Legislature(1995 - 1996)

03/14/1995 01:45 PM House FIN

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
txt
                                                                               
                                                                               
                     HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                   
                         MARCH 14, 1995                                        
                            1:45 P.M.                                          
                                                                               
  TAPE HFC 95 - 45, Side 1, #000 - end.                                        
  TAPE HFC 95 - 45, Side 2, #000 - end.                                        
  TAPE HFC 95 - 46, Side 1, #000 - #295.                                       
                                                                               
  CALL TO ORDER                                                                
                                                                               
  Co-Chair  Mark  Hanley called  the  House Finance  Committee                 
  meeting to order at 1:45 P.M.                                                
                                                                               
  PRESENT                                                                      
                                                                               
  Co-Chair Hanley               Representative Kohring                         
  Representative Martin         Representative Kelly                           
  Representative Mulder         Representative Therriault                      
  Representative Brown          Representative Grussendorf                     
                                                                               
  Representatives Foster, Navarre and Parnell were not present                 
  for the meeting.                                                             
                                                                               
  ALSO PRESENT                                                                 
                                                                               
  Representative   Jeannette   James;   Representative   David                 
  Finkelstein; Nico Bus, Director, Division of  Administrative                 
  Services,  Department of  Natural  Resources; Tom  Anderson,                 
  Staff  to  Representative  Terry   Martin;  Dennis  Pofhard,                 
  Director,  Division  of  Charitable  Gaming,  Department  of                 
  Revenue; Jeff Prather, Chief of Audit and Exams, Division of                 
  Charitable  Gaming,  Department   of  Revenue;  Pat   Smutz,                 
  Legislative Director, Alaska State AFL-CIO, Juneau; Kimberly                 
  Metcalfe-Helmar,   Special   Assistant,   Office    of   the                 
  Commissioner, Department of Community and Regional Affairs.                  
                                                                               
  SUMMARY                                                                      
                                                                               
  HB 44     An Act  providing that a  political use is  not an                 
            authorized  use  of  charitable  gaming  proceeds;                 
            prohibiting the contribution of  charitable gaming                 
            proceeds to candidates for certain public offices,                 
            their  campaign  organizations,  or  to  political                 
            groups; providing that a political  group is not a                 
            qualified organization for purposes  of charitable                 
            gaming;   relating   to   what  is   a   qualified                 
            organization for the purpose  of charitable gaming                 
            permitting; and providing for an effective date.                   
                                                                               
            HB   44  was   HELD  in   Committee  for   further                 
                                                                               
                                1                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
            consideration.                                                     
                                                                               
  HB 80     An  Act  relating  to  the  approval,  change,  or                 
            vacation  of  subdivision plats  in  areas outside                 
            organized  boroughs,  in  the unorganized  borough                 
            outside  of  cities,   and  in  the   third  class                 
            boroughs;  and  relating  to  the  definitions  of                 
            'street' and 'subdivision'.                                        
                                                                               
            CS HB 80  (CRA) was reported out of Committee with                 
            a "do  pass" recommendation and  with fiscal notes                 
            by  the  Department   of  Community  and  Regional                 
            Affairs  dated  2/22/95  and   the  Department  of                 
            Natural Resources.                                                 
  HOUSE BILL 80                                                                
                                                                               
       "An Act relating  to the approval, change,  or vacation                 
       of  subdivision  plats   in  areas  outside   organized                 
       boroughs, in the unorganized borough outside of cities,                 
       and  in the third  class boroughs; and  relating to the                 
       definitions of 'street' and 'subdivision'."                             
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE  JEANNETTE  JAMES  stated that  the  proposed                 
  legislation  would  authorize  the   Department  of  Natural                 
  Resources to approve plats.  She pointed out  that currently                 
  there   is  no  legal  authority  to  review  plats  in  the                 
  unorganized  boroughs   for  compliance   with  State   law.                 
  Landlocked lots have  resulted because  there are no  agency                 
  reviews of access to each lot.                                               
                                                                               
  She continued, currently,  "paper plats"  are allowed to  be                 
  recorded without being  surveyed; HB  80 would correct  that                 
  oversight.  The legislation would  require the Department of                 
  Natural Resources (DNR) to review  plats for compliance with                 
  State law.   There currently  exists several definitions  of                 
  "street" and  "subdivision"  in statute.    The  legislation                 
  would clarify the definition of  these terms as requested by                 
  the Department.                                                              
                                                                               
  Representative  Brown  referencing  a  fiscal  note  by  the                 
  Division  of  Lands,   asked  if   plat  review  fees   were                 
  established by  statute or regulation.  Representative James                 
  noted  her  surprise  in  the  fiscal  note  request.    She                 
  requested that it be revenue neutral.                                        
                                                                               
  Representative Brown  understood that  the fiscal  note from                 
  DNR would be revenue neutral, although the  fiscal note from                 
  the Department of Community and  Regional Affairs, Municipal                 
  Lands  Trustee,  would  require  funding  because  it  would                 
  require  enforcing new  requirements.   Representative James                 
  agreed there would be survey requirements of the Division.                   
                                                                               
