Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/25/1993 01:00 PM House CRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS
STANDING COMMITTEE
March 25, 1993
1:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Harley Olberg, Chairman
Representative Jerry Sanders, Vice-Chairman
Representative Con Bunde
Representative John Davies
Representative Cynthia Toohey
Representative Ed Willis
Representative Bill Williams
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
OTHER HOUSE MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Carl Moses
Representative Richard Foster
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
*HB 93: "An Act relating to village public safety officers
program."
PASSED FROM COMMITTEE WITH A DO PASS
RECOMMENDATION
*SSHB 34: "An Act relating to a registration tax and a
certificate of title for a snow vehicle; relating
to municipal taxation of a snow vehicle; and
providing for an effective date."
NOT HEARD
*HB 70: "An Act relating to state impact aid for
municipalities; and providing for an effective
date."
NOT HEARD
*HB 71: "An Act relating to the involuntary dissolution of
Native corporations; and providing for an
effective date."
PASSED FROM COMMITTEE WITH A DO PASS
RECOMMENDATION
*HB 173: "An Act exempting certain charitable gaming
activity from municipal sales and use taxes."
NOT HEARD
*HB 198: "An Act relating to the Alaska regional economic
assistance program; and providing for an effective
date."
PASSED FROM COMMITTEE WITH A DO PASS
RECOMMENDATION
*HB 211: "An Act relating to the municipal tax exemption
for inventories intended for export."
NOT HEARD
*HB 220: "An Act relating to the economic development grant
program; and providing for an effective
date."
PASSED FROM COMMITTEE WITH A DO PASS
RECOMMENDATION
*HB 221: "An Act relating to workers' compensation for
volunteer ambulance attendants, police officers,
and fire fighters; and providing for an effective
date."
NOT HEARD
(* first public hearing)
WITNESS REGISTER
Representative Carl Moses
Capitol Building, Room 204
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 465-4451
POSITION STATEMENT: Prime sponsor of HB 220
Representative Richard Foster
State Capitol
Court Building, Room 611
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 465-3789
POSITION STATEMENT: Prime Sponsor of HB 71, 93 and 198
Larry LaBolle, Legislative Aide
to Representative Richard Foster
State Capitol
Court Building, Room 611
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 465-3789
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained aspects of HB 71; gave
overview of HB 198
Bill Miller, President
Dot Lake Village Council
P.O. Box 2262
Dot Lake, AK 99737
Phone: 883-4227
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 93
Charles Miller
Dot Lake Village Council
P.O. Box 2251
Dot Lake, AK 99737
Phone: 883-5181
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 93
George Cole, VPSO Manager
Central Council
320 W. Willoughby #300
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: 586-1432
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 93
Thomas Sterns, Captain
Alaska State Troopers
Department of Public Safety
5700 E. Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK 99516
Phone: 269-5530
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 93
Charles Grediagin
Bristol Bay Native Association
P.O. Box 565
Dillingham, AK 99506
Phone: 842-5257
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 93
Kent Swisher, Executive Director
Alaska Municipal League
217 Second Street, Suite 200
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: 586-1325
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 93
Carl Berger, Director
Lower Kuskokwim Economic Development Council
Bethel, AK
Phone: 899-4313
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 198
Donna Tollman, Executive Director
Copper River Economic Development Council
P.O. Box 9
Glennallen, AK 995588
Phone: 822-5001
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 198
Christopher Gates, Director
Division of Economic Development
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
P.O. Box 110804
Juneau, AK 99811-0804
Phone: 465-2017
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 198
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 93
SHORT TITLE: VILLAGE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS PROGRAM
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) FOSTER,Menard,Nicholia
TITLE: "An Act relating to the village public safety
officers program."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/27/93 164 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
01/27/93 164 (H) CRA, JUDICIARY, FINANCE
01/29/93 184 (H) COSPONSOR(S): MENARD
02/19/93 396 (H) COSPONSOR(S): NICHOLIA
03/25/93 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HB 34
SHORT TITLE: SNOWMOBILE REGISTRATION TAX
BILL VERSION: SSHB 34
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) MENARD BY REQUEST
