HB 149-NATIVE CORP. ART. AMENDMENTS  10:07:28 AM CHAIR TILTON announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 149, "An Act relating to an amendment of the articles of incorporation of certain Native corporations to establish a lower quorum requirement for shareholder meetings." 10:07:59 AM REPRESENTATIVE LANCE PRUITT, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as the sponsor of HB 149, clarified that the requirement being made is that when corporations change their articles of incorporation related to changing the quorum, the majority of the quorum, which would be 50 percent plus one of the shareholders, would have to vote in the affirmative. The aforementioned is different than the requirements for those corporations formed after 1989, which have an affirmative vote of 50 percent plus one of the shareholders. In the case of Doyon, Limited, he recalled its quorum numbers were 56 percent, and thus almost all of the quorum would need to vote in the affirmative. He then turned to the suggestion from the prior hearing that other corporations established prior to 1989, outside of Alaska Native corporations, should also be included in HB 149. He opined that it's appropriate to continue to focus on the Alaska Native corporations [established prior to 1989]. 10:11:21 AM REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES thanked the sponsor for his efforts, and noted her agreement that Alaska is in a unique situation. She then inquired as to the age at which youth are eligible to become a shareholder. REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT answered that the corporations that have specified an age [at which youth can become a shareholder] have specified age 18. 10:11:59 AM REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES surmised then that [Alaska Native corporations established prior to 1989] are really in a different category in terms of the influx of youth [becoming shareholders], particularly in contrast to corporations formed prior to 1989. She said she understood the need for HB 149 and supported moving it forward. 10:13:15 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON expressed the desire for the spreadsheet to be equalized as the legislation moves forward. 10:14:01 AM CHAIR TILTON, noting that public testimony had been closed at the prior hearing, re-opened public testimony. Upon determining, no one wished to testify, closed public testimony. 10:16:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON remarked that HB 149 embodies a good change. 10:16:17 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report HB 149 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 149 was reported from the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.