HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9 Establishing in the Alaska State Legislature the Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production. 2:00:32 PM REPRESENTATIVE LANCE PRUITT, SPONSOR, explained that the resolution would establish a working group within the legislature to discuss inter-state energy production. DIRK CRAFT, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE LANCE PRUITT, explained that the resolution was crafted in response to legislation proposed by other states that produce energy or energy resources. Alaska along with other states continued to experience negative consequences from the delay or cancellation of economically viable energy related projects because federal law too often overreached the federal government's constitutional authority to make and enforce laws. The working group would develop a proposal for an inter-legislature agreement that would facilitate collaboration between the Alaska State Legislature and other state legislatures in an effort to influence federal energy-related law and policy, and to discourage delay or cancellation of economically viable energy related projects in the state. He referred to the language on page 2:  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production shall consist of four members, with two senators appointed by the President of the Senate and two representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and be it    FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production may meet during and between regular sessions of the Alaska State Legislature, and, subject to approval by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, a member of the Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production may travel in the state or to other states as necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production; and be it    FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production shall terminate January 18, 2013; and be it    FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production shall submit a report of its findings and proposed legislative changes to the Alaska State Legislature on or before January 17, 2012, and may make additional reports that the Alaska Working Group on Interstate Energy Production considers advisable. Vice-chair Fairclough asked if the working group would be working with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) or other organizations in order to draw on expertise. Mr. Craft replied that collaboration could be possible once the group was established. The purpose of HCR 9 was to establish the working group among energy producing states. 2:04:18 PM Vice-chair Fairclough encouraged the group to assess work that had already been done around the country in regard to the issue. She voiced support for the resolution. Representative Costello spoke in support of the resolution. She asked what specific results were expected from the introduction of the legislation. Mr. Craft replied that the main goal was to link up with other states to discuss similar energy problems in order to create a more unified voice when presenting the energy issues before Congress. Representative Costello asked what other states had passed, or were in the process of passing, similar legislation. Mr. Craft said that Utah and Wyoming had passed legislation. He understood that Texas had legislation in production. Representative Wilson perceived that there would be no fiscal impact to the operating budget because the funds were expected to come from another revenue source. Mr. Craft responded that the Legislative Affairs Agency would be absorbing the travel cost. Co-Chair Stoltze interjected that the differing interpretations of the fiscal note would be discussed later in the meeting. Representative Guttenberg assumed that although Wyoming and Utah had passed similar resolutions there was no established organizational structure; the hope was to simply get as many states involved as possible. Mr. Craft specified that the intent was to lay the groundwork for what would become and organization. Representative Guttenberg asked whether a vote from an interstate working group could bind the state to a losing proposition that only benefitted other states. Mr. Craft replied that the issue had been discussed with the Legislative Legal Division. No binding language had been written into the resolution. 2:08:33 PM Representative Guttenberg queried the number of other states with similar pending legislation. Mr. Craft reiterated that Texas had similar pending legislation. Representative Edgmon recalled and energy symposium in Wyoming which had included all 13 of the Western states; it had not taken long for the producer states (Alaska, Montana, North Dakota) to cluster together, and the consumer states (California, Oregon, Washington etc.) to create another group. The producing states felt as if they were being surpassed, particularly by California in terms of resource development and extraction. He believed the resolution was accurately worded but thought that most of the interaction would occur between the Western states. Co-Chair Stoltze OPENED public testimony. Co-Chair Stoltze CLOSED public testimony. Co-Chair Stoltze believed that the fiscal note should be zeroed out. Co-Chair Thomas MOVED to zero out the fiscal note for FY12 and FY13. There being no OBJECTION it was so ordered. 2:12:17 PM Representative Gara ascertained that the states could unite to influence energy-related federal law and policy. Vice-chair Fairclough MOVED to REPORT HCR 9 out of committee with individual recommendations and the amended accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HCR 9 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a new zero impact note by the House Finance Committee for the Legislature. 2:14:25 PM AT EASE 2:15:33 PM RECONVENED