Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

03/19/2024 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

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01:32:32 PM Start
01:33:02 PM HB279
02:13:27 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ HB 279 LOCAL BOUNDARY COMMISSION TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                HB 279-LOCAL BOUNDARY COMMISSION                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:33:02 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR  announced the  consideration of  CS FOR  HOUSE BILL                                                               
NO.  279(CRA)  am   "An  Act  relating  to   the  Local  Boundary                                                               
Commission; and providing for an effective date."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
He said  Representative Cronk will  deliver a  brief introduction                                                               
of HB  279, his  staff will present  the sectional  analysis, and                                                               
open  public testimony  on the  bill.  He invited  Representative                                                               
Cronk  and Mr.  Stancliff to  put  themselves on  the record  and                                                               
begin their testimony.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:33:40 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE   MIKE   CRONK,    District   36,   Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of  HB 279 explained that HB
279  originated from  a constituent's  concern about  unorganized                                                               
boroughs lacking representation on  the Local Boundary Commission                                                               
(LBC). He and  his staff investigated the issue  and developed HB
279  to ensure  commissioners  from the  four judicial  districts                                                               
reside  and vote  in the  districts  they represent  and that  at                                                               
least one commissioner  is from an unorganized  borough. He noted                                                               
HB  279  includes an  effective  date  ensuring the  current  LBC                                                               
composition remains unchanged until a seat becomes vacant.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:35:04 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR OLSON asked  if this legislation was  brought forward due                                                               
to a lack of variety within the four judicial districts.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CRONK  replied that  is correct.  The constituent  voiced concern                                                               
that  there  was not  fair  representation  from the  unorganized                                                               
borough.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR OLSON commented that is a fair reason to voice concern.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:35:36 PM                                                                                                                    
DAVE STANCLIFF,  Staff, Representative  Mike Cronk,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  presented  the sectional  analysis                                                               
for HB 279 on behalf of the sponsor.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1. AS 44.33.810 is amended.                                                                                      
     Page 1, Lines: 10-12                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
        Establishes that at least one of the five Local                                                                         
         Boundary commissioners appointed reside in the                                                                         
     Unorganized Borough.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
       Requires a commissioner appointed from a Judicial                                                                        
       District to be domiciled and registered to vote in                                                                       
     that District.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     The LBC chair is to be elected by Commission members.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2.                                                                                                               
     Establishes an effective date clause to coincide with                                                                      
       the next open seat on the commission. January 31,                                                                        
     2025.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR  STANCLIFF  explained  HB 279  proposes  that  the  Commission                                                               
members  elect  the   LBC  chair,  a  change   from  a  political                                                               
appointment by the governor.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:36:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR  asked  a clarifying  question  regarding  HB  279,                                                               
noting that while it requires at  least one member to be from the                                                               
unorganized  borough,  representatives  from  the  four  judicial                                                               
districts can already be from  the unorganized borough. He sought                                                               
confirmation  that   the  bill  changes  the   at-large  seat  to                                                               
specifically designate it as an unorganized borough seat.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANCLIFF  replied that  is correct.  He emphasized  that the                                                               
primary purpose  of HB 279 is  to ensure the perspectives  of the                                                               
rural areas of the state,  the unorganized borough, have at least                                                               
one of the five seats on the Local Boundary Commission.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:37:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR clarified that the  distinction lies in the previous                                                               
structure, which included four seats  from the judicial districts                                                               
and one at-large seat. He noted  that HB 279 does not require one                                                               
of  the  judicial  district  seats to  be  from  the  unorganized                                                               
borough  but   instead  designates  the  at-large   seat  as  the                                                               
unorganized borough seat.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:37:30 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  STANCLIFF  replied  yes, the  legislation  simply  says  one                                                               
person shall be  from the unorganized district,  in effect giving                                                               
