Legislature(2015 - 2016)CAPITOL 120

03/30/2015 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Delayed to 1:20 p.m. Today --
+ HB 123 ESTABLISH MARIJUANA CONTROL BOARD TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 35 2015 REVISOR'S BILL TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 35 Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
               HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                         March 30, 2015                                                                                         
                           1:23 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Chair                                                                                          
Representative Wes Keller, Vice Chair                                                                                           
Representative Bob Lynn                                                                                                         
Representative Max Gruenberg                                                                                                    
Representative Neal Foster                                                                                                      
Representative Charisse Millett                                                                                                 
Representative Matt Claman                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kurt Olson (alternate)                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 35                                                                                                              
"An Act making corrective amendments to the Alaska Statutes as                                                                  
recommended by the revisor of statutes; and providing for an                                                                    
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED  SB 35 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 123                                                                                                              
"An  Act establishing  the Marijuana  Control Board;  relating to                                                               
the powers  and duties of  the Marijuana Control  Board; relating                                                               
to the  appointment, removal, and  duties of the director  of the                                                               
Marijuana  Control  Board;  relating to  the  Alcoholic  Beverage                                                               
Control Board; and providing for an effective date."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 35                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: 2015 REVISOR'S BILL                                                                                                
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
01/30/15       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        

01/30/15 (S) JUD 02/09/15 (S) JUD AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 02/09/15 (S) Heard & Held 02/09/15 (S) MINUTE(JUD) 02/13/15 (S) JUD AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 02/13/15 (S) Moved SB 35 Out of Committee 02/13/15 (S) MINUTE(JUD) 02/18/15 (S) JUD RPT 3DP 2NR 02/18/15 (S) DP: MCGUIRE, COGHILL, MICCICHE 02/18/15 (S) NR: COSTELLO, WIELECHOWSKI 02/25/15 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 02/25/15 (S) VERSION: SB 35 02/27/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/27/15 (H) JUD 03/20/15 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 03/20/15 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 03/30/15 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 BILL: HB 123 SHORT TITLE: ESTABLISH MARIJUANA CONTROL BOARD SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR 02/23/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/23/15 (H) L&C, JUD, FIN 03/04/15 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 03/04/15 (H) Heard & Held 03/04/15 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/11/15 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 03/11/15 (H) Heard & Held 03/11/15 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/16/15 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 03/16/15 (H) Heard & Held 03/16/15 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/20/15 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 03/20/15 (H) Heard & Held 03/20/15 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/23/15 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 03/23/15 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard 03/23/15 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 03/23/15 (H) Heard & Held 03/23/15 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/27/15 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 03/27/15 (H) Moved CSHB 123(L&C) Out of Committee 03/27/15 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/30/15 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 WITNESS REGISTER LISA KIRSH, Assistant Revisor Legislative Legal Counsel Legislative Legal and Research Services Legislative Affairs Agency Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 35 to the committee, offered testimony and answered questions. MICAELA FOWLER, Legislative Liaison Special Assistant to the Commissioner Office of the