Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/27/1996 11:10 AM Senate RES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SSCR 1 DISAPPROVING EXECUTIVE ORDER 92
SENATOR LEMAN announced they would consider SSCR 1.
SENATOR PEARCE moved to adopt the CS to SSCR 1. There were no
objections and it was so ordered.
HSCR 1 DISAPPROVING EXECUTIVE ORDER 92
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if there were any objections to adopting
the CS to HSCR 1. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES objected to the reference
on lines 10 and 11 including the Division of Mining. He said he
had an amendment that would take care of his concern.
REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS moved to adopt the work draft version "c"
to HSCR 1. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES objected.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked for a roll call vote. REPRESENTATIVES
LONG, and DAVIES voted no; REPRESENTATIVES NICHOLIA, AUSTERMAN,
WILLIAMS, and GREEN voted yes; and the motion carried.
Number 84
REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLIA changed her vote from yes to no.
There was a brief discussion regarding procedure in a joint
committee meeting.
GEORGE UTERHMOHLE, Legislative Affairs Agency, explained that the
two resolutions each had been referred to the Committees that are
meeting jointly today and each Committee would have to take action
independently.
Number 130
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT moved to adopt the CS to HSCR 1.
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN objected for a point of order. He said
there was a motion on the floor already.
SENATOR LEMAN explained that that motion failed on a 3/3 vote.
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT again moved to adopt the CS to HSCR 1.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES objected saying they had already dealt with
that motion.
Number 180
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT moved to rescind the action.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN announced an at ease for the House members at
11:20 a.m. and called the meeting back to order at 11:21 a.m.
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT moved to rescind the earlier failure to adopt
the CS to HSCR 1. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES objected. REPRESENTATIVE
GREEN asked for a roll call vote. REPRESENTATIVES NICHOLIA, and
LONG voted no; REPRESENTATIVES AUSTERMAN, KOTT, OGAN, WILLIAM, and
GREEN voted yes; and the motion carried.
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT moved to adopt CS to HSCR 1. REPRESENTATIVE
DAVIES objected. REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked for a roll call vote.
REPRESENTATIVES NICHOLIA and DAVIES voted no; REPRESENTATIVES LONG
AUSTERMAN, KOTT, OGAN, WILLIAMS, and GREEN voted yes; and the
motion carried.
SENATOR LEMAN reiterated there were no objections from the Senate
members in passing the CS to SSCR 1.
Number 260
NICO BUS, DNR, opposed CSSCR 1. He said last year the Director of
the Division of Geological and Geophysical Survey (DGGS) funding
was deleted by the legislature and this year they have had to deal
with that lack of funding. Their choices were to either hire a new
position and find funding somewhere and then sacrifice field
operations or to do what is proposed in Executive Order 92.
CSSCR 1 proposes to merge DGGS with the Division of Mining and
Water and there are several reasons why this wouldn't work. One is
that AK 41.08.015 requires that the State geologist be suited by
education and experience to be the head of Geological Survey.
Currently the Director of the Division of Mining does not meet that
criteria. Another reason is that the Division of Mining budget is
weak in that it barely supports mining activity. Combining it with
DGGS which is also struggling for funding would make a weak
organization. DGGS strongly supports EO 92 which would also
actually save $50,000 in administrative service costs.
SENATOR LEMAN asked how the $50,000 savings would accrue. MR. BUS
replied that each one of the divisions has an administrative
support group and by combining the two, one support position could
be eliminated. MR. BUS said the head of the Division was already
deleted in last year's budget.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES asked him to comment on his preference on
combining with any division in comparison with the Division of
Mining. MR. BUS said they prefer DGGS be a separate organization.
He added that combining the two divisions was attempted in 1986 and
it didn't work. Both the State and industry had problems.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if the Division of Oil and Gas and DGGS
were combined if the staff would at least be utilized part time on
pre-sale analysis rather than the charge they are given in statute.
MR. BUS replied that basically DGGS would continue to fulfill their
mission, but the expertise in both Divisions could be shared to the
benefit of each.
Number 300
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if the Divisions were strapped
financially and if expertise would further strap them to the point
where they're not fulfilling their obligations under statute. MR.
BUS replied that the Governor's 1997 budget as proposed allows the
DGGS to meet its statutory requirements.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES asked if in the past under various RSA
arrangements and other agreements that the DGGS staff have assisted
in base analysis functions for the Division of Oil and Gas. He
asked wouldn't that be possible in the future, whether or not these
combinations occur. MR. BUS said that had happened in the past
through contractual arrangements. That could also happen in the
future.
Number 332
SENATOR LINCOLN said the industry had objections in 1986 to what
this resolution does and asked him to explain them. MR. BUS
replied that was before his time, but he would get back to her with
that information.
SENATOR PEARCE moved to pass CSSSCR 1 from Committee with
individual recommendations with the accompanying fiscal note.
There was an objection and SENATOR LEMAN asked for a roll call
vote. SENATORS HOFFMAN and LINCOLN voted no; SENATORS TAYLOR,
HALFORD, PEARCE, and LEMAN voted yes; and the motion passed.
REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS moved to pass CSHSCR 1 from Committee with
individual recommendations. REPRESENTATAIVE DAVIES moved to amend
to strike the WHEREAS on page 1, lines 10 - 11. REPRESENTATIVE
WILLIAMS objected. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES explained that they had
heard from the Department that if they are not going to be combined
with Division of Oil and Gas, they would prefer to leave DGGS as a
separate division as combing with Division of Mining and Water was
tried in the past and did not work. REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS
withdrew his motion.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN noted there was pending legislation that would
keep the Divisions separate; there would be direction given, but
not through the Division of Mines.
REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLIA asked if anyone from industry was here to
discuss this amendment. REPRESENTATIVE GREEN replied there wasn't
anyone from industry to his knowledge.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES commented that the existence of other
legislation, while interesting, is probably not pertinent. If that
legislation were to be adopted there would be no need for the
WHEREAS. He preferred to remove it now and deal with the other
legislation as it comes along.
REPRESENTATIVE LONG asked since that WHEREAS is just a referencing
statement, what affect would it have on the resolution.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said it helped to explain the reason for this
resolution.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES explained that part of his reason for this
amendment is that he doesn't believe efficiencies could be
accomplished by that incorporation.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN called for a roll call vote on the amendment.
REPRESENTATIVES GREEN, WILLIAMS, OGAN, KOTT, and AUSTERMAN voted
no; REPRESENTATIVES DAVIES, LONG, and NICHOLIA voted yes; and the
motion failed.
REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS moved to pass CSHSCR 1 from Committee with
individual recommendations. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES objected.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked for a roll call vote. REPRESENTATIVES
NICHOLIA, LONG, and DAVIES voted no; REPRESENTATIVES AUSTERMAN,
KOTT, OGAN, WILLIAMS, and GREEN voted yes; and the motion passed.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|