TITLE: "An Act relating to a registration tax and a
certificate of title for a snow vehicle; relating to
municipal taxation of a snow vehicle; and providing for an
effective date."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/04/93 33 (H) PREFILE RELEASED
01/11/93 33 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
01/11/93 33 (H) CRA, STATE AFFAIRS, FINANCE
02/22/93 410 (H) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-
NEW TITLE
02/22/93 410 (H) CRA, STATE AFFAIRS, FINANCE
03/25/93 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HB 70
SHORT TITLE: STATE IMPACT AID FOR MUNICIPALITIES
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) MACLEAN
TITLE: "An Act relating to state impact aid for
municipalities; and providing for an effective date."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/18/93 101 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
01/18/93 101 (H) CRA, JUDICIARY, FINANCE
03/25/93 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HB 71
SHORT TITLE: DISSOLUTION OF NATIVE CORPORATIONS
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) FOSTER
TITLE: "An Act relating to the involuntary dissolution of
Native corporations; and providing for an effective date."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/18/93 101 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
01/18/93 101 (H) CRA, JUDICIARY
03/25/93 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HB 173
SHORT TITLE: MUNI FEES & TAXATION OF CHARITABLE GAMES
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) LARSON
TITLE: "An Act exempting certain charitable gaming activity
from municipal sales and use taxes."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
02/24/93 433 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
02/24/93 433 (H) CRA, JUDICIARY, FINANCE
03/25/93 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HB 198
SHORT TITLE: REGIONAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE GRANTS
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) FOSTER
TITLE: "An Act relating to the Alaska regional economic
assistance program; and providing for an effective date."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
03/05/93 548 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
03/05/93 549 (H) CRA, FINANCE
03/25/93 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HB 211
SHORT TITLE: MUNICIPAL INVENTORY TAX EXEMPTION:EXPORTS
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) TOOHEY,Brown
TITLE: "An Act relating to the municipal tax exemption for
inventories intended for export."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
03/10/93 590 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
03/10/93 590 (H) CRA, JUDICIARY
03/12/93 629 (H) COSPONSOR(S): BROWN
03/25/93 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HB 220
SHORT TITLE: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT FUND
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) MOSES
TITLE: "An Act relating to the economic development grant
program; and providing for an effective date."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
03/12/93 619 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
03/12/93 619 (H) CRA, LABOR & COMMERCE, FINANCE
03/25/93 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HB 221
SHORT TITLE: WORKERS COMP:VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTERS, ETC
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) HUDSON,Grussendorf
TITLE: "An Act relating to workers' compensation for
volunteer ambulance attendants, police officers, and fire
fighters; and providing for an effective date."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
03/12/93 619 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
03/12/93 619 (H) CRA, LABOR & COMMERCE, FINANCE
03/25/93 (H) CRA AT 01:00 PM CAPITOL 124
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-18, SIDE A
Number 000
CHAIRMAN HARLEY OLBERG called the meeting to order at 1:00
p.m. He noted Representatives Bunde, Williams and Willis
were present.
HB 220: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT FUND
Number 027
REPRESENTATIVE CARL MOSES, PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 220,
testified by reading his sponsor statement into the record
verbatim and introduced the CS. (Copies of this sponsor
statement and the committee substitute may be found in the
House Community and Regional Affairs Committee Room, Capitol
Room 110, and after the adjournment of the second session of
the 18th Alaska State Legislature, in the Legislative
Reference Library.)
Representative Cynthia Toohey and Vice-Chairman Jerry
Sanders joined the committee at 1:03 p.m.
Number 080
REPRESENTATIVE CON BUNDE MOVED to ADOPT CSHB 220. There
were no objections, and the MOTION CARRIED.
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE asked if CSHB 220 would generate more
money than it costs.
