SB 9 - CAP PROJ MATCHING GRANT FOR INDIAN RESERV Number 070 CHAIRMAN IVAN indicated that the committee would consider SB 9, "An Act relating to municipal capital project matching grants for a municipality organized under federal law as an Indian reserve; and providing for an effective date." Number 084 SENATOR JERRY MACKIE, sponsor of SB 9, came forward to explain the legislation. He stated that SB 9 is a follow-up piece of legislation from last year which passed the House unanimously. It went through the committee process in the Senate, but it was one of many bills that got lost last minute when they debated the budget and ended up in special session. The legislation had no opposition last year and doesn't this year. SENATOR MACKIE continued that this was a straight forward and simple bill. When the Hickel Administration instituted the Capitol Matching Grant Program, it was set up with a definition that participants had to be municipalities. A municipality would receive a municipal cap under the matching grant. If a community is unincorporated, they would receive an unincorporated one. Number 118 SENATOR MACKIE said that there was every intention for Metlakatla to be included in this program and they did receive grants until last year. Senator Halford chaired the Finance Committee last year and he thought, through a legal analysis, the definition of "municipality" did not include Metlakatla since that community is not defined as a municipality, but as the Metlakatla Indian Reservation, organized under federal law. This bill adds into statute that Metlakatla would qualify for a municipal capital matching grant. This legislation doesn't allow them to receive an unincorporated grant which, because of their status, they actually, for a few years, qualified for both a municipal grant and an unincorporated grant. SENATOR MACKIE stated that one of the questions which came up last year in the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee related to the insertion of "community organized as an Indian reserve." It was asked what this meant in regards to Indian country. He said, "This legislation does not because this only allows for a specifically -- on page 1 of the bill, `an entity organized under federal law as an Indian reserve that existed before enactment of 43 U.S.C. 1618(a) and is continued in existence under that subsection is a municipality for purposes....'" Senator Mackie said there is only one that qualifies under this and that is Metlakatla and it doesn't open up Pandora's box. Number 207 REPRESENTATIVE RYAN asked what type of monies this would entail and are they portioned among the several communities on any type of equality basis. He also asked how the grants are actually procured. SENATOR MACKIE responded that this legislation allows Metlakatla to be treated the same as every other municipality, in the state, of the same size. It's the Governor's Capital Matching Grant Program where up to $25,000 is awarded to these communities. The legislation would allow Metlakatla to participate in this program without any preference given. Number 239 CHAIRMAN IVAN noted that the committee heard the bill last year. He said he thought it was a good bill and he wanted to see it move forward. REPRESENTATIVE RYAN moved and asked unanimous consent to move SB 9 out of committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying zero fiscal note. Hearing no objection, SB 9 was moved out the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.