the at-large seat to the unorganized borough.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:37:45 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON  sought confirmation that HB  279 allows the                                                               
governor to name any commissioner as chair.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STANCLIFF explained  that  currently,  five individuals  are                                                               
appointed to the  Local Boundary Commissionone  from  each of the                                                               
four  judicial  districts  and  one  at-large  member,  with  the                                                               
governor  selecting the  at-large member  to serve  as chair.  He                                                               
noted  that an  amendment passed  on the  House floor  allows the                                                               
commission  to elect  its  own chair,  rather  than the  governor                                                               
appointing  the chair.  This change  was suggested  to favor  the                                                               
public and reduce political influence.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON expressed appreciation  for the response but                                                               
said  HB  279,  Section  1,  allows "the  governor  to  name  any                                                               
commissioner appointed  as chair."  She sought  confirmation that                                                               
the HB 279 does not permit  the governor to appoint the chair but                                                               
instead give authority to the board.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANCLIFF replied yes.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON responded that is really good.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANCLIFF said  HB 279 [version B], [page 1],  line 12, says,                                                               
"The commission shall select a chair from among its members."                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON  said she  was  confused  by the  sectional                                                               
analysis.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:39:35 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR  said  the sectional  analysis  might  predate  the                                                               
amendment  and confirmed  that HB  279 [version  B.A], [page  1],                                                               
line 14  says, "The  commission shall select  a chair  from among                                                               
its members."                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:40:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR opened public testimony on HB 279.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:40:29 PM                                                                                                                    
LARRY WOOD, Chair, Alaska Local  Boundary Commission (LBC), Eagle                                                               
River, Alaska,  testified in opposition  to HB 279, asked  if the                                                               
committee  had received  an LBC  position paper  dated March  12,                                                               
2024 and cover letter dated March 14, 2024.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:41:08 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR replied the letter and paper were received.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:41:09 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  WOOD  asked if  the  biographical  information on  the  five                                                               
serving members was received by members of the committee.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNBAR replied it was received.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR.  WOOD   urged  the  committee  to   review  the  biographical                                                               
information of  the Local Boundary  Commission (LBC)  members. He                                                               
stated  he  is  uncertain  whether   LBC  members  are  political                                                               
appointees but shared  that he was contacted and  selected by the                                                               
governor's  office   for  the  role.   He  emphasized   that  LBC                                                               
commissioners  are volunteers,  not state  employees, chosen  for                                                               
their interest  in government  affairs, objectivity,  and skills.                                                               
He  explained that  the commission  operates in  a quasi-judicial                                                               
capacity, addressing  incorporation, dissolution,  and annexation                                                               
petitions impartially.  He highlighted the  commission's history,                                                               
noting  its creation  under the  state constitution  to ensure  a                                                               
statewide  entity   represents  all  Alaskans  fairly   in  local                                                               
boundary decisions.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:43:29 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. WOOD stated  he is unsure why Governor  Dunlevy appointed him                                                               
to the  LBC, noting his 50-year  career as an attorney  in Alaska                                                               
and his long residency in  Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Eagle River.                                                               
He  speculated   the  appointment  might  relate   to  his  legal                                                               
background or prior  role as a Republican member  and later chair                                                               
of  the Alaska  Public Offices  Commission (APOC).  He emphasized                                                               
that his service  is not tied to any state  contract but reflects                                                               
his commitment to  Alaska and its people. He added  that a review                                                               
of  other commissioners'  records over  the past  60 years  would                                                               
show similar dedication.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:44:21 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. WOOD  stated he  would like  to focus on  the history  of the                                                               
Local  Boundary Commission  (LBC)  from  1987 onward,  addressing                                                               
comments  about representation  of  the  Unorganized Borough.  He                                                               
noted  that the  Unorganized  Borough geographically  encompasses                                                               
over  half of  Alaska but  has about  10 percent  of the  state's                                                               
population,  with  most of  it  located  in the  Fourth  Judicial                                                               
