Legislature(2011 - 2012)HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/14/2012 01:30 PM House FINANCE
Audio | Topic |
---|---|
Start | |
HCR24 | |
HB170 | |
HB250 | |
HCR23 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | HCR 23 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+= | HB 170 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | HCR 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | HB 250 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 23 Establishing and relating to the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission. 2:48:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE REGGIE JOULE, SPONSOR, explained HCR 23. The Alaska Northern Waters Task Force (ANWTF) was established in 2010 to identify the opportunities and challenges of a changing Arctic. Arctic Nations are anticipating the development of northern shipping routes, mineral extraction, oil and gas exploration, commercial fisheries, and tourism. Some of this change has already started to occur. The ANWT completed its final report on January 30, 2012. The report includes recommendations in six Arctic policy areas: Governance, Oil & Gas Development, Marine Transportation, Fisheries, Infrastructure, and Research. The report is by far the broadest and most detailed statement of Alaska's Arctic policy to date, yet much work remains to fully expound upon all the diverse issues that the Task Force brought forward. While the United States has an official written Arctic Policy (National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD)-66), Alaska does not. Most of the other Arctic Nations and the Northwest Territories already have established Arctic policies. As the jurisdiction that makes the United States an Arctic nation and as the only U.S. state that is home to Arctic residents, Alaska needs an Arctic policy of its own. Alaska needs to position itself now regarding the nation's Arctic policy - Alaska cannot take that leadership role without understanding what its own priorities should be. This is especially critical considering the United States will be chairing the Arctic Council from 2015-2017. The Arctic Policy Commission will provide the legislature an opportunity to remain engaged in the ongoing Arctic dialogue and to help shape future Alaskan Arctic policy. 2:54:04 PM Representative Costello appreciated the work that had been done on the issue, and believed it would become more important as time went on. She asked about the makeup of the commission. Representative Joule responded that the Northern Waters Task Force had 11 members. He stated that municipalities, regional corporations, and conservancies were represented. He explained that there was some discovery, over time, which some representation was missing from the commission. He remarked that industry; university and research; and native tribes were missing from the commission. Currently, the membership was at 16 members. He stated that there was some trouble keeping the membership small, because of the desire to have all interests represented. Co-Chair Stoltze pointed to page 3, lines 14 and 15. He wondered whether it would be more appropriate to broaden the language to "university" instead of the "University of Alaska." CHRISTINE HESS, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE REGGIE JOULE, would be open to the idea. Representative Joule felt that language should be broad enough to include not only the University of Alaska, but be open enough to find people who would meet the proper level of qualification. Representative Guttenberg felt it was important for the state to lead the charge in the nation, because Alaska was on the forefront of Arctic waters management. He recommended inserting language stating that the commission can meet as soon as the majority members are appointed. He remarked that sometimes full membership was not present, so the commission would not meet. Representative Joule thought it might be helpful to leave the language open enough to meet the level of qualification. Co-Chair Thomas did not see an environmental person on the commission. He asked whether the language "or designee" could be included in the legislation in the event that a member would not be present. 3:00:46 PM AT EASE 3:07:03 PM RECONVENED Co-Chair Stoltze MOVED Amendment 1: Page 3, delete language on lines 14-15. Replace with new language "One member representing an accredited university or college in Alaska, who has a background in Arctic science;" Co-Chair Thomas OBJECTED for discussion. Co-Chair Stoltze read the amendment aloud. Co-Chair Thomas WITHDREW his objection. There being NO further OBJECTION, Amendment 1 was ADOPTED. Ms. Hess explained Amendment 2: Page 3, line 20 add (J) one member representing a statewide environmental organization (K) 4 alternates will be appointed Co-Chair Stoltze asked whether it would be more appropriate to say a member from the conservation community. Ms. Hess adjusted Amendment 2 to read: Page 3, line 20 add (J) one member representing a statewide conservation organization (K) 4 alternates will be appointed Representative Edgmon wondered if it would be more appropriate to use the language "conservation community." Representative Edgmon MOVED to AMEND Amendment 2. He explained that the amendment would change the wording in subsection (J) to read: "one member representing the conservation community." There being NO OBJECTION Amendment 2 was ADOPTED as AMENDED. CHRIS HLADICK, CITY MANAGER, CITY OF UNALASKA, testified in support of HCR 23. He stated that there had been a great reception at the Coast Guard briefing on the Northern Waters Task Force. He believed the commission would work well with the governor's office and the federal government. He expressed that all Alaskans would be impacted by events in the future related to shipping over the North Pole and other Arctic areas. He believed the policy commission could help work through the mountain of information regarding the Arctic waters, and he appreciated the opportunity to testify. 3:13:34 PM Representative Edgmon explained that when he was chair of the Fisheries Committee in 2009 built around Mr. Hladick's contributions about this subject. He stated that there was not a central point of contact for Arctic issues, and was grateful that there was a continuation of multi- disciplinary information. Co-Chair Thomas CLOSED public testimony. Representative Neuman supported the legislation. He had been involved in two caucuses regarding Arctic issues. He stated that there had been a move by President Obama to create council that would have oversight or management on all federal waters, and he believed it would subvert the current public process. He declared that the ability for Alaska to have a say would be critical to the state. He stated that Commissioner Cora Campbell had sent two letters to the federal government on the issue. The legislation would give Alaska a voice in a big way. He felt that former Attorney General Burns was correct in that the issue was one of the largest that would impact Alaska in the upcoming 10 years. Representative Doogan communicated that what was happening in the Arctic was a very significant issue. He thanked Representative Joule for his work. Co-Chair Stoltze believed the process had been very inclusive. He recognized the hard work that went into the legislation. Representative Gara commended Representative Joule for his patience on the issue. He agreed that the issue was one of the most important unaddressed issues. He could not say that he agreed with various republican and democratic presidents over the years. 3:23:49 PM Vice-chair Fairclough stated that she and Representative Joule met with individuals who had been assigned to start implementing the Federal Ocean Counsel Policy. She stressed that the Ocean Policy Counsel was a much different, and critical issue in Alaska. Representative Joule stated that the policy commission was timely because the U.S. and Canada would be working very closely over the upcoming four years. He opined that it was amazing what outside people did not know about Alaska, and the way that budget decisions were made. The legislature was engaged and should remain engaged in the process. Co-Chair Thomas noted that Southeast was part of Alaska. Vice-chair Fairclough discussed the fiscal note 1 was changed to make the committee a 17 member commission instead of a 16 member commission. Vice-chair Fairclough MOVED to report CSHCR 23(FIN) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSHCR 23(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with one new fiscal note by the House Finance Committee for the Legislature. Co-Chair Stoltze discussed the schedule for the following day.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
---|---|---|
Letters of Support HCR23.pdf |
HFIN 3/14/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HCR 23 |
HCR23 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HFIN 3/14/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HCR 23 |
HCR23 National Security Arctic Directive.PDF |
HFIN 3/14/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HCR 23 |
HCR23 CAFP_brochure_PECA-eng.pdf |
HFIN 3/14/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HCR 23 |
HCR23 ASRC, NANA Letter.PDF |
HFIN 3/14/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HCR 23 |
HCR 23 LINKS to Backup Documents.pdf |
HFIN 3/14/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HCR 23 |
Letter of Support Re State of Alaska HCR 23.pdf |
HFIN 3/14/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HCR 23 |
HB250 DCCED-AEA- 031412-NEW Fiscal Note.pdf |
HFIN 3/14/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HB 250 |
Letter to Rep.Doogan.pdf |
HFIN 3/14/2012 1:30:00 PM |
SB 171 |