                                2                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  Representative James  added  that previously  DNR  had  been                 
  exempted, although the proposed legislative inclusion, would                 
  generate fiscal impact.   She then  referenced Page 7,  Line                 
  18, "...or plats prepared by the Department of Community and                 
  Regional Affairs  for the  leasing of  municipal trust  land                 
  under  AS  44.47.150."    She  thought that  language  could                 
  eliminate the need for the fiscal note.                                      
                                                                               
  KIMBERLY METCALFE-HELMAR, SPECIAL  ASSISTANT, OFFICE OF  THE                 
  COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL  AFFAIRS,                 
  provided the Committee  with an  updated and revised  fiscal                 
  note, explaining that the previous  one published on 2/22/95                 
  was in error.                                                                
                                                                               
  NICO  BUS,  DIRECTOR, DIVISION  OF  ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES,                 
  DEPARTMENT OF  NATURAL RESOURCES,  explained the  DNR fiscal                 
  note.   He stated  that the bill would  establish DNR as the                 
  platting authority in  the unorganized borough.  In order to                 
  generate a neutral fiscal note, the hired surveying position                 
  would be employed for nine months only.  The result would be                 
  less  plats  processed.   Mr.  Bus  added that  a  full year                 
  surveyor could process 250 plats.                                            
                                                                               
  Representative  Brown  questioned  the  result  to  lots not                 
  platted.   Representative  James  replied  that the  current                 
  situation  would  not  change  until  the problem  had  been                 
  addressed and then platted.                                                  
                                                                               
  Mr. Bus indicated  that the Department of  Natural Resources                 
  supports the legislation.                                                    
                                                                               
  Representative  Kohring questioned  how much  State land  is                 
  unorganized  boroughs.   Representative  James  replied that                 
  there was an approximate 50/50%  split between organized and                 
  unorganized areas.                                                           
                                                                               
  Co-Chair Hanley recommended changing the  DNR fiscal note to                 
  a nine month  position.  Mr. Bus offered to  submit a fiscal                 
  note reflecting that change to the Committee.                                
                                                                               
  Representative Therriault MOVED to report CS HB 80 (CRA) out                 
  of Committee with individuals  recommendations and with  the                 
  accompanying fiscal notes.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was                 
  so ordered.                                                                  
                                                                               
  CS HB  80 (CRA)  was reported out  of Committee  with a  "do                 
  pass"  recommendation  and   with  a  fiscal  note   by  the                 
  Department of Community  and Regional Affairs dated  2/22/95                 
  and the Department of Natural Resources.                                     
  HOUSE BILL 44                                                                
                                                                               
                                3                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
       "An  Act  providing that  a  political  use is  not  an                 
       authorized   use   of   charitable   gaming   proceeds;                 
       prohibiting  the  contribution  of   charitable  gaming                 
       proceeds to  candidates  for  certain  public  offices,                 
       their campaign  organizations, or to  political groups;                 
       providing that  a political  group is  not a  qualified                 
       organization   for   purposes  of   charitable  gaming;                 
       relating to what  is a  qualified organization for  the                 
       purpose of charitable gaming  permitting; and providing                 
       for an effective date."                                                 
                                                                               
  Representative Martin provided background information on the                 
  HB 44.   He stated  that the legislation  was introduced  in                 
  order to remove politics from gambling.  He pointed out that                 
  Alaska was the  only state which  allowed a political  party                 
  and candidates to have  their own permits.  He  provided the                 
  Committee with  a handout titled  "Spenard Lawyer-Protector,                 
  Promoter and Profiteer of Gam(bl)ing".  [Attachment #1].                     
                                                                               
  TOM   ANDERSON,  STAFF   TO  REPRESENTATIVE   TERRY  MARTIN,                 
  explained that the legislation  would disallow and  prohibit                 
  any   political  group  or   organization  from   holding  a                 
  charitable gaming  permit.   Although, those  entities could                 
  legally hold a  raffle permit.   The proceeds then  received                 
  from  the raffle could be distributed  to a political entity                 
  or organization.                                                             
                                                                               
  He continued that  an additional element of  the legislation                 
  would  prohibit any permit  holders from  distributing their                 
  money  for political  use.    He  stated that  language  was                 
  defined as:                                                                  
                                                                               
       ".....benefiting persons through aiding  candidates for                 
       public  office  or groups  that support  candidates for                 
       public office".                                                         
                                                                               
  Mr. Anderson clarified the technical differences between the                 
  House State Affairs and the  House Judiciary version of  the                 
  original legislation.   He said that  the language was  more                 
  definitive  clarifying  when a  group  would go  through the                 
  Division  of  Charitable Gaming  rather  than  Alaska Public                 
  Offices Commission (APOC).   The  group at  that time  would                 
  itemize the source  of revenue  from which the  contribution                 
  originated.                                                                  
                                                                               
