HB 99-EXTEND ALASKA MINERALS COMMISSION  3:34:15 PM CHAIR GIESSEL announced HB 99 would be up for consideration. [CSHB 99(RES) was before the committee.] REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 99, said the bill would help to ensure the growth and sustainability of a vital sector of the Alaskan economy; that being the minerals development and mining sector. HB 99 would extend the sunset of the Alaska Minerals Commission (AMC) for ten years. AMC was established by the Alaska Legislature in 1986 and had been reauthorized four times. AMC was responsible for identifying road blocks to mineral development in Alaska and for making recommendations to the governor and the legislature on how to clear those impediments. AMC meets three times a year in Anchorage, Fairbanks and in Juneau where the commissioners deliver their annual report at the Capitol during the first ten days of the legislative session. Since its last reauthorization in 2003, AMC had made several key recommendations which the legislature had since implemented or was working out to put into place that included but are not limited to: reforming the state permitting process to make them more timely and efficient; funding infrastructure development under the Roads to Resources Program; and asserting and defending public access to roads, trails, and navigable waterways. AMC was a proven and rather affordable voice for an important sector of Alaska's economy. He referred to AMC's fiscal note regarding program affordability. He said mining employed 4,500 Alaskans, provided more than $620 million in direct and indirect payroll, and provided jobs and revenue for local governments and rural areas that sorely need them. He explained that HB 99 started out as a simple extension bill, but now provided for three years terms with a limit of two consecutive terms and provided for the annual election of a Chair and Vice Chair of the commission. 3:36:26 PM DEANTHA CROCKETT, Executive Director, Alaska Miners Association (AMA), Anchorage, Alaska, said AMA was a statewide association representing the six large metals mines the state, one operating coal mine, exploration projects, miners, contractors, engineering firms, and anybody that really does business with the mining industry. She said AMA supported HB 99 and noted that AMC worked very closely with AMA and other resource development organizations to identify ways to promote the industry and eliminate barriers. She called attention to a letter from the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) that had a list of AMC's accomplishments over the years. She noted that AMC had come up with and been an integral part of decisions that were recommended to the legislature and to the governor to help the mining industry succeed. 3:37:37 PM SENATOR MCGUIRE joined the committee. MS. CROCKETT asserted that AMC was an important commission with a small fiscal note on behalf of Alaska. She said AMC did a lot for the mining industry and noted that she would be remiss if she did not remind the committee that mining was the state's second largest industry, had a high employment level in Alaska, and a very high wage average of $100,000 that employed residents from approximately 120 communities around the state. She emphasized that mining had a far reaching impact and AMC helped the mining industry greatly. 3:38:20 PM MARLEANNA HALL, Project Coordinator, Resource Development Council (RDC), Anchorage, Alaska, said RDC was a membership funded statewide business association that represented forestry, oil and gas, mining, tourism, and the fishing industry. She stated that RDC supported passage of HB 99. She asserted that the mining industry had been a cornerstone of Alaska's economy. Many roads and other infrastructure throughout Alaska were originally constructed to serve the mining industry. She said RDC believed AMC provided the necessary voice for issues as well as recommendations and mitigation ideas for Alaska's mineral prospect and projects. AMC's appointed group made recommendations to the legislature and the governor in an effort to promote Alaska's mineral, exploration and development industry. AMC continued to be an effective means of insuring policy makers had the benefit of the collective input of lead practitioners in the mining industry. She explained that mining, consisting of exploration, development, and production in Alaska, provided thousands of direct and indirect jobs with a large payroll of approximately $620 million. She noted that HB 99 had incorporated term limits for commission members and term limits for members selected as Chairman and Vice Chairman. RDC believed that the proposed term limits would help to provide for a fresh prospective on the minerals industry. HB 99 would bring AMC in alignment with other boards and commissions, extend it for another ten years, and help keep the members fresh and active in identifying ways to mitigate constraints on mineral development in Alaska. She said AMC had a relatively low fiscal impact and RDC believed that the commission had a significant impact promoting Alaska's minerals and mineral exploration development. She explained that AMC was comprised of 11 commission members with broad-based mineral industry expertise and represented a diverse expertise in mineral exploration and development. She said RDC urged the committee to pass HB 99. 3:40:41 PM BILL JEFFRESS, Chairman, Alaska Minerals Commission (AMC), Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska, announced that he was available of questions. 3:41:19 PM CHAIR GIESSEL found no questions and asked for closing remarks from the bill's sponsor. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said there were seven operating mines in the state and the prospects were good for six more with the potential for many more in the future. He emphasized the need for Alaska to diversify its economy and resources. He said Alaska's mining industry was the state's future as well as its past and AMC would help the state achieve a diversified economic future. 3:41:43 PM SENATOR DYSON moved to report CSHB 99(RES) from committee to the next committee of referral with attached fiscal notes and individual recommendations. CHAIR GIESSEL announced that, without objection, CSHB 99(RES) passed from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.