HB 69-RECLASSIFICATION OF FIRST CLASS CITIES  8:18:41 AM CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 69, "An Act relating to the reclassification of first class cities as second class cities; and providing for an effective date." 8:19:00 AM VICE CHAIR MCCABE moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 69, Version 33-LS0407\B, Dunmire, 4/4/23, as a working document. 8:19:15 AM CHAIR MCCORMICK objected for the purpose of discussion and explanation of changes. 8:19:45 AM DAVE STANCLIFF, Staff, Representative Mike Cronk, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Cronk, prime sponsor of HB 69, explained that the Local Boundary Commission had a recent meeting to discuss matters as HB 69 moves forward, and two issues came to mind. They wanted time to develop a better system of treating communities that fall below the 400 threshold, and there was an agreement for a two-year sunset to allow the commission to internally deal with this at its level so the legislature can "stay out of their business." The Local Boundary Commission also explained that it takes time to give public notice and pull a meeting together and get a 10-day interval to notify communities; the commission asked for 60 days, but 30 days was agreed upon. 8:21:01 AM CHAIR MCCORMICK removed his objection to the motion to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 69, Version 33- LS0407\B, Dunmire, 4/4/23, as a working document. There being no further objection, Version B was before the committee. He gave the bill sponsor the opportunity to add any closing comments. 8:21:31 AM REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CRONK, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor of HB 69, commented that the bill had been written for the City of Tanana, but mainly for the students in the Tanana City School District. He noted it has been an improvement for the community now that the Tanana City School District is under contract with the Yukon-Koyukuk School District. 8:22:10 AM CHAIR MCCORMICK opened public testimony on HB 69. 8:22:41 AM NILS ANDREASSEN, Executive Director, Alaska Municipal League, gave testimony in support of HB 69, and explained that the bill would offer an expedited process for local governments to reclassify from first to second class, resulting in improved and strengthened local control. 8:23:13 AM CHAIR MCCORMICK, after ascertaining that no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 69. He entertained a motion to move the bill out of committee. 8:23:34 AM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE moved to report CSHB 69, Version 33- LS0407\B, Dunmire, 4/4/23 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 69(CRA) was reported from the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.