Legislature(1999 - 2000)
02/16/1999 03:28 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 55-JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE SENATOR TIM KELLY, sponsor of SB 55, explained SB 55 establishes, for the first time, a standing joint committee of the Legislature to deal with all of the issues confronting the armed forces in Alaska. This new committee is structured to include public members from outside of the Legislature and will serve as the Legislature's focal point for the coordination of all issues, discussions, and policies that impact the military in our state. It creates the opportunity to speak with a single voice on military issues and to provide a unified liaison to Alaska's congressional delegation on matters of national defense. Until now, the Legislature has had a fragmented and short range approach to military issues. In 1994 a Joint Task Force on Military Bases was formed under the Legislative Council to coordinate the state's efforts in the 1995 base realignment and closure commission cycle. The task force was disbanded at the end of that year. Last year, in anticipation of a new round of base closures beginning in 2001, the Joint Committee on Military Bases was established with a single focus on base closure issues and a two year duration. A permanent committee with a longer range vision to include missile defense and other issues is overdue. Other states are aggressively pursuing opportunities to increase military operations and military spending in their states. Alaska is well positioned now to form an organization which can successfully compete with these states. Alaska's number one line of defense of the military in Alaska is Senator Ted Stevens who will not always be chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Other states view the presence of the military in their states as an economic commodity. The military spends over $1.7 billion annually in Alaska therefore Alaskans must stop taking the military presence here for granted. CHRIS NELSON, Staff Director for the Joint Committee on Military Bases, added other states are working very aggressively to keep their military assets. The Texas Strategic Military Planning Commission developed a master plan and recommended to the Legislature that a committee be formed to deal with military issues. The Legislative Council will fund the committee formed by SB 55 in its initial year of operation. If the committee finds it needs to do further activities, an appropriation will be necessary. The five public members would incur per diem costs while attending meetings. SENATOR KELLY confirmed the committee would operate on whatever amount the Legislative Council is willing to provide. Number 455 SENATOR WILKEN commended the Rules Committee for bringing this legislation forward. SENATOR GREEN asked why it is appropriate for this legislation to be a Legislative Council proposal. SENATOR KELLY explained that is the way it was set up previously, and having Legislative Council oversight worked well in the past. He noted the existing committee was expanded to include representation by the Coast Guard contingent in Alaska. One of the public members will be recommended by the 17th Coast Guard District Auxiliary. In the event of mobilization, the Coast Guard will come under the command of the United States Navy so Coast Guard representation is important. Number 476 SENATOR ELTON appreciated the inclusion of the Coast Guard, and asked what the committee's purview will be on Coast Guard affairs, recognizing only part of its mission is defense-related. SENATOR KELLY replied the powers and duties section, on page 4, is broad enough to allow the committee to review and encourage state policies to ensure the continued well being and education of the armed forces, both active and reserve components, including the Coast Guard. SENATOR ELTON commended the sponsors of the legislation but asked that more than one member of the committee be from the Minority since this issue is bipartisan. SENATOR WILKEN moved SB 55 out of committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, the motion carried.
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