District. He referenced a letter  and position paper submitted on                                                               
behalf  of  the  LBC,  emphasizing  that  representation  of  the                                                               
Unorganized   Borough   has   existed  since   the   commission's                                                               
inception,  as  every judicial  district  includes  parts of  it,                                                               
particularly the  Fourth Judicial  District. He remarked  that HB
279 appears tied  to broader issues beyond  changing his position                                                               
or appointing a representative from the organized borough.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:45:32 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. WOOD  pointed out  a connection to  HB 151,  which introduces                                                               
challenges to one of two  methods of borough formation in Alaska.                                                               
He   highlighted  the   larger   issue   of  borough   formation,                                                               
particularly disparities  in education costs between  borough and                                                               
unorganized borough residents, as  noted by the Ketchikan Gateway                                                               
Borough mayor  in a recent  House committee meeting.  Speaking as                                                               
an advocate for  borough formation and the  commission's work, he                                                               
urged  consideration  of  Alaska's history  of  local  government                                                               
establishment  and the  methods  for  incorporating boroughs  and                                                               
cities  in the  Unorganized Borough  and why  that process  makes                                                               
sense.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:46:15 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATORS GIESSEL and Bjorkman joined the meeting.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:46:54 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. WOOD  emphasized the quasi-judicial nature  of the commission                                                               
and refrained  from commenting on  specific proposals  but called                                                               
for a  broader perspective.  He highlighted  the long  history of                                                               
commissioners from the Unorganized  Borough, listing past members                                                               
and chairs  from Wrangell,  Nome, Pelican,  Valdez, and  Tok, and                                                               
noted  periods  when two  members  from  the Unorganized  Borough                                                               
served simultaneously.  He urged  the committee to  recognize the                                                               
continuous representation  of the Unorganized Borough  on the LBC                                                               
and  to  consider the  broader  context  and history  of  borough                                                               
formation in the state.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:48:59 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  WOOD  urged  the  committee   to  examine  the  history  and                                                               
development of local government  formation in Alaska, emphasizing                                                               
the importance of considering the  broader context beyond HB 279.                                                               
He  noted that  other  related legislation  has been  introduced,                                                               
including  a proposal  by Representative  Prax from  [North Pole]                                                               
that deals with educational funding.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:49:52 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  OLSON stated  that  the issue  was  raised because  some                                                               
people   felt    the   unorganized   borough    lacked   adequate                                                               
representation. He asked Mr. Wood,  the commission's chair, if he                                                               
sees this as a problem the legislature needs to resolve.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:50:16 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  WOOD   stated  that   inadequate  representation   from  the                                                               
unorganized  borough had  not been  a problem.  He suggested  the                                                               
committee  speak  with Mr.  Walker  from  Healy, located  in  the                                                               
Denali Borough. He noted it  was coincidental that no current LBC                                                               
member resides  in the borough. He  added that if the  goal is to                                                               
require  representation from  people  living  in the  unorganized                                                               
borough  outside of  municipalities, HB  279 will  not accomplish                                                               
it.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:51:29 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. WOOD  requested the committee  consider the objective  of the                                                               
commission. He  referenced several  boards, such as  the Workers'                                                               
Compensation Board,  as examples  where diverse  perspectives are                                                               
important.  He said  the  legislature acts  as  assembly for  the                                                               
unorganized borough  providing representation. He  questioned the                                                               
value  of  encouraging  local  interest   only  when  looking  at                                                               
statewide  decisions.   He  opined   that  the  framers   of  the                                                               
Constitution  wanted   a  board  that  looked   at  incorporation                                                               
questions from a statewide perspective.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:52:49 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  OLSON  stated  that perspectives  differ  between  those                                                               
living  in  an organized  borough  and  those in  an  unorganized                                                               
borough, where residents rely on  the legislature to act as their                                                               
borough assembly.  He emphasized having strong  feelings that the                                                               
proposed legislation  looks out for individuals  from unorganized                                                               
