04/20/1998 11:35 AM Senate RLS

CHAIRMAN KELLY brought CSHB 356(FIN) am - JOINT COMMITTEE ON                   
MILITARY BASES before the committee as the final order of business.            
                                                                               
TIM SULLIVAN, legislative staff to Representative Eldon Mulder,                
stated he was present to respond to questions from committee                   
members.                                                                       
                                                                               
SENATOR TAYLOR commented it is a good bill, and he asked Mr.                   
Sullivan  to explain why the legislation is needed.                            
                                                                               
MR. SULLIVAN explained that recently the Pentagon and the Secretary            
of Defense have stated that another round of base realignments and             
closures are necessary for the United Sates military to maintain               
its strength and readiness.  The legislation would establish the               
Joint Committee on Military Bases in Alaska.                                   
                                                                               
He noted the military establishment in Alaska accounts for                     
approximately $1.7 billion throughout the Alaskan economy.  In                 
addition, the base closure's experience to date have shown that the            
process requires considerable attention on the part of state                   
government to monitor the economic and reuse potential of such base            
closures, and the joint committee would provide that critical                  
attention.                                                                     
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN KELLY added that there are communities in other states                
that are already hiring lobbyists back in Washington, D.C., to                 
intervene on their behalf in front of the Department of Defense,               
and states, such as New York, have line item appropriations in                 
their budgets to attempt to protect their bases.  However, he                  
pointed out that neither one of those is being requested in this               
legislation.                                                                   
                                                                               
Responding to an inquiry from Senator Torgerson relating to the                
fiscal note, CHAIRMAN KELLY clarified the fiscal note is for $3,000            
to cover travel expenses for committee members.                                
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN asked if this joint committee is similar to the                  
previous Joint Committee on Military Bases.                                    
                                                                               
MR. SULLIVAN acknowledged that it is.  The only difference is that             
it establishes the joint committee through the 21st Legislature and            
just prior to the 22nd Legislature.                                            
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN KELLY pointed out that there is discussion of two new                 
rounds of closures, one in 2001 and the other in 2002.                         
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN noted he served on the previous joint committee, and             
he believes it is a very worthwhile effort for the Legislature to              
get involved in the issue.                                                     
                                                                               
SENATOR TAYLOR commented he thinks it is crucial that the                      
Legislature maintain the greatest vigilance on this process and                
provide the most effective effort in support of the state's                    
congressional delegation to make certain that no more fiscal impact            
occurs to the state of Alaska than has already happened.                       
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN moved CSHB 356(FIN) am be passed out of committee                
with individual recommendations and that it be approved for                    
calendaring at the discretion of the Chair.  Hearing no objection,             
it was so ordered.