HB 490 - SCHOOL CONST: ALASKA BIDDER PREFERENCE                              
                                                                               
  Number 189                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR TOOHEY brought HB 490 to the table.                                    
                                                                               
  Number 192                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. OLBERG asked if the chair would entertain a motion.                     
                                                                               
  Number 193                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. AL VEZEY, Prime Sponsor of HB 490, gave a sponsor                       
  statement and said HB 490 was a simple bill.  He noted a                     
  regulation in Title 4 of the Alaska Administrative Code that                 
  bars school districts from giving a local bidder preference.                 
  He stated this is not in keeping with good public policy and                 
  explained that HB 490 does not mandate a local bidder                        
  preference, it merely prohibits the prohibitions on a local                  
  bidder preference.  Rep. Vezey made a motion to move HB 490                  
  from committee with the attached fiscal note.                                
                                                                               
  Number 209                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR TOOHEY asked the sponsor if there would be a problem                   
  with this being brought to court.                                            
                                                                               
  Number 215                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. VEZEY said no, he did not think this would be a                         
  problem, but he did mention that the cost of filing a                        
  lawsuit is only $75.00.                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 216                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. BRICE mentioned there are other Alaskan provider                        
  preference statutes that are in use, and this would just be                  
  added to those preferences.                                                  
                                                                               
  Number 224                                                                   
                                                                               
  BOB WARD, Associated General Contractors of Alaska (AGC),                    
  testified in support of HB 490.  He said the bill does not                   
  break new ground as the concept of bidder's preference has                   
  been in existing law for years.  He said it allows for                       
  municipalities in rural (indiscernible).  Mr. Ward further                   
  stated this bill helps Alaska contractors support the state                  
  financially and it also helps the local people who work for                  
  the local contractors.                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 241                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. KOTT asked what AGC policy is on hiring Alaskans.                       
                                                                               
  Number 247                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. WARD replied that his understanding was that Alaskan                     
  contractors were Alaskans.                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 250                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR TOOHEY asked for the pleasure of the committee.                        
                                                                               
  Number 255                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. KOTT made a motion to move HB 490.                                      
                                                                               
  Number 256                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR TOOHEY, hearing no objection, passed HB 490 out of the                 
  committee with attached fiscal note.                                         
                                                                               
  Seeing no further business before the committee, CHAIR                       
  TOOHEY adjourned the meeting at 4:42 p.m.