boroughs, and he is glad the legislation was brought forward.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:53:37 PM                                                                                                                    
JAMES SQUYRES,  representing self, Deltana, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
support  of  HB 279.  He  stated  that  he  lives in  the  Fourth                                                               
Judicial District within the unorganized  borough and supports HB
279. He  referenced art.  X, sec.  3 of  the Constitution  of the                                                               
State of Alaska  which mandates that the entire  state be divided                                                               
into organized  or unorganized boroughs,  noting that  about half                                                               
the state lies in the  unorganized borough. He explained that the                                                               
LBC  consists   of  five  commissioners  representing   the  four                                                               
judicial  districts  and  one at-large  position,  but  all  five                                                               
commissioners currently  come from organized boroughs.  He argued                                                               
that the  claim that commissioners represent  unorganized borough                                                               
perspectives is unconvincing.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:54:42 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  SQUYRES  stated  that  the   HB  279  does  not  change  the                                                               
requirement for  a commissioner from  each judicial  district but                                                               
ensures that  at least one  of the five commissioners  comes from                                                               
the   [unorganized]   borough.   He   said   HB   279   addresses                                                               
misrepresentation on  the LBC and  promotes a broader  balance of                                                               
perspective, expertise, and knowledge.  This change would improve                                                               
representation for  the large land  areas that may  face boundary                                                               
changes  or organization  issues  in the  future. He  recommended                                                               
amending   HB   279  to   increase   the   number  of   appointed                                                               
commissioners  from  unorganized boroughs  to  at  least two.  He                                                               
suggested requiring  that at least  one commissioner live  in the                                                               
unorganized  borough  outside  an  incorporated  municipality  to                                                               
ensure a broader  perspective. He noted that  a similar amendment                                                               
received broad support on the  House floor and could be confirmed                                                               
if sent back  with this change. He emphasized that  having two of                                                               
the  five  commissioners  from  unorganized  boroughs  would  not                                                               
unbalance the Local Boundary Commission (LBC).                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:55:34 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. SQUYRES expressed concern that  the current makeup of the LBC                                                               
lacks  perspective  and  working  knowledge  of  the  unorganized                                                               
borough, which could result in  poor decisions. He cited a recent                                                               
full-day LBC meeting  on a petition to form a  new borough in the                                                               
Hoonah area,  where commissioners struggled to  understand fiscal                                                               
metrics  related  to  unorganized  boroughs.  He  stated  that  a                                                               
qualified commissioner from an  unorganized borough would already                                                               
have   knowledge  about   Regional  Education   Attendance  Areas                                                               
(REAAs),  federal  Payments in  Lieu  of  Taxes (PILT),  and  the                                                               
unique distribution of federal impact aid.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:56:29 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  SQUYRES  noted a  lack  of  sufficient coverage  during  the                                                               
afternoon session  of the meeting  to address the  fiscal metrics                                                               
of organized  and unorganized areas along  the pipeline corridor.                                                               
He stated  that during  public testimony, he  briefed the  LBC on                                                               
the fiscal contributions of unorganized  areas along the pipeline                                                               
to the  state general  fund. He  encouraged committee  members to                                                               
review  the oil  and gas  property tax  portion of  the State  of                                                               
Alaska 2023 Fall  Revenue Forecast. He concluded  that passing HB
279  is a  proper  exercise of  legislative  authority under  the                                                               
Alaska  Constitution, art.  X,  sec.  6, to  promote  a fair  and                                                               
balanced LBC.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:57:37 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR OLSON  asked if the sponsor  of HB 279 would  be in favor                                                               
of the amendment Mr. Squyres talked about.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:57:55 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  STANDCLIFF replied  that there  was considerable  discussion                                                               
about adding a  second member from an  unorganized borough, which                                                               
raised concerns about potentially  unbalancing the Local Boundary                                                               
Commission (LBC)  or influencing  its stance on  organization. He                                                               
noted  that Representative  Cronk has  been in  contact with  the                                                               
governor regarding the legislation.  He emphasized that while the                                                               
governor appoints commissioners,  the legislature establishes the                                                               
laws and procedures governing the  LBC. He highlighted that it is                                                               
unusual for members of a  quasi-judicial body to influence policy                                                               