Commissioner Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sectional analysis for CSHB 123, and answered questions. TIMOTHY HALE Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: During the hearing on CSHB 123, offered testimony. CYNTHIA FRANKLIN, Director Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC Board) Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Offered testimony and answered questions during the hearing on CSHB 123. DALE FOX, President and CEO Cabaret Hotel Restaurant & Retailers Association (CHARR) Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Offered testimony during the hearing on CSHB 123. BRUCE SCHULTE Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Legislation Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: During the hearing of CSHB 123, offered testimony and answered questions. DENNIS WADE Homer, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of CSHB 123. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:23:39 PM CHAIR GABRIELLE LEDOUX called the House Judiciary Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:23 p.m. Representatives Keller, Lynn, Gruenberg, and LeDoux were present at the call to order. Representatives Foster, Millett and Claman arrived as the meeting was in progress. 1:24:07 PM SB 35-2015 REVISOR'S BILL 1:24:19 PM CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the first order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 35, "An Act making corrective amendments to the Alaska Statutes as recommended by the revisor of statutes; and providing for an effective date." 1:24:33 PM LISA KIRSH, Assistant Revisor, Legislative Legal Counsel, Legislative Legal and Research Services, Legislative Affairs Agency, said SB 35 is the revisor's bill which, she explained, is a bill to correct any errors, and to improve the Alaska Statutes. She further explained that within the revisor's bill no policy changes are made as it is primarily a "clean-up" bill, and every year they review some titles, look for obsolete provisions, deficiencies, and/or conflicts. She opined that the changes are carefully reviewed and only include changes that are appropriate in the revisor's bill. Anything that might be considered a "close call" the revisor does not include. The Department of Law (DOL) reviewed the bill, and there is a letter within committee packets, that it sees no legal issues within the bill. This particular bill makes changes that corrects some citations of federal law, puts court rules in the correct citation form, makes changes between singular and plural where it doesn't agree with the other language in the sentence, and the words "but not limited to" are eliminated when following "including" as there is a provision in Title 1, of the Alaska Statutes that reads when the word "including" or "includes" is used in the statutes it is presumed to include the words "but not limited to." The revisor removed a few definitions no longer required because the provisions they were used in have been repealed, and the rest is grammatical changes and other basic clean up. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted from the bill history that the bill went through the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee and members Senator Costello and Wielechowski were "no recommendations". He asked if either Senators expressed any concerns they had about any sections in the bill. 1:27:25 PM MS. KIRCH responded that she is not aware of the reason behind those votes. MS. KIRCH replied to Representative Gruenberg that she was present during the hearing and did not hear anything on the record expressed by the Senators. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked whether anyone else expressed any concerns or reservations. MS. KIRSH answered that she did receive a couple of questions relating to a provision in Title 10, dealing with corporations, wherein the language is confusing because she removed a provision that is permissive from the mandatory section and moved it to the permissive section, consequently, there is a large block of eliminated language within that language which reappears in the following section, or inverted. She also received a question regarding why the definitions were deleted, which she reiterated was that they were no longer needed because the provisions they were used in were repealed. She offered that those are the only questions she could recall. 1:29:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked who the Senator was on the Senate floor who voted "no," and why. MS. KIRSH offered that it may have been Senator Kelly, but that could easily be verified by looking at the record on BASIS. She said she is not aware of the reason for that vote. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG questioned whether there was an objection expressed in the Senate debate. MS. KIRSH replied that she was not aware of an objection. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG quiered whether his statement is correct that no one said anything against the bill, or any section. MS. KIRSH responded that she does not recall any objection to the bill other than the questions previously testified to which, to her knowledge, were laid to rest by the answers. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG advised that staff advised that Senator Kelly was the "no" vote. 1:30:56 PM CHAIR LEDOUX opened public testimony and after ascertaining no one wished to testify closed public testimony. 