REPRESENTATIVE MOSES said there is a new zero fiscal note
which the committee did not have yet.
Number 126
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE MOVED that CSHB 220 be moved out of
committee with individual recommendations. There were no
objections, and the MOTION CARRIED.
HB 71: DISSOLUTION OF NATIVE CORPORATIONS
Number 150
REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD FOSTER, PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 71,
testified by reading his sponsor statement into the record.
(A copy of the sponsor statement may be found in the House
Community and Regional Affairs Committee Room, Capitol Room
110, and after the adjournment of the second session of the
18th Alaska State Legislature, in the Legislative Reference
Library.) He added, "This allows them to reincorporate and
be able to officially do business according to state law...
This is a paperwork thing, just to clean up and help some of
those Native corporations."
Representative John Davies joined the committee at 1:10 p.m.
CHAIRMAN OLBERG pointed out the equivalent of HB 71 died in
Senate Rules last year.
Number 190
REPRESENTATIVE CYNTHIA TOOHEY asked, "Why do you need this?"
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER said, "There are some villages that
aren't able to apply for state assistance or grants or
anything. Some villages don't have a village council or a
city council. They don't have any official governing body
within that village and so the IRA or the Native corporation
has taken over their governing functions and the state won't
give them a grant or any help or revenue sharing or anything
unless they have somebody to officially hand it over to and
some of the villages, they're totally disorganized."
Number 200
REPRESENTATIVE TOOHEY gave an example of her forming a
corporation and failing to file a biennial report. She
asked, "What is the reason that they can't do it, why do we
have to have a bill?"
Number 214
LARRY LABOLLE, STAFF TO REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER, testified to
explain, "This is tied in with the ANCSA (Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act) incorporations that were made at the
time of the Native Lands Claims. They need to go back and
refer to that federal title that they were incorporated
under. That's why they have the need to reinstate the
existing corporation... This bill (HB 71) provides a one
year window for that reinstatement of that ANCSA
incorporation."
REPRESENTATIVE TOOHEY asked, "They can't do it without it?"
MR. LABOLLE said, "They can establish another corporation,
but it still doesn't fall under that ANCSA incorporation."
Number 227
REPRESENTATIVE BILL WILLIAMS clarified, "Basically, what
happened earlier is that a lot of these
corporations...didn't understand what the corporation was...
That happened in our village. We didn't send in the
necessary money...we caught up with it (but) some villages
are not as sophisticated as people in the urban areas."
VICE CHAIRMAN JERRY SANDERS asked, "Is this about villages
or regional corporations?"
REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS indicated both.
VICE-CHAIRMAN SANDERS said, "It seems like a regional
corporation should have a little more responsibility about
something this important. If it has to do with villages,
you got me."
CHAIRMAN OLBERG said, "It specifically has to do with
villages."
Number 252
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE confirmed, "This is a one year window
and then it would sunset..."
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER said, "I'm just trying to help the
Native community."
CHAIRMAN OLBERG clarified, "It appears to open a one year
window as of the effective date for these people to get back
on board and get their paperwork up to snuff. It's a
housekeeping measure on behalf of village corporations..."
Number 269
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE MOVED that HB 71 be passed out of
committee with individual recommendations. There were no
objections, and the MOTION CARRIED.
HB 93: VILLAGE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS PROGRAM
Number 273
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER, PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 93, testified on
the CS draft included in the committee members packets. (A
copy of the committee substitute may be found in the House
Community and Regional Affairs Committee Room, Capitol Room
110, and after the adjournment of the second session of the
18th Alaska State Legislature, in the Legislative Reference
Library.) He described CSHB 93 by summarizing his sponsor
statement. (A copy of the sponsor statement may be found in
the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee Room,
Capitol Room 110, and after the adjournment of the second
session of the 18th Alaska State Legislature, in the
Legislative Reference Library.)