  Representative Mulder asked if the interpretation would make                 
  it  mandatory  to  include  each   contribution  made  to  a                 
  political  fund  within an  organization  regardless  of the                 
  dollar amount.   Representative  Martin summarized that  the                 
  $100 dollar  limit would  exist regardless  of the  donator.                 
  Representative Mulder summarized Subsection (11) which would                 
                                                                               
                                4                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  require  disclosure  of  contributions and  also  sources of                 
  income, locations and the individuals  from which funds were                 
  disbursed.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Representative Brown voiced a conflict  of interest with the                 
  legislation in that she was a member of the House Democratic                 
  Campaign  Committee.   Representative  Mulder  disclosed his                 
  conflict of interest.                                                        
                                                                               
  Representative Brown pointed  out that the language  on Page                 
  3, Line 4, requires that "all" donations or contributions by                 
  permittees be identified.  She asserted that the $100 dollar                 
  exemption  did  not exist  in  the language  of  the current                 
  proposed   legislation.     Representative   Mulder  agreed.                 
  Representative Brown interjected  that the public understood                 
  that if their donation  is under $100, their name  would not                 
  be disclosed.  She requested that policy be kept consistent.                 
  Representative Therriault ascertained  that tracking  should                 
  be reported on all donations.                                                
                                                                               
  Representative Brown asked  if a  personal source of  income                 
  would   be   tracked  through   the   proposed  legislation.                 
  Representative Martin  stated  that  vendors  and  operators                 
  should    be   tracked    regardless   of    the   donation.                 
  Representative Brown  emphasized that the  language did  not                 
  separate the vendors  in their capacity as  individuals from                 
  contributing personal funds.  She  asked how the legislation                 
  would   differ   from   the   current   APOC   requirements.                 
  Representative Martin  responded  that  everyone  should  be                 
  responsible to  report  even if  the funds  were taken  from                 
  their personal pocket.                                                       
                                                                               
  Mr. Anderson  reiterated that the House  Judiciary Committee                 
  recommended that  accounts be  disclosed  regardless of  the                 
  source they  are  contributed  from.   The  intent  of  that                 
  language  would  prevent   any  co-mingling  of  distributed                 
  proceeds.   He suggested  further amending  the language  to                 
  clarify any pull  tab or bingo permittee  must disclose from                 
  which  account   they  are  making   contributions.     That                 
  clarification would  then address  the concern  to guarantee                 
  that funds  given were not distributed from those raised for                 
  charitable gaming.                                                           
                                                                               
  Representative Brown asked the moral difference between pull                 
  tabs and  raffles.   Mr. Anderson specified  that Section  4                 
  itemizes  the  types of  games  from which  a  permittee can                 
  apply.                                                                       
                                                                               
  (Tape HFC 95-45, Side 2).                                                    
                                                                               
  Representative Martin  thought  that raffle  money could  be                 
  used for political contributions, although  that was not his                 
                                                                               
                                5                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  original  intent.    Mr. Anderson  stated  that  a political                 
  entity could have a charitable gaming permit under type (B),                 
  in order  to hold  a raffle.   If  the entity  has a  gaming                 
  permit,  then  funds earned  from  a raffle  can  be donated                 
  within a year  to those on the list.  A non political entity                 
  legally  could  not donate  to  a political  organization or                 
  candidate, regardless whether or not the money was earned by                 
  a raffle.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Representative Brown questioned the language on Page 4, Line                 
  7,  "other  than  raffles".    Mr.  Anderson  replied,  that                 
  language  referenced a  political entity  holding a  permit.                 
  Representative Mulder considered  that language to  apply to                 
  all   individuals   and  not   just   a   political  entity.                 
  Representative  Kohring  supported eliminating  gambling and                 
  raffling.    Mr.  Anderson  replied  that during  the  House                 
  Judiciary Committee  proceedings, testimony by  both parties                 
  indicated that  raffles generated a  less significant amount                 
  of income, and often times are  not a substantial portion of                 
  the operations.  Mr. Anderson  pointed out that the language                 
  from that version of the legislation was a compromise.                       
                                                                               
  Committee members  discussed results  from district  surveys                 
  regarding gambling contributions.   Mr. Anderson pointed out                 
  that in raffles,  the donor knows  where the money will  go,                 
  whereas, in a pull  tab situation, the player does  not know                 
  where  the proceeds  go.  Representative  Therriault agreed.                 
  He  stated  that  raising money  should  affect  a political                 
  philosophy  process.   With  pull  tabs,  there is  no  link                 
  between the flow of money and the understanding that you are                 
  supporting a  particular philosophy.   Representative  Kelly                 
  echoed Representative Therriault's concern.                                  
                                                                               