1:31:35 PM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report SB 35, version 29-LS330\H out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SB 35 passed out of the House Judiciary Standing Committee. 1:31:47 PM The committee took an at-ease from 1:31 to 1:34 p.m. HB 123-ESTABLISH MARIJUANA CONTROL BOARD 1:34:22 PM CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 123, "An Act establishing the Marijuana Control Board; relating to the powers and duties of the Marijuana Control Board; relating to the appointment, removal, and duties of the director of the Marijuana Control Board; relating to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; and providing for an effective date." 1:34:38 PM MICAELA FOWLER, Legislative Liaison, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED), advised this is Governor Bill Walker's bill to create a separate marijuana control board. The initiative specified that the legislature has the authority to create a new board otherwise the regulation fall to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC Board). Initially, she offered, the idea of a stand-alone agency was pursued. However, she remarked, given the fiscal climate Alaska is facing it did not appear to be a prudent approach. The compromise then developed to a separate marijuana control board served by the same staff as the ABC Board. She described the board as a semi-judicial agency, with the vast amount of work at the direction of the board performed by agency staff. This option allows capitalization on both the experience of the ABC Board staff, as well as reducing costs and overlap. The majority of CSHB 123 is reflective of Title 4 statutes, which are the alcohol statutes. She noted that there are changes due to differences in the substance, and proposed changes to Title 4 that a working group has been developing for the last several years. She said there is anticipation that before session ends a bill will likely be introduced that would begin the process of looking at those recommended changes, of which some were included in CSHB 123. 1:37:41 PM MS. FOWLER referred to Section 1, and stated that it amends Title 4, by saying the director of the ABC Board shall also serve as the director of the Marijuana Control Board. It also amends the process for appointment and removal of the director, to require a majority vote from both boards. The ABC Board director is a position appointed by the governor, as with the Marijuana Control Board, but can be removed only by a vote of the board unless there are extenuating circumstances. CHAIR LEDOUX questioned whether a new governor would not be allowed to appoint a director of either board. MS. FOWLER stated "That is correct." 1:38:29 PM MS. FOWLER referred to Section 2, and stated it establishes the five member Marijuana Control Board in Title 17, and designates the five voting members as follows: (1) one person from the public safety sector; (2) one person from the public health sector; (3) one person from a rural area; (4) one person actively engaged in the marijuana industry; and (5) one person who is either from the general public or actively engaged in the marijuana industry MS. FOWLER advised that this is one of the sections that maybe reflects the wish of how alcohol is regulated, and not the way alcohol is currently regulated as there is no requirement for a public health or public safety representative on the current ABC Board. It has been found that it is especially important given the nature of the marijuana industry, and new territory. The sponsor strongly supports a five member designation on the Marijuana Control Board. She noted that there are five designated seats, and the intent of this legislation is that the background of the executive director is taken into consideration in the formulation of the board. For example, Cynthia Franklin's background would be considered when showing that all of the designations were filled in that she has a public safety background, she explained. 1:40:02 PM CHAIR LEDOUX surmised that if this bill were to be adopted in its present form there would be no need for a board member from the public safety sector because Ms. Franklin would serve with that expertise. MS. FOWLER responded "That is correct." She then referred to Section 3, which establishes terms of office for board members and chair, sets out requirements for board meetings and provides for board member per diem. She pointed out that the section also outlines the board's powers and duties to propose and adopt regulations, establishes qualifications for licensure, review applications for licensure, hear appeals from actions of the director, reduce the area of license premise, and adopt regulations according to AS 44.63. Finally, she noted, the section establishes the board's enforcement powers as mirroring those of the ABC Board, as outlined in Title 4. She said this is one area amended in the last committee of referral because marijuana is not entirely in one section of statute. She advised that all alcohol rules, including criminal statutes are included in Title 4, so the ABC Board only needs statutory authority over that title. She said with marijuana there are provisions in Title 11, and at this point it is unknown where marijuana will end up in statute. There is some broader language included in this version of the bill that gives the ABC Board the authority to regulate outside of Title 17, if it is a marijuana statute. 