04/30/1994 11:40 AM Senate RES

 SENATOR MILLER said the first item they would take up today would             
 be  SB 375  (GENERAL GRANT LAND ENTITLEMENTS).                                
                                                                               
 MARTHA STEWART, Legislative Aide to Senator Al Adams, said this               
 bill would allow municipalities to select up to 10% of the general            
 grant land within their municipal boundaries.  A CS incorporating             
 changes suggested by the DNR was in their packets.                            
                                                                               
 She explained that certain members of the oil industry were                   
 concerned over the possibility of selecting "unitized land."  The             
 Oil and Gas Commission designates units which is a method of                  
 controlling the order of drilling activities.  A proposed amendment           
 would take those lands out of the possibility for selection for the           
 municipal entitlements.                                                       
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN moved to adopt the CSSB 375 (RES).  There were no               
 objections and it was so ordered.                                             
                                                                               
 SENATOR PEARCE  moved Senator Adam's amendment regarding "unitized            
 land."  There were no objections and it was so ordered.                       
                                                                               
 JERRY GALLAGHER, Department of Natural Resources, said there was a            
 $0 fiscal note and that local governments can select vacant and               
 unappropriated land.  The purpose of that limited selection is so             
 that municipal governments can select lands for schools, municipal            
 expansion and needs.  State Park and State Forest designated lands            
 could not be selected, he said.                                               
                                                                               
 SENATOR FRANK noted that Haines entitlements would go up by 5 times           
 and his district would triple.                                                
                                                                               
 MR. GALLAGHER elaborated for Senator Pearce that the smaller areas            
 with a higher population have a higher proportion of land, like               
 Juneau.                                                                       
                                                                               
 Number 254                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN moved to discharge CSSB 375 (RES) from committee with           
 individual recommendations.  There were no objections and it was so           
 ordered.