HB 34 - FEDERAL LAWS, REGULATIONS & EXEC. ORDERS  2:29:09 PM CHAIR KELLER announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 34, "An Act making state compliance with a federal law, regulation, or presidential executive order contingent on receipt of certain information from the federal government." 2:29:52 PM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 34, Version 28-LS0195\C, Nauman, 1/30/13, as the working document. There being no objection, Version C was before the committee. 2:30:20 PM REPRESENTATIVE TAMMIE WILSON, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor, explained that the original version of HB 34 would preclude the state from complying with a federal law, federal regulation, or presidential executive order until the federal government provides a written description telling the state how to comply with, and the economic effect on each community of complying with, the federal law, federal regulation, or presidential executive order. Version C of HB 34, in contrast, precludes the state from complying with a federal law, federal regulation, or presidential executive order until the state requests from the federal government a written description of the economic effect - on the state and on each community [and on industry] - of complying with the federal law, federal regulation, or presidential executive order; and precludes the state from accepting any associated federal funding until either the federal government or the state provides that written description. She indicated that the drafter recommended this change in approach, and mentioned that members' packets contain examples, as well as an indeterminate fiscal note submitted by the Office of Management & Budget (OMB). In conclusion, she said, "I believe every time we take any money from the federal government, we should know what strings are attached and ... how it's going to affect the communities that we all live in." CHAIR KELLER noted that language on page 2, lines [4-7], of Version C stipulates that the state may not accept the associated federal funding until the aforementioned written description is transmitted to the legislature. REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON relayed that under Version C, the state would request the written description from the federal government, but if the federal government does not provide it within 90 days, then the state would provide it and transmit it to the legislature. She mentioned that under the bill, the legislature would not be determining whether to accept the associated federal funding; instead, the legislature would simply be informed before the administration accepts such funding. The committee took an at-ease from 2:37 p.m. to 2:39 p.m. REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON, in response to a question, indicated that a new fiscal note from the OMB reflecting the changes incorporated in Version C would be forthcoming. 2:40:49 PM MIKE COONS, mentioning that he'd provided written testimony regarding the original version of HB 34, said he supports the intent of the bill though he believes that the bill itself does not yet go far enough. He suggested that Version C of HB 34 be changed: such that rather than merely requesting from the federal government a written description of the economic effect of the federal law, federal regulation, or presidential executive order, that the state instead demand that written description from the federal government; such that that written description include information about the constitutionality of the federal law, federal regulation, or presidential executive order; and such that it require the federal law, federal regulation, or presidential executive order to be fully funded by the federal government. In conclusion, Mr. Coons urged passage of HB 34. REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON offered her understanding that such changes would violate the constitution. Due to teleconference-equipment malfunctions, the committee took an at-ease from 2:45 p.m. to 2:55 p.m. REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON, in closing, relayed that HB 34 would ensure that [the legislature] is kept apprised of the potential economic effects of federal laws, federal regulations, and presidential executive orders, and reiterated that a new fiscal note from the OMB would be forthcoming. CHAIR KELLER relayed that HB 34 [Version C] would be held over.