Number 297
BILL MILLER, PRESIDENT, DOT LAKE VILLAGE COUNCIL, testified
via teleconference from Tok saying, "It's a very good bill
(HB 93), but also I feel that it doesn't go quite far
enough. There could possibly be a requirement in there that
positions be developed for a community desiring to have a
position of VPSO (Village Public Safety Officer) that meets
minimum standards or minimum requirements similar to the
following: One would be a population of at least 25 year
round residents with a population density of at least five
persons per square miles. This would allow for the
possibility of having the VPSO in these communities, but not
just having them for any little place, four or five people
that want one."
MR. B. MILLER continued, "Second, for the communities and
villages that are not road connected to any Alaska State
Trooper office or if road connected, would have a trooper
response time of two hours in non-emergency conditions or a
half hour under emergency conditions. Also I'd like to
question and ask if there would be a possibility of having a
bill of some type...that could be introduced to allow for a
village tribal course. That could recognize and handle
minor infractions with the VPSO and through their own court
system...this would alleviate a lot of the pressure on the
courts in our areas also."
Number 332
CHARLES MILLER, DOT LAKE VILLAGE COUNCIL, testified via
teleconference from Tok saying, "I'm also in full support of
this bill (HB 93). One thing I'd like to say is I'd like to
see more VPSO positions in the villages, especially since
there's been such a cutback in trooper funding." He gave an
example where a trooper was called at 8:00 a.m. to a village
disturbance but did not respond until 2:00 p.m. that
afternoon.
Number 349
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE informed Mr. Miller that he is
currently sponsoring a bill, HB 18, "that would allow places
like Dot Lake to contract for the troopers for additional
service, if they would like to have additional services."
MR. C. MILLER asked where the funding would come from.
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE said, "You have to assess yourself and
form a limited service district and the local population
that wants additional service would have to come up with
funding."
MR. C. MILLER said, "Unincorporated communities can't assess
taxes."
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE said, "You may not be able to
qualify..."
Number 373
GEORGE COLE, VPSO MANAGER, CENTRAL COUNCIL, testified via
teleconference from Sitka in support of HB 93. "It does
legitimize the program. It changes it from a budgetary line
item in the Department of Public Safety into a real program.
I think this will go a long way towards eliminating
questions about under what authority do we even have a VPSO
program... It provides a mechanism for a yearly legislative
review... This bill would provide for the establishment of
regulations to manage the program and thus it would provide
a forum for changing those regulations that would be
initiated by many of the communities involved in overseeing
the program."
Number 406
THOMAS STERNS, CAPTAIN, ALASKA STATE TROOPERS, DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC SAFETY, testified from Anchorage via teleconference
in support of HB 93. He said, "I am the manager of the VPSO
program, I've been asked by the Commissioner's Office to
speak to the committee in regards to HB 93. ...I think this
is a very good step forward for the program and the state."
REPRESENTATIVE ED WILLIS asked how the troopers recruit and
train.
CAPT. STERNS said, "Recruitment is conducted by the non-
profit regional corporations... As far as training, once a
VPSO has been selected by the non-profits, a six-week
academy in Sitka is conducted..."
CHARLES GREDIAGIN, BRISTOL BAY NATIVE ASSOCIATION, testified
via teleconference from Dillingham and read aloud a
resolution prepared by the VPSO program managers supporting
HB 93 and SB 15. (A copy of the resolution may be found in
the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee Room,
Capitol Room 110, and after the adjournment of the second
session of the 18th Alaska State Legislature, in the
Legislative Reference Library.)
Number 494
KENT SWISHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE,
testified briefly in support of HB 93.
VICE-CHAIRMAN SANDERS asked if putting HB 93 in statute
increases the liability of the state.
CHAIRMAN OLBERG said, "They are already state employees, as
I understand it. This legitimizes them within the
Department of Public Safety..."
MR. LABOLLE said, "I doubt that there's any more increased
liability, because I think the liability already exists."
