HOUSE BILL NO. 48 An Act amending the powers of the board of trustees of the Alaska Retirement Management Board to authorize purchase and sale of transferable tax credit certificates issued in conjunction with the production tax on oil and gas; and providing for an effective date. Co-Chair Meyer noted that the Committee had previously considered the legislation and was waiting for correspondence now received from the Alaska Retirement Management Board. (Copy on File). REPRESENTATIVE PAUL SEATON, SPONSOR, summarized the bill's intent given the fiscal condition of refunding tax credits. The Alaska Retirement Management (ARM) Board is supportive of both the percentage and the mechanism proposed to accomplish it. Amendment 1, 25-LS0259\E.1, Bullock, 2/12/07, transfers the tax under the exploration tax credits, not addressed in the original bill. The Administration requested it be included. Representative Gara voiced concern binding the ARM Board and offering only 92% of the credit value because they would get out bid often. His inclination was to allow the Board to bid higher for getting credits. He questioned provision inclusion requiring after the first year, the bidding higher than the 92%. Co-Chair Meyer inquired if Representative Gara hoped to attach that language as a Letter of Intent. Representative Gara thought it could be included as a sectional of un- codified law. 1:47:42 PM Representative Seaton understood that the Legislature could at any time ask the ARM Board to provide a report. He thought it would be identified if not working and that the investment tax credit would work over time. Co-Chair Meyer agreed and asked that the consideration be held. Representative Gara said he would not offer an amendment at this time. 1:49:20 PM Co-Chair Meyer MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1 on behalf of Representative Seaton. (Copy on File). Co-Chair Chenault OBJECTED for an explanation. Representative Seaton explained that the amendment would change the reference to allow the application of the ARM Board for credits issued under Exploration Tax Credits for the Petroleum Production Tax (PPT) credits. Co-Chair Chenault WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, Amendment #1 was adopted. 1:50:44 PM Co-Chair Meyer noted the new fiscal note. Representative Crawford hoped that the bill could provide necessary flexibility, indicating that he supports the concept of the legislation. He worried that it might "entrench" the PPT and the net profits tax. He urged a tax on the gross be adopted. 1:52:51 PM Representative Foster MOVED to REPORT CS HB 48 (FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the new accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CS HB 48 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "no recommendation" and with a new indeterminate note by the Department of Revenue and a new zero note by the Department of Administration. 1:54:07 PM