1:41:53 PM MS. FOWLER continued her presentation and referred to Section 4, which defines the board in the initiative language to mean the Marijuana Control Board, as created by this Act, she remarked. She advised that Section 5, defines director as the director of the ABC Board and Marijuana Control Board, and defines registration to mean registration or licensure as determined by regulations. She pointed to Section 6, which amends the duties of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) to include providing clerical and administrative support for the Marijuana Control Board. Section 7, amends the uncodified law for initial appointment of board members. Section 8, provides for transition regulations such that if the ABC Board adopts any regulations before the Marijuana Control Board is created, those regulations can be implemented, enforced, or amended by the Marijuana Control Board. It provides that any regulations adopted during the transition period shall take effect after the effective date of the Act. She stated this also provides that initial industry seats will be filled by members of the alcohol industry as there was concern regarding designated seats for marijuana industry members given that there is not a prior legal marijuana industry in Alaska. She offered that Section 9, provides for the immediate effective date. 1:43:48 PM CHAIR LEDOUX opened public testimony. 1:43:57 PM TIMOTHY HALE related that this is a good bill as almost everything is in line with the alcohol industry which is excellent. His concern is Section 8, wherein it reads "shall instead appoint two persons with experience in the alcohol retail, or wholesale business." He stated he understands the reasoning behind this because currently there is not a marijuana industry, but believes a better way would be to have the two people affirm they intend to apply for licenses when they become available. He opined that the alcohol industry might see the marijuana industry as somewhat of a competitor and therefore, persons from the alcohol industry may not have the marijuana industry's best interests at heart. 1:45:56 PM CYNTHIA FRANKLIN, Director, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC Board) Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED), said the bill is a compromise between creating a completely new agency, and a chance to utilize the experience of staff of the agency in both enforcing rules and regulations in the statutes around a dangerous substance and the experience of the staff in licensing businesses, and assisting in the commerce section of this agency. She said the agency is encouraged by the development of the changes of the bill overall which reflect well the input of the legislature. 1:47:21 PM CHAIR LEDOUX expresses her concern regarding [Sec. 8], page 7, lines 2-6, which read: (b) Notwithstanding AS 17.38.080(b), the governor, in making the initial appointments to the Marijuana Control Board of two persons actively engaged in the marijuana industry, shall instead appoint two persons with experience in the alcohol retail or wholesale business. The governor shall appoint two individuals to serve the term of two years under (a)(2) of this section. CHAIR LEDOUX stated she understands the reasoning, but is concerned whether there might be some way of phrasing this so people with industry knowledge are not appointed giving them the benefit for having broken the law in the past. But at the same time, she offered, that people are appointed who actually know what they are doing in a particular industry. 1:48:30 PM MS. FRANKLIN related that she believes that individuals can be found appropriate for appointment into the industry seats outside of the alcohol retail or wholesale business. She opined it would take a bit of crafting to address the concerns of the previous committee that individuals not be appointed into these seats whose experience in the marijuana industry is illegally obtained experience. However, she offered, since November 4, 2014, she has been contact by and responded to numerous people in "our" business community and Alaska business community who are interested in entering into this new industry and new business opportunities who have substantial experience in regulated industries other than alcohol. She opined there is a way to craft language that is more inclusive than the language in the current version of the bill. However, she further opined, it is the version of the bill that passed through and is simply the first two years of this industry. She stated she does not feel strongly enough about this section to hold up the bill, as she would like the bill to make it through in the time frame left. 1:51:12 PM CHAIR LEDOUX advised that the bill will be held in committee today and there is time to work on language. 1:51:19 PM REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN referred to (b) on page 7, lines 2-6, and stated that possibly a way to fix that topic but still give the governor flexibility in looking beyond the alcohol industry would be to change the word "shall" to "may" on line 4. MS. FRANKLIN responded that she believes that would work as there are people out there that are "findable." 1:52:26 PM CHAIR LEDOUX referred to Ms. Franklin's comment that even if this version were to go forward, it would only be two years. She questioned whether those two years would be the most critical two years in formulating the regulations. MS. FRANKLIN answered that Chair LeDoux is correct in that it will be "frontend loaded" and will probably be crafted in the next two years. 