Legislature(2013 - 2014)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/09/2013 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
Audio | Topic |
---|---|
Start | |
HB94 | |
HB84 | |
HB99 | |
HB153 | |
HB56 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= | HB 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 96 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 94 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 84 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 99 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 153 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 56 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED |
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 99(RES) "An Act relating to the membership of the Alaska Minerals Commission; and extending the termination date of the Alaska Minerals Commission." 9:38:58 AM Representative Saddler explained that HB 99 would help to ensure the growth and sustainability of the minerals development and mining sector of Alaska's economy by extending the Alaska Minerals Commission by an additional 10 years. The commission was established by the legislature in 1986 and has since been reauthorized four times. The commission is responsible for identifying road blocks to mineral development in the state and for making recommendations to the governor and the legislature on how to clear any obstacles. The commission meets three times per year in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau where commissioners deliver an annual report to the capital during the first ten days of the legislative session. Since the commission's last reauthorization in 2003 it had made several key recommendations which the legislature had since implemented or was currently working on putting into place: · Reforming the state's permitting process to make permitting more timely and efficient · Funding infrastructure development under the Roads to Resources program · Asserting and defending public access to roads, trails and navigable waters Representative Saddler reiterated that the commission was a proven and affordable voice for an important sector of Alaska's economy; mining employed 4,500 Alaskans and provided over $600 million in direct and indirect payroll. The bill provided for three year terms and a limit of two consecutive terms, in addition to the annual election of a chair and a vice-chair. 9:41:14 AM Co-Chair Meyer queried when the commission was last audited. Representative Saddler replied that there had never been a request made to audit the commission. 9:41:33 AM Co-Chair Meyer understood that the bill would provide for a 10 year sunset date. He wondered if the request was standard. Representative Saddler replied in the affirmative. He added that the commission had previously received several 5 year extensions and one 10 year extension. 9:42:35 AM KRIS CURTIS, AUDITOR, DIVISION OF LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, testified that the division had no opinion on the legislation because it had not performed an audit on the commission. She furthered that the commission was an entity that was not subject to mandatory audits. 9:43:22 AM Vice-Chair Fairclough asked what the state was currently spending to operate the commission. Representative Saddler responded approximately $13,000 per year, which included travel to meetings, the cost of printing the annual report and minimal staff support. Co-Chair Meyer asked if the report on the commission was available to the public. Representative said that printed copies had been distributed earlier in the session and the PDF version could be found online at the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development website. Co-Chair Meyer noted the fiscal note for $13,000. 9:44:43 AM Co-Chair Kelly MOVED to REPORT CS HB 99(RES) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CS HB 99(RES) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with previously published fiscal impact note: FN2 (CED). 9:45:14 AM AT EASE 9:48:33 AM RECONVENED