HCR 9-STATE ENERGY PRODUCTION WORKING GROUP  4:05:49 PM CO-CHAIR FOSTER announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9, Establishing in the Alaska State Legislature the Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production. 4:06:00 PM DIRK CRAFT, Staff, Representative Lance Pruitt and the House Special Committee on Energy, introduced HCR 9 on behalf of the House Special Committee on Energy, saying that the resolution establishes in the Alaska State Legislature the Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production. This legislation is in response to legislation proposed by other states that produce energy and energy resources. Alaska, along with other states, continues to experience the negative consequences from delay or cancellation of economically viable energy-related projects because federal law and federal law enforcement too often overreach the federal government's constitutional authority to make and enforce laws. This working group will develop a proposal for an inter-legislature agreement that will facilitate collaboration between the Alaska State Legislature and other state legislatures in efforts to influence federal energy- related law and policy and to discourage delay or cancellation of economically viable energy-related projects in the state and in other states. The intent of this working group is to create a more unified voice from the states most affected by the consequences of energy-related federal law. He called attention to page 2, line 10, and noted the resolution directs that the working group shall consist of four members, two of which are appointed by the President of the Senate and two appointed by the Speaker of the House. On page 2, line 14, the resolution directs the working group will meet during and between regular sessions of the Alaska State Legislature and members may travel to meetings, subject to approval by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. On page 2, line 20, the resolution directs that the working group will terminate on 1/18/13. On page 2, line 22, the resolution directs that the working group shall issue its report on or before 1/17/12, and allows for additional reports that the group considers advisable. 4:07:52 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER clarified that the intent of the resolution was not to establish interstate energy production with another state. MR. CRAFT concurred. The resolution is unusual, but it is similar to resolutions in Utah and Wyoming, although Alaska is acting through a concurrent resolution rather than statute. 4:08:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether Alaska would be working with Utah and Wyoming. MR. CRAFT indicated correct, and also Texas. CO-CHAIR FOSTER determined that there was no public testimony. 4:09:27 PM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 27- LS0600\B.2, Wayne, 3/21/11, which read: Page 2, line 11: Delete "four" Insert "six" Delete "two" Insert "three" Page 2, line 12: Delete "two" Insert "three" Page 2, following line 13: Insert a new resolution section to read: "FURTHER RESOLVED that at least one of the three senators appointed to the Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production shall be a member of the largest minority caucus in the Senate, and at least one of the three representatives appointed to the Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production shall be a member of the largest minority caucus in the House of Representatives; and be it" CO-CHAIR PRUITT objected for discussion purposes. 4:09:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK said he was very proud of the past work done by the House Special Committee on Energy, and especially of the work done on the state's energy policy by the committee and a group of stakeholders that included a variety of interested parties; this group was able to develop a "unified voice." He explained that the amendment would increase the members of the proposed working group from four to six, consisting of three senators and three representatives. The amendment further directs that at least one member shall be a member of the largest minority caucus in the Senate and one member shall be a member of the largest minority caucus in the House. The purpose of this increase is to allow minority members to be included in the working group and "we continue having that unified voice from both bodies." 4:11:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER observed the proposed working group will bring back to the committee proposals from work outside of the state's boundaries. He opined for compactness, efficiency, and cost, the working group should be kept to the size proposed. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK pointed out there would be no additional cost as there is no fiscal note attached to the resolution. 4:12:22 PM CO-CHAIR PRUITT there is a fiscal note related to travel estimated at $5,000 per individual. He stated that the other states have four members each. 4:13:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK withdrew Amendment 1. 4:14:02 PM CO-CHAIR PRUITT moved to report HCR 9, Version 27-LS0600\B, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no further objection, HCR 9 was reported from the House Special Committee on Energy. 4:15:19 PM