HB 209-WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE 8:03:31 AM CHAIR TILTON announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 209, "An Act relating to an Alaska Water and Sewer Advisory Committee; and providing for an effective date." 8:04:50 AM HEATH HILYARD, Staff, Representative Cathy Tilton, Alaska State Legislature, reviewed the committee substitute (CS), Version E, changes which are: page 1, line 12 the verbiage "systems are provided for all state residents," is amended to read "systems are provided for all communities of the state; and page 3, lines 2 and 4 have had the date requirements adjusted from 2016 and 2017 to read 2017 and 2018, respectively. Further, he said the packet contains three proposed amendments for the committee to consider for determining the appointment process, the composition of the advisory committee, defining the Bush caucus. He pointed out that the third amendment is comprised of the first two amendments, thus affording flexibility in the adoption process. 8:06:30 AM MR. HILYARD explained the amendments: proposed Amendment 1 replaces the language of the bill, page 2 lines 7-10, thus removing the requirement that the legislative seats be filled by a majority vote of the membership and are instead named by the House Speaker and the Senate President, accordingly. Proposed Amendment 2 replaces language of the bill, page 3, lines 30-31, which defines the Bush caucus as a group of legislators that represent rural areas of the state, and replaces that definition with specifically named locales from which the caucus will be drawn. Proposed Amendment 3 provides for both of these actions to be adopted via one committee motion, he finished. 8:07:38 AM REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES questioned how many representatives or senators might be involved when considering the areas named in proposed Amendment 2. She stressed that it would be important to have more than one or two legislative members from which to appoint and maintained her interest in knowing how many Bush districts are included. 8:08:02 AM PAUL LABOLLE, Staff, Representative Neal Foster, Alaska State Legislature, responded that elected officials for consideration will represent Districts 6, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40. 8:08:43 AM REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ asked for clarification on the status of water/sewer projects in the named areas. MR. LABOLLE responded that the named locales have projects on the list, but represent unserved communities. 8:09:18 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON added that there are villages in his district, which have listed projects, but are not named in the caucus pool. He surmised that the named areas comprise communities that are currently unserved. MR. LEBOLLE concurred. 8:10:42 AM The committee took an at-ease from 8:10 a.m. to 8:11 a.m. [CHAIR TILTON passed the gavel to Vice Chair Seaton.] 8:11:04 AM CHAIR TILTON moved to adopt Amendment 3, labeled 29-LS0306\E.3, Nauman, 3/18/16, which read: Page 2, lines 7 - 8: Delete "affirmative vote of a majority of the full membership" Insert "the president" Page 2, lines 9 - 10: Delete "affirmative vote of a majority of the full membership" Insert "the speaker" Page 3, lines 30 - 31: Delete "rural areas of the state" Insert "the following communities: Akiachak, Alatna, Allakaket, Arctic Village, Atmautluak, Birch Creek, Chalkyitsik, Chefornak, Circle, Crooked Creek, Diomede, Eagle, Eek, Kipnuk, Kivalina, Kongiganak, Koyukuk, Kwigillingok, Lime Village, Newtok, Oscarville, Shageluk, Shishmaref, Stebbins, Stevens Village, Stony River, Takotna, Teller, Tuluksak, Tuntutuliak, Tununak, Venetie, and Wales" REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD objected for discussion. CHAIR TILTON explained that this amendment combines the actions of both Amendments 1 and 2, as discussed. 8:11:58 AM REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD removed her objection, and without further objection, Amendment 3 was adopted. [VICE CHAIR SEATON returned the gavel to Chair Tilton.] 8:13:01 AM REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES reminded members that the bill carries a zero fiscal note which, she opined, is good in the current fiscal situation. 8:13:55 AM KATHIE WASSERMAN, Executive Director, Alaska Municipal League, voiced support of HB 209, and stressed the importance of taking care of the people in the state. She said many of the residents have been living without water for many years and provided an anecdote regarding a visiting congressman who, upon taking a tour of several villages, commented on the poverty level of the state. She pointed out that this occurred at a time when there was a plethora of money in the state coffers. She stressed the need to start a discussion on the best way to help the people of Alaska. 8:15:51 AM CHAIR TILTON closed public testimony on HB 209. 8:16:05 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report the proposed CS for HB 209, Version 29-LS0306\E, Nauman, 3/17/16, as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 209(CRA), was reported from the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee. 8:16:42 AM The committee took an at-ease from 8:16 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. 8:20:11 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to rescind the action moving CSHB 209(CRA) out of committee. Without objection the action was so rescinded. 8:20:25 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt CS HB 209, 29-LS0306\E, Nauman, 3/17/16, as the working document. Without objection Version E was before the committee. 8:20:36 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report the proposed CS for HB 209, Version 29-LS0306\E, Nauman, 3/17/16, as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 209(CRA), was reported from the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.