  DENNIS  POFHARD,  DIRECTOR, DIVISION  OF  CHARITABLE GAMING,                 
  DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE,  stated that the Division  is neutral                 
  on the proposed legislation, although they have questions on                 
  the  requirements  of the  reports.   He  asked  for further                 
  clarification of  the Legislative intent.   The Department's                 
  first concern results from past budget cuts,  which has left                 
  the  Division with  fewer field  audits and  investigations.                 
  The requirement of an additional  report affecting more than                 
  one  thousand  permittees   to  file,   will  need   further                 
  processing creating  an additional  burden to the  Division.                 
  He  stated that responsibility  would potentially  take away                 
  from  the enforcement  ability.   Consequently, Mr.  Pofhard                 
  urged  fully funding  the  Division's FY96  Operating Budget                 
  request  in  order  to adequately  address  the  legislative                 
  concern.                                                                     
                                                                               
  Representative  Mulder referenced  subsection  (11) Page  3,                 
  asking  if  all collected  funds  would  be required  to  be                 
  reported   to   APOC.     Mr.   Pofhard  stated   it  would.                 
                                                                               
                                6                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  Representative Mulder thought that information would provide                 
  APOC  a  clearer  understanding of  where  those  funds were                 
  going.   He understood  that the information  required to be                 
  gathered from subsection (11) was currently also required by                 
  the APOC report.   He asked if there would be difficultly in                 
  distinguishing between  pull tab  and raffle  reports.   Mr.                 
  Pofhard  replied  that  would  not  be  a  problem  for  the                 
  Division.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Discussion  followed  regarding  a   report  shared  between                 
  Representative  Brown   and  Representative  Martin.     The                 
  Department offered to  provide that report to  the Committee                 
  at a later date.                                                             
                                                                               
  Representative Mulder  asked if the Division had information                 
  available on the amount of  contributions given to campaigns                 
  other than  political.  Mr.  Pofhard explained that  to date                 
  the  Division has had  no reason to  track that information.                 
  The  permittee  would  be  required   to  report  income  as                 
  submitted to the Division.   He added that it  would be more                 
  organized  to have the  reports in the  Division rather that                 
  receiving  that info  from APOC.   He emphasized  that there                 
  would be 1200-1300  reports filed  each year resulting  from                 
  the passage  of the legislation.   The information  would be                 
  imputed, tracked, and then a determination  would be made if                 
  that information  was useful.   APOC  reports are  currently                 
  used to track the prohibitive uses of proceeds for lobbying.                 
  He stated  that the  State could  use the  APOC reports  for                 
  tracking the political contributions.                                        
                                                                               
  Representative Brown asked  if it was  required that a  pull                 
  tab operator disclose information on where the proceeds were                 
  to be  dispersed.   Mr. Pofhard  explained the  distinction,                 
  when a raffle  ticket is  printed, it is  required that  the                 
  permit be referenced.  However, in a vendor or operator pull                 
  tab place of business,  normally the only way to  tell whose                 
  game you are playing would be  displayed by a permit hanging                 
  on the wall.  That information is not posted directly on the                 
  tab played.                                                                  
                                                                               
  Representative  Brown questioned why the gross receipts have                 
  increased dramatically, whereas, the net  proceeds have not.                 
  Mr.  Pofhard   speculated  that  the  percentages  have  not                 
  changed.  He added,  that pull tabs were legalized  in 1988,                 
  and that the  net proceeds result  from the amount of  money                 
  returned to  the charities.   Representative Brown  inquired                 
  where the net profit would be listed.                                        
                                                                               
  JEFF  PRATHER,  CHIEF  OF  AUDIT   AND  EXAMS,  DIVISION  OF                 
  CHARITABLE GAMING,  DEPARTMENT  OF  REVENUE,  replied  those                 
  figures would not show  up anywhere.  Most operators  do not                 
  disclose  the  profits  to  the  Department  although  those                 
                                                                               
                                7                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  figures are usually deducted from the expense column.                        
                                                                               
  Representative  Martin   asked  if  the   legislation  would                 
  prohibit  lobbyists  from  receiving   funds  from  receipts                 
  generated by pull tabs.                                                      
                                                                               
  PAT  SMUTZ,  LEGISLATIVE  DIRECTOR,  ALASKA  STATE  AFL-CIO,                 
  JUNEAU, stated  that his organization  does have a  pull tab                 
  permit and a raffle  permit.  The raffle permit  is used for                 
  generating funds for lobbying purposes.                                      
                                                                               
  (Tape Change, HFC 95-46, Side 1).                                            
                                                                               
  Representative  Brown questioned  the  distinction of  funds                 
  being used for  the public  process.  Representative  Martin                 
  reiterated that Alaska is the only State in the Nation which                 
  allows gaming money to be used for political candidates.  He                 
  stressed that use of those funds was fuel for corruption and                 
  that money should be given to charities.                                     
                                                                               
  HB 44 was HELD in Committee for further consideration.                       
  ADJOURNMENT                                                                  
                                                                               
  The meeting adjourned at 3:20 P.M.                                           
                                                                               