regarding the make-up  of the body, something he had  not seen in                                                               
his 27 years  of experience. While not  recommending the addition                                                               
of a  second member  at this time,  he said  Representative Cronk                                                               
supports   having  one   of  the   five  commissioners   from  an                                                               
unorganized   borough,  citing   the   valuable  experience   and                                                               
perspective they would bring to the LBC's deliberations.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:59:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CLAY WALKER,  Member, Local  Boundary Commission,  Healy, Alaska,                                                               
stated  that he  was appointed  to the  Fourth Judicial  District                                                               
seat  on  the  Local  Boundary Commission  (LBC)  last  year  and                                                               
resides in the Denali Borough,  which was established in 1990. He                                                               
provided an  overview of his  experience in local  government and                                                               
service  on various  boards. He  stated  his belief  that he  was                                                               
appointed by the governor due  to his extensive study of Alaska's                                                               
municipal  government  and  feels   qualified  to  represent  the                                                               
diverse  Fourth Judicial  District,  which  includes the  Bethel,                                                               
Wade-Hampton, and  Southeast Fairbanks  census areas, as  well as                                                               
the Fairbanks North Star and Denali boroughs.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. WALKER  asserted that LBC  commissioners should not  speak to                                                               
policy  issues  regarding  its  composition  and  should  instead                                                               
participate through  public testimony. He stated  his belief that                                                               
the  decision  of  the  framers   of  the  Constitution  to  base                                                               
representation  on the  four Judicial  Districts fairly  reflects                                                               
the diverse areas  of Alaska. Adding a fifth at  large seat makes                                                               
a deliberative body  from which the governor can  select the most                                                               
qualified  candidate  from  the  state's  entire  population.  He                                                               
described this as fair and  said mandating that the at-large seat                                                               
come from  roughly 10 percent  of the population,  seemed unfair.                                                               
He pointed out that, since  organized areas can expand, requiring                                                               
a seat  to come  from an  area that  is structurally  designed to                                                               
contract is  poor policy. He argued  that HB 279 appears  to be a                                                               
legislative  attempt  to  undermine the  constitutional  goal  of                                                               
maximizing local government and urged  the committee to table the                                                               
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:02:51 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  OLSON asked  Mr. Walker,  a person  from an  unorganized                                                               
borough,  whether unorganized  borough residents,  who are  fully                                                               
dependent on  the legislature for fair  statewide representation,                                                               
deserve board representation.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:03:14 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  WALKER  stated  that  he represents  the  interests  of  the                                                               
unorganized borough and  emphasized that the LBC  is charged with                                                               
fairly,   objectively,   and  impartially   analyzing   potential                                                               
boundary  changes, incorporations,  or  detachments.  He said  he                                                               
does not  believe that residing  in an organized area  within the                                                               
Fourth  Judicial District  makes him  impartial or  non-objective                                                               
when  reviewing matters  before  the body.  He  opined that  many                                                               
issues  facing  the  unorganized  borough are  addressed  by  the                                                               
legislature,  and he  stressed that  every  legislator, like  LBC                                                               
commissioners, has  a responsibility  to represent  the interests                                                               
of their unorganized borough residents.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR OLSON stated that Mr. Walker  lives on the road system in                                                               
the Denali  Borough, while  he resides in  the hinterland  of the                                                               
unorganized borough  in western  Alaska. He expressed  doubt that                                                               
Mr.  Walker understands  the priorities  of those  he represents,                                                               
who  live in  more remote  unorganized areas,  where efforts  are                                                               
focused  on  supporting  livelihoods.  He  said  he  respectfully                                                               
disagreed with Mr. Walker's perspective.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:04:46 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  BJORKMAN   stated  that  he  appreciates   Mr.  Walker's                                                               
expertise  regarding local  governments across  Alaska. He  noted                                                               
that  the  representative  from   the  Second  Judicial  District                                                               
resides  in  Kiana,  a  community  within  the  Northwest  Arctic                                                               
Borough. He  questioned how the  practical experience  of someone                                                               
from Kiana, in terms of local  government or the absence of local                                                               
government, would  differ from the  experience of  someone living                                                               
