Legislature(2011 - 2012)BARNES 124
04/08/2011 08:30 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR24 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
April 8, 2011
8:36 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Cathy Engstrom Munoz, Chair
Representative Neal Foster, Vice Chair
Representative Alan Austerman
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Alan Dick
Representative Sharon Cissna
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 24
Urging the United States Congress to reauthorize the Secure
Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act of 2000.
- MOVED HJR 24 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HJR 24
SHORT TITLE: SUPPORT FED. FOREST LAND REVENUE SHARING
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) P.WILSON
03/25/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/25/11 (H) CRA
04/08/11 (H) CRA AT 8:30 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HJR 24.
SHELIA FINKENBINDER, Staff
Representative Peggy Wilson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During hearing on HJR 24, answered
questions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:36:38 AM
CHAIR CATHY ENGSTROM MUNOZ called the House Community and
Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:36
a.m. Representatives Foster, Austerman, Saddler, and Munoz were
present at the call to order. Representative Gardner arrived as
the meeting was in progress.
HJR 24-SUPPORT FED. FOREST LAND REVENUE SHARING
8:36:47 AM
CHAIR MUNOZ announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 24, Urging the United States Congress
to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-
Determination Act of 2000.
8:36:49 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, Alaska State Legislature, speaking
as the sponsor of HJR 24, stated the following:
HJR 24 urges the President of the United States and
Congress to honor an agreement made in 1908. That
agreement was to support roads and schools in
communities that are surrounded by national forests.
Historically, the federal government shared 25 percent
of the annual income earned from the activities within
those national forests with states for distribution to
boroughs located within the national forest. The
federal government has steadily decreased payment over
the years through the Secure Rural Schools [and
Community Self-Determination Act] (SRSCA). While
those communities still have the same needs as they
did in 1908, the funding has continually decreased.
Forest communities remain surrounded by government
land, lacking the ability to utilize the land to
create revenue locally. Thirty-two communities and
the State of Alaska receive support through SRSCA. A
total of $16 million was given to the State of Alaska
and those communities last year. Forty-two states and
Puerto Rico also receive payments from SRSCA.
Reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools Act is
supported by local schools, by the National Forest and
School Coalition, by the Western Governors
Association, and at least 29 senators and 69
representatives, including Alaska's delegation.
Alaska's schools need continuing support from the
federal government because of the location of all of
our communities that receive it are still with the
national forest. Reauthorization of the Secure Rural
Schools Act is in the president's 2012 budget, but
Alaska needs to send a strong message to the president
that he needs to continue this program at a level that
will sustain our schools.
8:39:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER inquired as to whether there is any
opposition to HJR 24.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON responded that she didn't know of any
opposition to HJR 24.
8:40:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER related his understanding that [the
funds] aren't contingent upon production from national forests.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON explained that years ago the timber
industry [flourished] in Southeast Alaska, but over the years
that has been cut off. Currently, the funds [from SRSCSA] have
been authorized in one-year increments, which makes schools and
the communities nervous.
8:40:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if this resolution requests a long-
term authorization, say for five years.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON specified that the reauthorization in
the president's budget is for just one year. However, the hope
is to [reauthorize the funds] for five years.
8:41:13 AM
CHAIR MUNOZ asked if $16 million represents 25 percent of the
economic activity in the national forests in Southeast Alaska.
8:41:25 AM
SHELIA FINKENBINDER, Staff, Representative Peggy Wilson, Alaska
State Legislature, explained that the original SRSCA enacted in
1908 required 25 percent annual income based on the revenues
from the national forest. When timbering declined, the receipts
from the national forests were inconsistent and declined
sharply. The federal government needed to implement something
more secure and consistent that would continue to support these
communities since the logging was no longer occurring. This
resolution requests a long-term sustainable act. Although the
sponsor understands that's not going to happen as the
president's budget includes a [one] year program. The payments
from the program are declining, which isn't going to work for
communities in the future. These communities are still
surrounded by national forests that can't be developed and need
a consistent revenue stream.
8:42:50 AM
CHAIR MUNOZ asked if [SRSCA] is similar to the payment in lieu
of taxes program.
MS. FINKENBINDER answered that it's a piece of the program.
8:43:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if there are any conditions with
regard to how these funds are used.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON informed the committee that her school
district is fortunate because the community places almost all
the funds into the school. However, it's left to each community
council to decide how to use the funds.
8:44:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER stated that she is very comfortable with
HJR 24.
8:44:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER moved to report HJR 24 out of committee
with individual recommendations [and the accompanying fiscal
notes]. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
8:44:44 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 8:44 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor_HJR 24_Secure Schools.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |
| GOP Budget Prioritizes SRS payments_HJR24.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |
| Yakutat-support.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |
| ASR-10-1_FY2009.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |
| House_Letter.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |
| Fate of SRS Act Unclear.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |
| Petersburg-SRS support.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |
| FY11 SRS Title I School-Road Payments.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |
| Senate_Letter.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |
| SSD Ltr of Support for HJR24.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |
| SRS-History.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |
| Vilsack_Response.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |
| WGA_Letter.pdf |
HCRA 4/8/2011 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 24 |