                                                                               
                     HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                   
                          MARCH 14, 1995                                       
                            1:45 P.M.                                          
                                                                               
  TAPE HFC 95 - 45, Side 1, #000 - end.                                        
  TAPE HFC 95 - 45, Side 2, #000 - end.                                        
  TAPE HFC 95 - 46, Side 1, #000 - #295.                                       
                                                                               
  CALL TO ORDER                                                                
                                                                               
  Co-Chair  Mark Hanley  called  the  House Finance  Committee                 
  meeting to order at 1:45 P.M.                                                
                                                                               
  PRESENT                                                                      
                                                                               
  Co-Chair Hanley               Representative Kohring                         
  Representative Martin         Representative Kelly                           
  Representative Mulder         Representative Therriault                      
  Representative Brown          Representative Grussendorf                     
                                                                               
  Representatives Foster, Navarre and Parnell were not present                 
  for the meeting.                                                             
                                                                               
  ALSO PRESENT                                                                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                8                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  Representative   Jeannette   James;   Representative   David                 
  Finkelstein; Nico Bus, Director, Division of  Administrative                 
  Services,  Department of  Natural  Resources; Tom  Anderson,                 
  Staff  to  Representative  Terry   Martin;  Dennis  Pofhard,                 
  Director,  Division  of  Charitable  Gaming,  Department  of                 
  Revenue; Jeff Prather, Chief of Audit and Exams, Division of                 
  Charitable  Gaming,  Department   of  Revenue;  Pat   Smutz,                 
  Legislative Director, Alaska State AFL-CIO, Juneau; Kimberly                 
  Metcalfe-Helmar,   Special   Assistant,   Office    of   the                 
  Commissioner, Department of Community and Regional Affairs.                  
                                                                               
  SUMMARY                                                                      
                                                                               
  HB 44     An Act  providing that a  political use is  not an                 
            authorized  use  of  charitable  gaming  proceeds;                 
            prohibiting the contribution of  charitable gaming                 
            proceeds to candidates for certain public offices,                 
            their  campaign  organizations,  or  to  political                 
            groups; providing that a political  group is not a                 
            qualified organization for purposes  of charitable                 
            gaming;   relating   to   what  is   a   qualified                 
            organization for the purpose  of charitable gaming                 
            permitting; and providing for an effective date.                   
                                                                               
            HB   44  was   HELD   in  Committee   for  further                 
            consideration.                                                     
                                                                               
  HB 80     An  Act  relating  to  the  approval,  change,  or                 
            vacation  of subdivision  plats  in areas  outside                 
            organized  boroughs,  in  the unorganized  borough                 
            outside  of   cities,  and  in  the   third  class                 
            boroughs;  and  relating  to  the  definitions  of                 
            'street' and 'subdivision'.                                        
                                                                               
            CS HB 80 (CRA) was reported out of  Committee with                 
            a "do pass" recommendation  and with fiscal  notes                 
            by  the  Department  of   Community  and  Regional                 
            Affairs  dated  2/22/95  and  the  Department   of                 
            Natural Resources.                                                 
                                                                               
  HOUSE BILL 80                                                                
                                                                               
       "An Act relating  to the approval, change,  or vacation                 
       of  subdivision   plats  in  areas   outside  organized                 
       boroughs, in the unorganized borough outside of cities,                 
       and in the  third class boroughs;  and relating to  the                 
       definitions of 'street' and 'subdivision'."                             
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE  JEANNETTE  JAMES  stated  that the  proposed                 
  legislation  would  authorize  the  Department  of   Natural                 
  Resources to approve plats.   She pointed out that currently                 
  there  is  no  legal  authority  to   review  plats  in  the                 
                                                                               
                                9                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  unorganized  boroughs   for  compliance   with  State   law.                 
  Landlocked lots have  resulted because  there are no  agency                 
  reviews of access to each lot.                                               
                                                                               
  She continued, currently,  "paper plats"  are allowed to  be                 
  recorded without being  surveyed; HB  80 would correct  that                 
  oversight.  The legislation would  require the Department of                 
  Natural Resources (DNR) to review  plats for compliance with                 
  State law.   There currently  exists several definitions  of                 
  "street"  and "subdivision"  in  statute.   The  legislation                 
  would clarify the definition of  these terms as requested by                 
  the Department.                                                              
                                                                               
  Representative  Brown  referencing  a  fiscal  note  by  the                 
  Division  of  Lands,   asked  if   plat  review  fees   were                 
  established by statute or regulation.   Representative James                 
  noted  her  surprise  in  the  fiscal  note  request.    She                 
  requested that it be revenue neutral.                                        
                                                                               
  Representative  Brown understood  that the fiscal  note from                 
  DNR would be revenue neutral, although the  fiscal note from                 
  the Department  of Community and Regional Affairs, Municipal                 
  Lands  Trustee,  would  require  funding  because  it  would                 
  require  enforcing new  requirements.   Representative James                 
  agreed there would be survey requirements of the Division.                   
                                                                               
