CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 194(FIN) "An Act creating the Alaska Tourism Marketing Board; and relating to tourism marketing." 12:00:56 AM BILL PEDDLER, ALASKA TOURISM ASSOCIATION, replied in response to a question by Representative Wilson related to a quorum of members from each region of the state. He stated that the representatives from the legislature or agency were not counted with the designated regions of the state. He noted that he had never had a problem achieving a quorum, as the subject was passionate amongst industry members. Representative Wilson stated that she served as a Fairbanks assembly representative and a board member for the tourism association. She appreciated the legislation. 12:02:08 AM Representative Munoz described the similarity to the marketing board established by the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA). She wondered about the benefit of placing the association in statute. 12:02:27 AM ROBERTA GRAHAM, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, stated that the marketing committee of ATIA was affiliated with the Qualified Trade Association in statute. Representative Munoz understood that one of the primary purposes of the organization would be to make recommendations on the future of the marketing funds. Ms. Graham concurred, she noted that the relationship maintained by the state and industry existed for decades. 12:03:38 AM Representative Gara asked if the board was represented regionally. Ms. Graham replied that the bill did have regional representation. She mentioned the five regions of the state represented. Representative Holmes opined that ATIA had done a fantastic job representing different aspects of the tourism sector. She credited Ms. Graham with her work. She supported the legislation. 12:04:56 AM Representative Thompson appreciated the legislation and the travel industry. 12:05:21 AM Co-Chair Austerman noted that the board and the trade association promoted Alaska. He mentioned the improvement between other industries and the tourism industry. He wished to continue funding marketing efforts for Alaska. Co-Chair Stoltze asked what would be done differently as a result of the legislation. 12:06:50 AM Mr. Peddler replied that the industry participated in sucessful joint-marketing adventures. He stressed the benefits of collaboration between the state and the industry. 12:08:10 AM Representative Costello discussed the two fiscal notes, one zero note and one indeterminate. Vice-Chair Neuman MOVED to REPORT HCS CSSB 194(L&C) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HCS CSSB 194(L&C) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with one new zero fiscal note from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development and one previously published indeterminate fiscal note: FN2 (LEG).