Legislature(1993 - 1994)
01/28/1993 03:00 PM House L&C
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE
STANDING COMMITTEE
January 28, 1993
3:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Rep. Bill Hudson, Chairman
Rep. Bill Williams
Rep. Brian Porter
Rep. Eldon Mulder
Rep. Joe Sitton
Rep. Jerry Mackie
MEMBERS ABSENT
Rep. Joe Green
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Overview of the Department of Commerce and Economic
Development
WITNESS REGISTER
PAUL FUHS, Commissioner
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
P.O. Box 110800
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0800
465-2500
Position Statement: Presented an overview
KIM ELTON, Director
Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute
1111 W. 8th St., Suite 100
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1895
465-5560
Position Statement: Presented an overview
CHRIS GATES, Director
Division of Economic Development
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
P.O. Box 110804
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0804
465-2017
Position Statement: Presented an overview
CARL LUCK, Director
Division of Occupational Licensing
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0806
465-2534
Position Statement: Presented an overview
WILLIS KIRKPATRICK, Director
Division of Banking, Securities and Corporations
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
P.O. Box 110808
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0808
465-2521
Position Statement: Presented an overview
DAVID WALSH, Director
Division of Insurance
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
P.O. Box 110805
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0805
465-2515
Position Statement: Presented an overview
MARTIN RICHARD, Director
Division of Investments
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
P.O. Box 34159
Juneau, Alaska 99803-4159
790-2693
Position Statement: Presented an overview
CON MURRAY, Director
Division of Tourism
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
P.O. Box 110801
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0801
465-2012
Position Statement: Presented an overview
MARY PIGNALBERI
Division of Tourism, Film Library
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
3601 C St., Suite 700
Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5935
563-2167
Position Statement: Answered questions
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-6, SIDE A
Number 000
CHAIRMAN HUDSON called the House Labor and Commerce
committee to order at 3:06 p.m. on January 28, 1993.
Members present were Reps. Hudson, Williams, Porter, Mulder,
and Sitton.
CHAIRMAN HUDSON introduced COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE PAUL FUHS
from the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT and
invited him to start the overview.
COMMISSIONER FUHS stated that in light of the decline of oil
revenue it was imperative that the Department of Commerce
focus on how to make money and not how to spend it.
COMMISSIONER FUHS referred to a pie chart the Department
produced which illustrated the sources of money to fund the
Department. He noted that the Department's share of the
general fund amounts to 3/4 of 1 percent of the total
budget.
COMMISSIONER FUHS showed a video produced by the Department.
He explained that the video was used at trade shows to
market Alaska.
Number 191
KIM ELTON, DIRECTOR, ALASKA SEAFOOD MARKETING INSTITUTE,
presented a short overview of his office. Mr. Elton
included a breakdown of funding. He also noted that some of
the handout material that the committee received covered in
some detail his agency.
Number 265
REP. HUDSON inquired about the quality program. Rep. Hudson
also asked for a short synopsis of what the focus or goal of
the agency was and what benefit it was to the people of the
state.
Number 270
MR. ELTON responded that the agency does have a voluntary
quality control program. Mr. Elton stated that his agency's
goal is to market Alaska's fish to both foreign and domestic
markets.
Number 330
CHRIS GATES, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
told the committee that the focus of the Division was to
assist new and old small businesses to survive and prosper
and to work on specific resource areas.
Number 375
(Rep. Menard joined the committee.)
Number 407
CARL LUCK, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING,
stated that the Division's mission was to protect the health
and safety of Alaskans by insuring that practitioners have
at least the minimum level of competency necessary to
deliver a quality service. The Division does this through a
central licensing concept. Mr. Luck further stated that the
Division was comprised of the following sections:
Occupational Licensing; Business Licensing; and the Gaming
Commission.
Number 453
REP. HUDSON asked Mr. Luck to provide the committee with
details on the concept of centralizing licensing functions
and send it over in a report.
Number 487
WILLIS KIRKPATRICK, DIRECTOR OF DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS,
BANKING AND SECURITIES, told the committee that anybody
wanting to do business in Alaska usually starts with his
Division. The agency is made up of the following sections:
1) the securities section is a regulatory agency which
primarily fights white collar crime;
2) the banking section registers all banks, savings and
loan institutions, credit unions and trust companies; and
3) the corporations section is usually the first stop for
anyone wanting to do business in Alaska as a corporation.
Number 525
DAVE WALSH, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF INSURANCE, said the
mission of the Division is to protect and serve Alaska by
developing, interpreting, and enforcing the insurance
statutes and regulations; by protecting Alaska insurance
consumers; by enhancing the insurance business environment;
and by providing information and resources to the public for
knowledgeable management of their insurance affairs.
MR. WALSH provided the committee with the Division's 1992
strategic plan.
TAPE 93-6, SIDE B
Number 605
CHAIRMAN HUDSON said that he was extremely interested in
containing costs in the insurance industry and would like
further information on the subject.
Number 676
MARTIN RICHARDS, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF INVESTMENTS,
explained that this division was the loan administration
group. The Division currently has three active lending
programs:
1) commercial fishing revolving loan fund;
2) loans on limited entry permits, vessels and gear; and
3) fisheries enhancement revolving loan program.
MR. RICHARDS stated that the Division has nine inactive loan
programs and services loans for five other state agencies.
Number 715
CHAIRMAN HUDSON inquired if there was any information
regarding outstanding loans.
COMMISSIONER FUHS stated that the efficiency review
committee compiled that information and he would see that
the committee received the information.
Number 720
CON MURRAY, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF TOURISM, stated the
Division's mission was to cooperate with public and private
organizations to promote tourism and to coordinate with
public and private agencies to develop and promote in-state
attractions consistent with community values. Mr. Murray
further described the Division's role as to attract and
assist prospective investors in Alaska tourism.
MR. MURRAY said the Division had one other very important
function that was not covered in statute, which was to
administer a very aggressive and innovative film program.
MR. MURRAY also assisted the Alaska Tourism Marketing
Council in their statutorily mandated duties. He said the
Alaska Tourism Marketing Council duties are to work with the
private sector in developing and carrying out a cooperative
advertizing program aimed at generating tourism in the
domestic market.
MR. MURRAY described the locations of the Division's
overseas offices and outlined his plans to ask for funding
in next year's budget for an office in the United Kingdom.
CHAIRMAN HUDSON expressed concern that the Division does not
use its resources to promote the marine highway system.
Chairman Hudson asked that the Division look closely at this
issue and get back to the committee.
Number 860
MARY PIGNALBERI, DIVISION OF TOURISM, FILM LIBRARY, outlined
the upcoming film projects to be produced in Alaska
including:
1) Warner Brothers in conjunction with Steven Seigal is
looking at doing a feature film here;
2) Castlerock, with Rob Reiner directing, will be doing a
small portion of another feature;
3) a co-production between France and England will be
coming up to scout for locations for a feature film by
Esther Sharpiro entertainment;
4) Christopher Lambert will be scouting for locations for
a big project he will direct and star in; and
5) Mark Russell will do a comedy special from Alaska this
summer.
COMMISSIONER FUHS noted that in the committee's packet there
was a six page document that would serve as a report card on
the Department.
Number 940
REP. MENARD inquired if the contributions from the private
sector had been kept up-to-date.
MR. MURRAY responded that the contributions were up-to-date.
CHAIRMAN HUDSON commented that it was his hope to make
government more of an asset than a liability.
CHAIRMAN HUDSON adjourned the meeting at 4:16 p.m.
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