  Representative  James  added that  previously  DNR had  been                 
  exempted, although the proposed legislative inclusion, would                 
  generate fiscal  impact.  She  then referenced Page  7, Line                 
  18, "...or plats prepared by the Department of Community and                 
  Regional Affairs  for the  leasing of  municipal trust  land                 
  under  AS  44.47.150."    She  thought that  language  could                 
  eliminate the need for the fiscal note.                                      
                                                                               
  KIMBERLY METCALFE-HELMAR,  SPECIAL ASSISTANT, OFFICE  OF THE                 
  COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF  COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS,                 
  provided the Committee  with an  updated and revised  fiscal                 
  note, explaining that the previous  one published on 2/22/95                 
  was in error.                                                                
                                                                               
  NICO  BUS, DIRECTOR,  DIVISION  OF ADMINISTRATIVE  SERVICES,                 
  DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL  RESOURCES, explained  the DNR  fiscal                 
  note.  He  stated that the bill  would establish DNR  as the                 
  platting authority in the unorganized borough.  In  order to                 
  generate a neutral fiscal note, the hired surveying position                 
  would be employed for nine months only.  The result would be                 
  less  plats  processed.   Mr.  Bus  added that  a  full year                 
  surveyor could process 250 plats.                                            
                                                                               
  Representative  Brown questioned  the  result  to  lots  not                 
  platted.   Representative  James replied  that  the  current                 
  situation  would  not  change  until  the problem  had  been                 
                                                                               
                               10                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  addressed and then platted.                                                  
                                                                               
  Mr. Bus indicated  that the Department of  Natural Resources                 
  supports the legislation.                                                    
                                                                               
  Representative Kohring  questioned how  much  State land  is                 
  unorganized  boroughs.   Representative  James  replied that                 
  there was an approximate 50/50%  split between organized and                 
  unorganized areas.                                                           
                                                                               
  Co-Chair Hanley recommended changing the  DNR fiscal note to                 
  a nine month position.   Mr. Bus offered to submit  a fiscal                 
  note reflecting that change to the Committee.                                
                                                                               
  Representative Therriault MOVED to report CS HB 80 (CRA) out                 
  of  Committee with individuals  recommendations and with the                 
  accompanying fiscal notes.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was                 
  so ordered.                                                                  
                                                                               
  CS  HB 80  (CRA) was  reported out of  Committee with  a "do                 
  pass"  recommendation  and   with  a  fiscal  note   by  the                 
  Department of Community and  Regional Affairs dated  2/22/95                 
  and the Department of Natural Resources.                                     
                                                                               
  HOUSE BILL 44                                                                
                                                                               
       "An  Act  providing that  a  political  use  is not  an                 
       authorized   use   of   charitable   gaming   proceeds;                 
       prohibiting  the  contribution  of   charitable  gaming                 
       proceeds  to  candidates  for certain  public  offices,                 
       their campaign organizations,  or to political  groups;                 
       providing that  a political  group is  not a  qualified                 
       organization   for   purposes  of   charitable  gaming;                 
       relating to what  is a  qualified organization for  the                 
       purpose of charitable gaming permitting; and  providing                 
       for an effective date."                                                 
                                                                               
  Representative Martin provided background information on the                 
  HB 44.   He stated  that the legislation  was introduced  in                 
  order to remove politics from gambling.  He pointed out that                 
  Alaska was  the only state  which allowed a  political party                 
  and candidates to have  their own permits.  He  provided the                 
  Committee with a  handout titled "Spenard  Lawyer-Protector,                 
  Promoter and Profiteer of Gam(bl)ing".  [Attachment #1].                     
                                                                               
  TOM  ANDERSON,   STAFF  TO   REPRESENTATIVE  TERRY   MARTIN,                 
  explained that  the legislation would disallow  and prohibit                 
  any   political  group   or  organization  from   holding  a                 
  charitable gaming permit.   Although,  those entities  could                 
  legally hold  a raffle permit.   The proceeds  then received                 
  from the raffle  could be distributed to  a political entity                 
  or organization.                                                             
                                                                               
                               11                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  He continued that  an additional element of  the legislation                 
  would prohibit  any permit  holders from  distributing their                 
  money  for political  use.    He  stated that  language  was                 
  defined as:                                                                  
                                                                               
       ".....benefiting persons through aiding  candidates for                 
       public  office or  groups that  support  candidates for                 
       public office".                                                         
                                                                               
  Mr. Anderson clarified the technical differences between the                 
  House State Affairs and the  House Judiciary version of  the                 
  original legislation.   He said that  the language was  more                 
  definitive  clarifying  when a  group  would go  through the                 
  Division  of  Charitable  Gaming rather  than  Alaska Public                 
  Offices Commission (APOC).   The  group at  that time  would                 
  itemize the source  of revenue  from which the  contribution                 
  originated.                                                                  
                                                                               
