CSHCR 32(EDT)am-AK INFO INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY TASK FORCE  CHAIR CON BUNDE announced CSHCR 32(EDT) am to be up for consideration. MS. SUE STANCLIFF, staff to Speaker Kott, sponsor, said that HCR 32 establishes the Alaska Information Infrastructure Policy Task Force, which will be charged with consideration of Alaska's role and interest in long-term information infrastructure development. In summary, the sponsor statement said: It will provide communities with access to broadband connectivity and provide for telecommunications, health care education, homeland security and economic development opportunities. Access to fiber optic connectivity will help bridge the divide that separates rural Alaska and the benefits of technological advances realized in urban Alaska. The Progressive Policy Institute has a new economy index that shows where Alaska is in the new economy. In 1999, Alaska was th ranked 13 most competitive state; by 2002 it had dropped to the st 31 most competitive state, the sharpest drop among all the states. "We're losing ground, Mr. Chairman, and this task force can address the question of how Alaska can get back on track...." MR. STAN HERRERA, Chief Technology Officer, Department of Administration, said the resolution identifies 13 members to the task force without any representation from the Department of Administration. The Department of Enterprise Technologies Services currently provides all centralized data processing, data communications and telecommunications for the state agencies identified by Alaska statute. He has submitted his concerns to the Speaker of the House and recommended that the Department of Administration be represented on the task force. MS. STANCLIFF commented that the sponsor did not support adding a representative from the Department of Administration. CHAIR BUNDE said he had concerns about unequal representation in the Legislature and asked for an amendment to delete one of the members of the Legislature and have him replaced by a commissioner or designee of the Department of Administration. SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH agreed with him. SENATOR GARY STEVENS conceptually moved to reduce the legislative members to two and to add one member from the Department of Administration. SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS said that although she supported the concept, it was close to the end of session and the sponsor did not support the amendment and felt that was an important consideration. MS. WYNETTA AYERS, Executive Director, Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference (SWAMC), supported HCR 32. The task force is needed to develop a cohesive strategy for information technology and infrastructure in Alaska. She related how several other states had successfully developed programs. She hoped the state's opportunities could be leveraged in Southwest Alaska to develop its economy. SENATOR GARY STEVENS said he took Senator Davis' comment to heart and didn't want to kill this bill by dragging it out and withdrew his amendment. CHAIR BUNDE said he would let this bill set until the end of the meeting. CSHCR 32(EDT)am-AK INFO INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY TASK FORCE    CHAIR CON BUNDE announced CSHCR 32(EDT) am to be back up for consideration. SENATOR GARY STEVENS moved to pass CSHCR 32(EDT) am from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. Senators Seekins, French, Gary Stevens, Davis and Chair Bunde voted yea; and CSHCR 32(EDT) am moved from committee.