HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 42 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska creating a transportation infrastructure fund. HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 42 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska creating a transportation infrastructure fund. Representative Kelly MOVED to ADOPT conceptual Amendment 1: Page 2, beginning of line 4: Insert "state fuel taxes and registration fees received by the fund in that year and a percentage of the" Renumber accordingly. Representative Fairclough OBJECTED. There was discussion about the version being considered; it was determined that the version was \P. Representative Fairclough WITHDREW her OBJECTION. Co-Chair Stoltze MAINTAINED his OBJECTION. BECKY ROONEY, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, SPONSOR, explained that conceptual Amendment 1 would allow for a percentage of the fuel tax and vehicle registration fees to be appropriated each year. She reminded the committee that a graph had been shown in testimony related to HB 329 that would define the amount as 50 percent; the legislature would have the latitude to change the percentage. Co-Chair Stoltze stated that he opposed the amendment. He thought there was an adequate vehicle in the proposed measure for establishing a dedicated fund. He did not think it fit as well into a constitutional amendment package and could detract from the discussion. Co-Chair Hawker stated that he was opposed to the amendment. He thought the legislation was simple, elegant, and appropriate without the additional amendment. Representative Gara stated that he did not support the amendment. He thought there were two problems: First, whether there would be enough money in the fund, and second, he did not want it all spent in years when there was more than enough. He was concerned that by adding the other two sources of revenue, there would be more money than the legislature would otherwise appropriate for transportation projects. 7:08:04 PM AT EASE 7:08:24 PM RECONVNENED Representative Kelly WITHDREW conceptual Amendment 1. Co-Chair Hawker MOVED to report CS HJR 42 (JUD) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. Representative Gara OBJECTED. Representative Gara stated that he objected to the legislation because of the unevenness of needs for transportation. He did not want a dedicated fund for transportation in years when there was more money. He wanted the extra interest earnings to revert back to the general fund in some years. He maintained that whenever the legislature was given more money to spend than needed, the money was spent. Representative Fairclough pointed out that there were many transportation needs in the state and the fund had no money in it. She maintained that the state needed a dedicated fund established in the state constitution. She emphasized that without a road system and transportation, people were stranded without access to food or other emergency needs. The fund would help in all areas of the state. She believed in the process. She was concerned about the large and aging transportation infrastructure in Alaska and wanted the state to begin taking responsibility for it. Representative Doogan supported movement forward on transportation issues and commended the work done. He stated concerns about the concept of a dedicated fund. He wondered what would be next after the dedicated fund for transportation; everyone would like their project enshrined in the constitution. He referred to California, where all the money was tied up and the voters have to decide to allow any extra funding. 7:14:27 PM Co-Chair Stoltze agreed with some of the policy discussion. He referred to historical discussion about the issue and thought the topic was relevant. Representative Gara WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Representative Wilson commented that the numbers being discussed were only relevant if $1 billion dollars was put into the fund. The amendment would have made it flexible. CS HJR 42(JUD) was REPORTED out of committee with no recommendation and with previously published fiscal note: FN1 (GOV). HB 329 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further consideration. HB 356 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further consideration.