in an unorganized borough.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:05:34 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. WALKER  responded by  saying he  disagreed with  Mr. Squyres'                                                               
earlier  comment that  residents of  unorganized boroughs  have a                                                               
deeper understanding of federal Payments  in Lieu of Taxes (PILT)                                                               
and federal Impact  Aid compared to those  in organized boroughs.                                                               
He asserted that he has  a strong understanding of both. However,                                                               
he  emphasized  that broad  representation  is  essential to  any                                                               
statewide  body  and praised  the  commissioner  from the  Second                                                               
Judicial District for effectively representing rural Alaska.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:06:40 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BJORKMAN  stated that he  had a genuine question  with no                                                               
specific intent or direction. He  asked if there are areas within                                                               
the  unorganized borough  that, are  not currently  in compliance                                                               
with the Mandatory Borough Act of 1964.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. WALKER stated that he  had not reviewed the Mandatory Borough                                                               
Act  of  1964 recently  but  noted  that  most Alaskans  live  in                                                               
boroughs formed  under it. He observed  that Alaska's development                                                               
of   governmental   structures   has    been   slow   and   often                                                               
disincentivized. He suggested  that it might be  more relevant to                                                               
review the  model borough framework developed  by the legislature                                                               
and the  LBC in  2006, rather  than focusing  solely on  the 1964                                                               
act.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:08:26 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR closed public testimony on HB 279.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:08:36 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR asked Director Moeller  about the past makeup of the                                                               
LBC.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:09:08 PM                                                                                                                    
SANDRA  MOLLER,  Director,  Division of  Community  and  Regional                                                               
Affairs,   Department  of   Commerce,   Community  and   Economic                                                               
Development (DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska,  stated that her division                                                               
has been reviewing historical representation  on the LBC in light                                                               
of  the two  introduced bills.  Since 1987,  there have  been 185                                                               
seats (33 years  x 5 seats). Of those appointments,  33 have come                                                               
from the unorganized borough, accounting  for about 18 percent of                                                               
the  total.   She  noted  that,   like  many  state   boards  and                                                               
commissions,  the  availability   of  interested  applicants  may                                                               
affect   representation.  She   said   her   division  plans   to                                                               
investigate the extent of interest  from potential applicants, as                                                               
other boards and commissions have  faced challenges in attracting                                                               
volunteers.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:10:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR   acknowledged  that   the  LBC  is   a  volunteer,                                                               
uncompensated  board.  He asked  if  there  are additional  costs                                                               
associated with the board, inquiring  whether most of the work is                                                               
done  remotely and  if  the LBC  has a  large  travel budget.  He                                                               
requested an overall sense of the board's operational costs.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:11:10 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. MOLLER stated  that there is no  separate budget specifically                                                               
for the LBC.  The commission is supported by  one full-time staff                                                               
member,  and most  costs  are  related to  travel.  So far,  this                                                               
fiscal  year,  travel expenses  have  totaled  about $3,000,  but                                                               
higher  costs  are expected  as  commissioners  will travel  from                                                               
their home  locations to the  boundaries of the new  petition for                                                               
the proposed  Hoonah Borough in  the Southeast  Judicial District                                                               
1. She explained  that travel costs vary  depending on commission                                                               
activity, with  travel primarily occurring when  there are active                                                               
petitions.  Meetings are  required and  typically covered  by the                                                               
general  fund, while  commissioner travel  is linked  to specific                                                               
petitions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:10:53 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR  sought clarification, asking if  most travel occurs                                                               
in  response to  petitions while  typical meetings  are conducted                                                               
telephonically.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. MOLLER replied that is correct.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:12:44 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR closed public testimony on HB 279.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:12:48 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR held HB 279 in committee.                                                                                          

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB 279 Testimony Recieved as of 3.18.24.pdf SCRA 3/19/2024 1:30:00 PM
HB 279