HB 66 - 1999 REVISOR'S BILL CHAIRMAN KOTT announced the next order of business is HB 66, "An Act making corrective amendments to the Alaska Statutes as recommended by the revisor of statutes; and providing for an effective date." CHAIRMAN KOTT called on James Crawford, assistant revisor of statutes, to present the bill. Number 0627 JAMES CRAWFORD, Assistant Revisor, Legislative Legal Counsel, Legislative Legal and Research Services, Legislative Affairs Agency, noted the revisor's bill is written under the authority of AS 01.05.036. He explained HB 66 is cut and dry and he intends to only speak to a couple of the more interesting sections. Firstly, he announced he has an amendment (Amendment 1) to offer. It addresses a problem relating to executive and legislative ethics and campaign finance laws. It changes AS 15.13.116(a) from (a)(5) to (a)(4) because of the removal of (a)(2) correcting a cross-reference. The amendment also corrects a typographical error to page 14, line 18. The amendment also removes a repealer that has the effect of adding a tract of land to the Yakataga State Game Refuge. The tract in question is referred to as Cape Suckling. The tract was a subject of litigation involving the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources and the University of Alaska regarding timber rights in Cape Suckling and the fair market value. The settlement agreement transferred the university's timber rights from Cape Suckling to other land. Therefore, there couldn't be an agreement on the fair market value and the sections in questions couldn't have the effect of adding land to the game refuge. However, in agreement with updated information from the attorney involved, it is not an irrevocable transfer. There is a 20 year window during which certain escape clauses can operate to revest the timber interest. In other words, the sections are not dead, but merely dormant. The revisor feels, therefore, that it is inappropriate to repeal those sections and recommends removing the repealer. MR. CRAWFORD started to explain the bill. He noted Section 6 amends a definition section that relates to the Uniform Probate Code (UPC) in Title 13. It was subject to a series of amendments in chapters 75, SLA 1996 in order to bring Title 13 in-line with the national UPC. At that time, the UPC definition of "person" was not added to Title 13. It was left out because the general definition of "person" in Title 1 was thought to be identical to the UPC definition when in fact the UPC definition specifically mentions "government or governmental subdivision or agency" not found in Title 1. Number 0924 REPRESENTATIVE CROFT asked Mr. Crawford to explain Sections 2 and 3 of the bill. MR. CRAWFORD replied Sections 2 and 3 amend AS 09.44.040 and 09.55.069, respectively, to reflect the appeal of the relief fund that those sections reference. The fund was repealed about 30 years ago. MR. CRAWFORD continued explaining the bill. Section 12 amends AS 24.60.050(d) which relates to deadlines for filing certain disclosures for legislators and legislative employees. Subsection (c) was amended last year and subsection (d) was not due to an oversight. Subsection (c) and (d) have always had the same date reference. Number 1069 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN made a motion to adopt Amendment 1 (1-LS0339\A.1, Crawford, 2/23/99). There being no objection, it was so adopted. Number 1088 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN made a motion to move HB 66, as amended, from the committee with individual recommendations and the attached zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 66(JUD) was so moved from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.