HB 279-LOCAL BOUNDARY COMMISSION                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:04:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCCORMICK announced  that the only order  of business would                                                               
be HOUSE  BILL NO. 279,  "An Act  relating to the  Local Boundary                                                               
Commission; and providing for an effective date."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:04:36 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MEARS  moved to  adopt  Amendment  2 to  HB  279,                                                               
labeled 33-LS1177\A.2, Dunmire, 2/1/24, which read:                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, lines 1 - 20:                                                                                                      
          Delete all material.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Renumber the following bill section accordingly.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  MCCORMICK   announced  that  there  being   no  objection,                                                               
Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:04:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT  moved to adopt  Amendment 3 to  HB 279,                                                               
labeled 33-LS1177\A.3, Dunmire, 2/2/24, which read:                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, lines 12 - 14:                                                                                                     
          Delete "The governor shall designate one member                                                                   
       as [STATE AT LARGE. THE MEMBER APPOINTED FROM THE                                                                    
     STATE AT LARGE IS] the chair of the commission."                                                                           
          Insert "The commission shall select a chair from                                                                  
         among its members [STATE AT LARGE. THE MEMBER                                                                      
     APPOINTED FROM THE STATE AT LARGE IS THE CHAIR OF THE                                                                      
     COMMISSION]."                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:05:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT  explained that Amendment 3  would align                                                               
the  commission   with  similar  regulation-setting   boards  and                                                               
commissions that select  their own chair based  on experience and                                                               
longevity.  She opined that  empowering boards and commissions to                                                               
promote their own self-governance was a good move.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE asked the bill sponsor to weigh in.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:06:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVE STANCLIFF,  Staff, Representative  Mike Cronk,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, on behalf of Representative  Cronk, prime sponsor of                                                               
HB  279,  relayed  that  the sponsor  was  comfortable  with  the                                                               
proposed amendment,  as it would  eliminate people  from thinking                                                               
of the chair as an extension of the executive branch.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE  removed his objection.   There being no                                                               
further objection, Amendment 3 was adopted.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:07:37 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:08:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCCORMICK  noted that Amendment  1 would not be  offered at                                                               
this time.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:08:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE moved to report  HB 279, as amended, out of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal  notes.   There  being no  objection,  CSHB 279(CRA),  was                                                               
reported from  the House Community and  Regional Affairs Standing                                                               
Committee.