  Representative Mulder asked if the interpretation would make                 
  it  mandatory  to  include  each   contribution  made  to  a                 
  political  fund  within  an organization  regardless  of the                 
  dollar  amount.  Representative  Martin summarized  that the                 
  $100 dollar  limit would  exist regardless  of the  donator.                 
  Representative Mulder summarized Subsection (11) which would                 
  require  disclosure of  contributions  and  also sources  of                 
  income, locations and the individuals  from which funds were                 
  disbursed.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Representative Brown voiced a conflict  of interest with the                 
  legislation in that she was a member of the House Democratic                 
  Campaign  Committee.   Representative  Mulder disclosed  his                 
  conflict of interest.                                                        
                                                                               
  Representative Brown pointed  out that the language  on Page                 
  3, Line 4, requires that "all" donations or contributions by                 
  permittees be identified.  She asserted that the $100 dollar                 
  exemption  did not  exist  in the  language  of the  current                 
  proposed   legislation.     Representative   Mulder  agreed.                 
  Representative Brown interjected that  the public understood                 
  that if their donation  is under $100, their name  would not                 
  be disclosed.  She requested that policy be kept consistent.                 
  Representative Therriault ascertained  that tracking  should                 
  be reported on all donations.                                                
                                                                               
  Representative Brown asked  if a  personal source of  income                 
  would   be  tracked   through   the  proposed   legislation.                 
  Representative  Martin  stated  that vendors  and  operators                 
  should   be    tracked   regardless    of   the    donation.                 
  Representative Brown  emphasized that  the language did  not                 
  separate the vendors  in their capacity as  individuals from                 
  contributing personal funds.  She  asked how the legislation                 
                                                                               
                               12                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  would   differ   from   the   current   APOC   requirements.                 
  Representative Martin  responded  that  everyone  should  be                 
  responsible to  report  even if  the funds  were taken  from                 
  their personal pocket.                                                       
                                                                               
  Mr. Anderson reiterated  that the House  Judiciary Committee                 
  recommended  that  accounts be  disclosed regardless  of the                 
  source they  are  contributed  from.   The  intent  of  that                 
  language  would  prevent   any  co-mingling  of  distributed                 
  proceeds.   He suggested  further amending  the language  to                 
  clarify any pull  tab or bingo permittee  must disclose from                 
  which  account   they  are   making  contributions.     That                 
  clarification  would then  address the concern  to guarantee                 
  that funds  given were not distributed from those raised for                 
  charitable gaming.                                                           
                                                                               
  Representative Brown asked the moral difference between pull                 
  tabs and  raffles.   Mr. Anderson specified  that Section  4                 
  itemizes  the  types of  games  from which  a  permittee can                 
  apply.                                                                       
                                                                               
  (Tape HFC 95-45, Side 2).                                                    
                                                                               
  Representative  Martin thought  that raffle  money could  be                 
  used for political contributions, although  that was not his                 
  original  intent.    Mr. Anderson  stated  that  a political                 
  entity could have a charitable gaming permit under type (B),                 
  in order  to hold  a raffle.   If  the entity  has a  gaming                 
  permit,  then funds  earned  from a  raffle  can be  donated                 
  within a year to those on the list.  A non  political entity                 
  legally  could  not donate  to  a political  organization or                 
  candidate, regardless whether or not the money was earned by                 
  a raffle.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Representative Brown questioned the language on Page 4, Line                 
  7,  "other  than  raffles".    Mr.  Anderson  replied,  that                 
  language referenced  a  political entity  holding a  permit.                 
  Representative Mulder  considered that language to  apply to                 
  all   individuals  and   not   just  a   political   entity.                 
  Representative  Kohring  supported eliminating  gambling and                 
  raffling.    Mr.  Anderson  replied  that during  the  House                 
  Judiciary Committee  proceedings, testimony by  both parties                 
  indicated that raffles generated  a less significant  amount                 
  of income, and often times are  not a substantial portion of                 
  the  operations.  Mr. Anderson pointed out that the language                 
  from that version of the legislation was a compromise.                       
                                                                               
  Committee  members discussed  results from  district surveys                 
  regarding gambling contributions.  Mr.  Anderson pointed out                 
  that in raffles,  the donor knows  where the money will  go,                 
  whereas, in a pull  tab situation, the player does  not know                 
  where the  proceeds go.   Representative  Therriault agreed.                 
                                                                               
                               13                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  He  stated  that  raising money  should  affect  a political                 
  philosophy  process.   With  pull  tabs,  there is  no  link                 
  between the flow of money and the understanding that you are                 
  supporting a  particular philosophy.   Representative  Kelly                 
  echoed Representative Therriault's concern.                                  
                                                                               