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN DAVIES said, "Having the present
circumstances is one more liability than if you pass this
legislation."
Number 528
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE said, "I assume we have a zero fiscal
note and that this simply puts into statute the grants that
are provided (already)."
MR. LABOLLE confirmed, "This does just formalize the grants
that are already in existence to the regional corporations
which administer the program."
REPRESENTATIVES DAVIES AND TOOHEY MOVED to ADOPT CSHB 93.
There were no objections, and the MOTION CARRIED.
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE MOVED to PASS CSHB 93 (CRA) out of
committee with individual recommendations. There were no
objections, and the MOTION CARRIED.
HB 198: REGIONAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE GRANTS
Number 549
MR. LABOLLE testified on behalf of the sponsor,
Representative Foster, and read the sponsor statement into
the record. (A copy of the sponsor statement may be found
in the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee Room,
Capitol Room 110, and after the adjournment of the second
session of the 18th Alaska State Legislature, in the
Legislative Reference Library.) He added, "This legislation
(HB 198) in essence, would do two things: It would allow
the Department of Commerce and Economic Development to
develop guidelines that would change the match from a one to
one, to what they feel is more appropriate for some of the
rural ARDOR (Alaska Regional Development Organization)
groups. The second portion of this would allow the fund to
make grants of up to $100,000 instead of the $50,000 that
currently is stipulated in statute."
Number 573
CARL BERGER, DIRECTOR, LOWER KUSKOKWIM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL, BETHEL, testified via teleconference from Kotlik in
support of HB 198. He said, "At the present time we are
receiving a $47,400 grant from the state...matched dollar
for dollar. It's difficult for us smaller programs, such as
mine, to provide the necessary match in order to draw those
funds. This is the money that the state provides us to
essentially operate on. We have a one person staff which is
me, and it allows a little bit of travel for me to get
around the region to work with the communities that are in
my district."
Number 623
DONNA TOLLMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COPPER VALLEY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, GLENNALLEN, testified in favor of HB
198 saying, "Right now we are working with 38 different
people with business plans to locate for them various types
of loan programs and funding in order for them to start
small businesses which create, ultimately, jobs in these
rural areas... What happens is that we spend a great deal
of our time trying to keep our doors open to be able to
provide these services. We have no corporate sponsors here.
It's very difficult for us to raise our matching funds."
Number 652
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE asked, "I'm wondering what the
administrative overhead (is), how much money these actual
grants get to the small businesses and what's the average
longevity of these enterprises?"
CHRISTOPHER GATES, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, testified providing
information on HB 198. "In terms of playing offense,
actually creating jobs and activity so that the kids don't
have to move out of the villages to find good jobs, we
aren't doing that as well as we could. I was the President
of the Kenai Peninsula Borough ARDOR for a number of years
and I can tell you that the effort and energy spent just
finding match monies to survive leaves very little actual
time and energy to do any good...a little bit of their time
left over to actually hustle jobs and make deals work."
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE rephrased his question about
administrative overhead.
TAPE 93-18, SIDE B
Number 000
MR. GATES gave a description of the tasks of the ARDOR Board
of Directors and added, "We paid our own travel. There's no
per diem. These are volunteer Boards of Directors." He
then gave examples of ARDOR successful businesses.
Number 039
MS. TOLLMAN gave a description of the economic development
of a theatrical production developed in her area.
MR. GATES summarized, "The bill in front of you (HB 198)
simply establishes an absolute small foundation of $50,000
where at least they could keep the lights on and the doors
open for one person. We set up the increase of another
$50,000 which might be available to these ARDORS depending
upon grants and matching monies that they then receive. We
could have $100,000 into these ARDORS to provide just one
contact for economic development...in those local areas."
Number 087
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES MOVED to PASS HB 198 out of committee
with individual recommendations. There were no objections,
and the MOTION CARRIED.
ADJOURNMENT
CHAIRMAN OLBERG adjourned the meeting at 1:44 p.m.
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