SJR 19-ANWR & NAT'L PETRO RESERVE: STATE SHARE  1:41:59 PM CO-CHAIR BURKE announced that the first order of business would be SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19, Urging the United States Congress to honor the terms of the Mineral Leasing Act and the Alaska Statehood Act and provide the state with a 90 percent share of all bonuses, royalties, and rentals received by the federal government from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. 1:42:27 PM LAURA ACHEE, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State Legislature, introduced SJR 19 on behalf of Senator Jesse Bjorkman, prime sponsor. She presented the sponsor statement [hard copy included in the committee packet], summarizing the major points of the resolution. She stated that President Trump's Executive Order calling for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and building the Alaska liquified natural gas (AKLNG) pipeline has many people excited about seeing increased production of Alaska's petroleum resources. However, the U.S. Congress has gone back on the promise it made when Alaska became a state. Alaska should receive 90 percent of the royalty revenues from production on federal land. Senator Bjorkman introduced SJR 19, asking congress to uphold the 90/10 promise it made in the Statehood Act. If the state of Alaska receives its promised 90 percent share, there will be more revenue to meet the needs of Alaskans including public safety, roads, schools, and the permanent fund dividend (PFD). 1:43:47 PM CO-CHAIR BURKE spoke regarding mitigation funding for both the state and impacted communities. In current law, Congress has required that 50 percent of all federal lease revenues, including bonuses, rentals, and royalties, must go to the state of Alaska, and that those funds must go to support the most directly impacted communities. She stated that for communities such as Atqasuk, Nuiqsut, Wainwright, and Utqiagvik the funds are not optional but rather are essential. They support the infrastructure and public services needed to live safely and sustainably in a region heavily impacted by industrial activity. Without that support, the communities are left to bear the impacts of oil and gas development on their communities without the resources to respond. In the 1980's when the state diverted these funds elsewhere, the North Slope communities took that matter to court and won. The ruling reaffirmed the state must fund the impacted communities first before allocating money to the permanent fund, school trust, or general fund. She stated that she supported the resolution and would like to see that additional 40 percent for all Alaskans but emphasized the importance of honoring the places where the impacts of the oil industry are most felt. It is not only legal compliance but is also fair and honors the state's commitment to the people in the North Slope region which has and continues to generate so much wealth for the state and its people. CO-CHAIR BURKE announced SJR 19 would be held over.