  DENNIS  POFHARD,  DIRECTOR, DIVISION  OF  CHARITABLE GAMING,                 
  DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE,  stated that the Division  is neutral                 
  on the proposed legislation, although they have questions on                 
  the  requirements  of the  reports.   He  asked  for further                 
  clarification of  the Legislative intent.   The Department's                 
  first concern results from past budget cuts,  which has left                 
  the Division  with fewer  field  audits and  investigations.                 
  The requirement of an additional  report affecting more than                 
  one  thousand   permittees  to   file,  will  need   further                 
  processing  creating an additional  burden to  the Division.                 
  He stated  that responsibility  would potentially  take away                 
  from  the enforcement  ability.   Consequently,  Mr. Pofhard                 
  urged  fully funding  the Division's  FY96 Operating  Budget                 
  request in  order  to  adequately  address  the  legislative                 
  concern.                                                                     
                                                                               
  Representative  Mulder referenced  subsection  (11) Page  3,                 
  asking  if  all collected  funds  would  be required  to  be                 
  reported   to   APOC.     Mr.   Pofhard  stated   it  would.                 
  Representative Mulder thought that information would provide                 
  APOC  a  clearer  understanding of  where  those  funds were                 
  going.  He  understood that the  information required to  be                 
  gathered from subsection (11) was currently also required by                 
  the APOC report.  He asked if there would be  difficultly in                 
  distinguishing between  pull tab  and raffle  reports.   Mr.                 
  Pofhard  replied  that  would  not  be  a  problem  for  the                 
  Division.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Discussion  followed  regarding  a  report  shared   between                 
  Representative  Brown   and  Representative  Martin.     The                 
  Department offered to  provide that report to  the Committee                 
  at a later date.                                                             
                                                                               
  Representative Mulder asked if  the Division had information                 
  available on the amount of  contributions given to campaigns                 
  other than  political.  Mr.  Pofhard explained that  to date                 
  the Division has  had no reason  to track that  information.                 
  The  permittee  would  be  required   to  report  income  as                 
  submitted to the Division.   He added that it would  be more                 
  organized to have  the reports in  the Division rather  that                 
  receiving that  info from  APOC.   He emphasized  that there                 
  would be 1200-1300  reports filed  each year resulting  from                 
  the passage of  the legislation.   The information would  be                 
  imputed, tracked,  and then a determination would be made if                 
  that information  was useful.   APOC  reports are  currently                 
  used to track the prohibitive uses of proceeds for lobbying.                 
                                                                               
                               14                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  He stated  that the  State could  use the  APOC reports  for                 
  tracking the political contributions.                                        
                                                                               
  Representative Brown asked  if it was  required that a  pull                 
  tab operator disclose information on where the proceeds were                 
  to be  dispersed.   Mr. Pofhard  explained the  distinction,                 
  when a raffle  ticket is  printed, it is  required that  the                 
  permit be referenced.  However, in a vendor or operator pull                 
  tab place of business,  normally the only way to  tell whose                 
  game you are playing would be  displayed by a permit hanging                 
  on the wall.  That information is not posted directly on the                 
  tab played.                                                                  
                                                                               
  Representative Brown questioned why the  gross receipts have                 
  increased dramatically,  whereas, the net proceeds have not.                 
  Mr.  Pofhard  speculated  that  the  percentages   have  not                 
  changed.  He added,  that pull tabs were legalized  in 1988,                 
  and that the  net proceeds result  from the amount of  money                 
  returned to  the charities.   Representative  Brown inquired                 
  where the net profit would be listed.                                        
                                                                               
  JEFF  PRATHER,  CHIEF  OF  AUDIT   AND  EXAMS,  DIVISION  OF                 
  CHARITABLE GAMING,  DEPARTMENT  OF  REVENUE,  replied  those                 
  figures would not show  up anywhere.  Most operators  do not                 
  disclose  the  profits  to  the  Department  although  those                 
  figures are usually deducted from the expense column.                        
                                                                               
  Representative  Martin  asked   if  the  legislation   would                 
  prohibit  lobbyists  from  receiving  funds  from   receipts                 
  generated by pull tabs.                                                      
                                                                               
  PAT  SMUTZ,  LEGISLATIVE  DIRECTOR,  ALASKA  STATE  AFL-CIO,                 
  JUNEAU, stated  that his organization  does have a  pull tab                 
  permit and a raffle  permit.  The raffle permit is  used for                 
  generating funds for lobbying purposes.                                      
                                                                               
  (Tape Change, HFC 95-46, Side 1).                                            
                                                                               
  Representative  Brown questioned  the  distinction of  funds                 
  being used for  the public  process.  Representative  Martin                 
  reiterated that Alaska is the only State in the Nation which                 
  allows gaming money to be used for political candidates.  He                 
  stressed that use of those funds was fuel for corruption and                 
  that money should be given to charities.                                     
                                                                               
  HB 44 was HELD in Committee for further consideration.                       
                                                                               
  ADJOURNMENT                                                                  
                                                                               
  The meeting adjourned at 3:20 P.M.                                           
                                                                               
                                                                               
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