1:53:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG referred to page 7, lines 5-6, "the governor shall appoint the two individuals to serve the term of two years under (a)(2) of this section," which is talking about people who are actively engaged in the alcohol industry. He questioned how this is going to work when the two people representing the marijuana industry terms expire at the same time, rather than in a staggered fashion. He advised it would seem there should not be two new people coming on the board at the same time. MS. FRANKLIN advised Representative Gruenberg that she agrees in that as it currently uses the term "shall" it requires the governor to appoint two alcohol industry members into terms that expire at the same time. She pointed out that the language of the bill, and the current ABC Board has the term "may" with those designations overall. This section, which is intended just to be the beginning of this board, says "shall" so that the terms would expire at the same time. She opined that in terms of replacing them with individuals from the marijuana industry, the more general term in AS 17.38.080(b) of the bill provides for up to two persons on the board "may be actively engaged in the marijuana industry." She opined that as the bill is written, there is an opportunity for the governor to space them out over time depending upon who is available to fill the seats from the marijuana industry once these two alcohol seats expired. 1:56:18 PM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER referred to [Sec. 3, AS 17.38.083(b)], page 4, lines 10-13, which read: (b) Three members of the board constitute a quorum for the conduct of business. A majority of the whole membership of the board must approve applications for new licenses, renewals, transfers, suspensions, and revocations of existing licenses, and product approvals as provided in regulations adopted by the board. REPRESENTATIVE KELLER noted that there is no language enabling participation electronically for the quorum. MS. FRANKLIN responded that this is language copied from the ABC Board language, and she does not have issues with this. 1:56:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN surmised that under the current regulations adopted by the ABC Board, telephonic participation is already allowed. MS. FRANKLIN answered in the affirmative. REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN surmised the language would not be necessary in the statute because it is already being done. MS. FRANKLIN answered that she does not know if the statute is silent on telephonic participation, but there is nothing in it that would prohibit telephonic participation. She advised that the ABC Board brings the members to each meeting as part of the cost borne by the agency, but there are rare occasions when an ABC Board member is unable to attend in person and there has been telephonic participation by the board member. 1:58:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER referred to [Sec. 3, AS 17.38.081(c)], page 3, lines 28-29, which read: (c) A vacancy occurring in the membership of the board shall be filled within 30 days by appointment of the governor for the unexpired portion of the vacated term. REPRESENTATIVE KELLER noted that if this vacancy happened early in the term there should be legislative approval. 1:59:16 PM CHAIR LEDOUX said it was a good point although it seems the legislature would have to come back for a special session. REPRESENTATIVE KELLER pointed out that especially in this transition time it could become a significant factor. 2:00:04 PM DALE FOX, President and CEO, Cabaret Hotel Restaurant & Retailers Association (CHARR), said that Alaska CHARR supports the proposed marijuana board and believes it is an important board to deal with special industry issues that will come up under marijuana. He believes it is imperative to have at least two members of the marijuana industry on the board as there will be different views from growers, retailers, testers, and other members of the marijuana community. He opined that the board will function best if at least two different views from that industry are on the board to help inform the board of the impacts of issues before them. He pointed out that this bill mirrors the language for the ABC Board, and indicated that the executive director works for and can be removed by the board which would be two boards. He said there must be a way to resolve the issue because it could happen that one board votes to remove and the other board votes to retain. He stated there should be some way the two boards can make a decision together or have some procedure for that issue. He pointed to an amendment added during the previous committee to have two alcohol people on the board until the marijuana industry is set up. He said it is better to have someone that is knowledgeable about a controlled industry, as the alcohol industry people could teach legislators a lot about wine, spirits, and beer but they are less knowledgeable about oils, butters, concentrates, and clones. He opined that Alaska will be better served with two members representing the marijuana industry who have studied and learned about the unique issues facing the marijuana industry. He pointed out that there are people who have educated themselves about the industry that could be excellent representatives for the marijuana industry particularly in this critical startup stage when things like butters are discussed. 