscal note,  which  is zero,  and  he  wondered if  the                                                                   
position is in the Administrative Services budget.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker  MOVED   to  change  Fiscal  Note  #2,                                                                   
GOV/Executive Office  dated 4/7/04,  to zero. There  being NO                                                                   
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Meyer commented that  five years is a long time to                                                                   
be planning  a party  and it would  add to  the costs  of the                                                                   
Commission. Mr. Shine replied  that the intent of the sponsor                                                                   
was to  start early to form  subcommittees and  receive input                                                                   
for the celebration.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
In  response to  a  question by  Co-Chair  Harris, Mr.  Shine                                                                   
explained the composition of the  Commission. Co-Chair Harris                                                                   
noted,  as  in HB  467,  four  legislators  would be  on  the                                                                   
Commission.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hawker agreed that  five years to plan a party                                                                   
is a  long time,  and suggested  changing the effective  date                                                                   
from January 1,  2005, to January 1, 2007,  which would allow                                                                   
a year for start  up and a year for planning.  Representative                                                                   
Croft respectfully disagreed and  argued that longer planning                                                                   
would allow for a better presentation of Alaska's history.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker  thought   that  Representative  Croft                                                                   
presented a convincing argument for longer planning.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Foster MOVED to  report CSHB 476(STA)  out of                                                                   
Committee  with   individual  recommendations  and   the  two                                                                   
accompanying fiscal  notes. There being NO OBJECTION,  it was                                                                   
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 476(STA)  was REPORTED out of Committee  with individual                                                                   
recommendations and with two zero fiscal impact notes.