Legislature(2011 - 2012)HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/05/2011 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB197 | |
| HCR9 | |
| HB173 | |
| HB30 || HB31 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 31 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 197 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 173 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HCR 9 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9
Establishing in the Alaska State Legislature the
Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production.
2:00:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LANCE PRUITT, SPONSOR, explained that the
resolution would establish a working group within the
legislature to discuss inter-state energy production.
DIRK CRAFT, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE LANCE PRUITT, explained
that the resolution was crafted in response to legislation
proposed by other states that produce energy or energy
resources. Alaska along with other states continued to
experience negative consequences from the delay or
cancellation of economically viable energy related projects
because federal law too often overreached the federal
government's constitutional authority to make and enforce
laws. The working group would develop a proposal for an
inter-legislature agreement that would facilitate
collaboration between the Alaska State Legislature and
other state legislatures in an effort to influence federal
energy-related law and policy, and to discourage delay or
cancellation of economically viable energy related projects
in the state. He referred to the language on page 2:
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska Working Group on
Interstate Energy Production shall consist of four
members, with two senators appointed by the President
of the Senate and two representatives appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska Working Group on
Interstate Energy Production may meet during and
between regular sessions of the Alaska State
Legislature, and, subject to approval by the President
of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, as appropriate, a member of the
Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production
may travel in the state or to other states as
necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Alaska
Working Group on Interstate Energy Production; and be
it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska Working Group on
Interstate Energy Production shall terminate January
18, 2013; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska Working Group on
Interstate Energy Production shall submit a report of
its findings and proposed legislative changes to the
Alaska State Legislature on or before January 17,
2012, and may make additional reports that the Alaska
Working Group on Interstate Energy Production
considers advisable.
Vice-chair Fairclough asked if the working group would be
working with the National Conference of State Legislatures
(NCSL) or other organizations in order to draw on
expertise. Mr. Craft replied that collaboration could be
possible once the group was established. The purpose of HCR
9 was to establish the working group among energy producing
states.
2:04:18 PM
Vice-chair Fairclough encouraged the group to assess work
that had already been done around the country in regard to
the issue. She voiced support for the resolution.
Representative Costello spoke in support of the resolution.
She asked what specific results were expected from the
introduction of the legislation. Mr. Craft replied that the
main goal was to link up with other states to discuss
similar energy problems in order to create a more unified
voice when presenting the energy issues before Congress.
Representative Costello asked what other states had passed,
or were in the process of passing, similar legislation. Mr.
Craft said that Utah and Wyoming had passed legislation. He
understood that Texas had legislation in production.
Representative Wilson perceived that there would be no
fiscal impact to the operating budget because the funds
were expected to come from another revenue source. Mr.
Craft responded that the Legislative Affairs Agency would
be absorbing the travel cost.
Co-Chair Stoltze interjected that the differing
interpretations of the fiscal note would be discussed later
in the meeting.
Representative Guttenberg assumed that although Wyoming and
Utah had passed similar resolutions there was no
established organizational structure; the hope was to
simply get as many states involved as possible. Mr. Craft
specified that the intent was to lay the groundwork for
what would become and organization.
Representative Guttenberg asked whether a vote from an
interstate working group could bind the state to a losing
proposition that only benefitted other states. Mr. Craft
replied that the issue had been discussed with the
Legislative Legal Division. No binding language had been
written into the resolution.
2:08:33 PM
Representative Guttenberg queried the number of other
states with similar pending legislation. Mr. Craft
reiterated that Texas had similar pending legislation.
Representative Edgmon recalled and energy symposium in
Wyoming which had included all 13 of the Western states; it
had not taken long for the producer states (Alaska,
Montana, North Dakota) to cluster together, and the
consumer states (California, Oregon, Washington etc.) to
create another group. The producing states felt as if they
were being surpassed, particularly by California in terms
of resource development and extraction. He believed the
resolution was accurately worded but thought that most of
the interaction would occur between the Western states.
Co-Chair Stoltze OPENED public testimony.
Co-Chair Stoltze CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Stoltze believed that the fiscal note should be
zeroed out.
Co-Chair Thomas MOVED to zero out the fiscal note for FY12
and FY13. There being no OBJECTION it was so ordered.
2:12:17 PM
Representative Gara ascertained that the states could unite
to influence energy-related federal law and policy.
Vice-chair Fairclough MOVED to REPORT HCR 9 out of
committee with individual recommendations and the amended
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
HCR 9 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with a new zero impact note by the House
Finance Committee for the Legislature.
2:14:25 PM
AT EASE
2:15:33 PM
RECONVENED