2:04:05 PM BRUCE SCHULTE, Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Legislation, said the coalition prefers a separate marijuana control board. He said it is best for the industry and also implementation of the initiative. The first two years of the marijuana board will be critical and he referred to the stipulation that the two individuals from the marijuana industry would have the same two year terms and thought staggered terms might be a good idea for those two seats. He then referred to the requirement on page 7, that the two representatives of the marijuana industry must be from the alcohol industry. He described that as problematic in that there is currently a tremendous marijuana industry in Alaska now and has been for decades, it is just not a legal industry. In that manner, there are people out there that have sufficient knowledge of how to grow, process, and sell marijuana. He opined that if the second board has members from the alcohol industry the legislature has essentially created a second alcohol control board. He remarked that there could be a potential conflict of interest even though he envisioned the alcohol and marijuana industry as being partners rather than competitors. Nevertheless, someone who has only worked in the alcohol industry may not have the requisite or best perspective to bring to the table. He remarked that they could bring some legacy perspective to marijuana regulation, but they are not compatible with the regulation of marijuana from their experience in alcohol. He said it is entirely possible that someone with prior experience in the alcohol industry may have experience with marijuana, but it is not a given. In that event, the governor may be required to appoint someone with less experience and knowledge when others are out there. He pointed to Washington and stated they had problems because they had people writing regulations who did not understand marijuana and, for example, issued permits for retail stores before issuing permits for growers in which a market was created with no product to sell which was problematic for several months, he offered. 2:08:16 PM MR. SCHULTE continued his testimony and said that appointing someone with experience in alcohol rather than marijuana is like appointing someone to the Board of Game based on prior experience with oil and gas exploration. He stated that the language itself in the bill may be problematic as it reads "two persons actively engaged in the marijuana industry, ..." raises the question of whether there is an industry, are they actively engaged, are they illegal players, and so forth. He suggested that defining the two individuals as having demonstrated knowledge in the marijuana industry would get over the hurdle of reaching out to someone from a different industry. He opined there are many people in the state with knowledge, not just of marijuana, but also other regulated industries and they would bring to the table a prospective and willingness to work within the regulatory framework to make sure the marijuana industry works. 2:10:18 PM REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN surmised that the bill proposes there is a separate Marijuana Control Board from the ABC Board but it is still within the same division with the state with some cross- over staff. He asked whether Mr. Schulte supports that approach. MR. SCHULTE responded "I actually do," in that given the constraints of the budget in setting up a separate board and schedule. He pointed out that the clock is already ticking on the regulatory process and this appears to be the quickest way to get a board empowered, and put in place, thereby working on that deadline. 2:11:18 PM DENNIS WADE, said he is in support of CSHB 123, and believes the questions previously discussed could be answered by putting in someone from the medical marijuana community that has been working in that system and making oils. Also, in the public-at- large there will be two persons and one should be from the medical marijuana community as they could add insight. He re- emphasized that when searching for someone to fill the slots there would be someone highly qualified from the medical marijuana community that is making substances beyond just growing bud. 2:13:12 PM CHAIR LEDOUX closed public testimony and advised it is not her intention to move the bill out of committee today. REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN suggested a committee amendment on page 7, which changes "shall" to "may" for purposes of the governor's appointments. 2:13:50 PM CHAIR LEDOUX related that the committee is not taking amendments today as it is her intention to develop a committee substitute and incorporate a solution to problems that have been pointed out. [HB 123 was held over.] 2:14:14 PM ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the committee, the House Judiciary Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:14 p.m.

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB 123 Sectional Analysis.pdf HJUD 3/30/2015 1:00:00 PM
HB 123
HB 123 Transmittal Letter.pdf HJUD 3/30/2015 1:00:00 PM
HB 123
HB123 CS ver H.PDF HJUD 3/30/2015 1:00:00 PM
HB 123
HB123 Fiscal Note - DOA.pdf HJUD 3/30/2015 1:00:00 PM
HB 123
HB123 Letter of Opposition.pdf HJUD 3/30/2015 1:00:00 PM
HB 123
HB123 Memo regarding fiscal note revision-DOA.pdf HJUD 3/30/2015 1:00:00 PM
HB 123
HB123 Supporting Documents - ABC.pdf HJUD 3/30/2015 1:00:00 PM
HB 123
HB123 Ver A.pdf HJUD 3/30/2015 1:00:00 PM
HB 123
HB123-DCCED-ABC-03-09-15.pdf HJUD 3/30/2015 1:00:00 PM
HB 123