HB 180 Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.                                   
                                                                               
  Number 357                                                                   
                                                                               
  DAVID HARDING, STAFF, REP. EILEEN MACLEAN, PRIME SPONSOR OF                  
  HB 180, read a sponsor statement on Rep. MacLean's behalf.                   
  Mr. Harding stated that HB 180 responds to an unintended                     
  consequence of last year's merger of Department of Community                 
  and Regional Affairs housing loans into Alaska Housing                       
  Finance Corporation (AHFC).  He noted that AHFC's building                   
  inspection requirements were designed for residential                        
  construction within municipalities or along the road system.                 
  Their application to remote settings was not anticipated and                 
  could result in thousands of additional dollars added to the                 
  cost of a new home.  This works against the development of                   
  new housing in remote areas where it is most needed.                         
                                                                               
  MR. HARDING added that HB 180 does not eliminate the                         
  requirement for multiple building inspections during                         
  construction.  Instead, it allows AHFC to use some                           
  flexibility in applying the existing criteria in remote                      
  settings.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Number 405                                                                   
                                                                               
  FIRLE REDBURN, NATIONAL BANK OF ALASKA, testified from Nome                  
  in support of HB 180, except for the sunset clause.                          
                                                                               
  Number 418                                                                   
                                                                               
  ROBIN HARRISON, NATIONAL BANK OF ALASKA, testified from                      
  Barrow in support of HB 180, except for the sunset clause.                   
  Ms. Harrison stated she believes that the sunset clause                      
  serves no purpose at this time, and if a future legislature                  
  wanted to revisit the law, they could do so through another                  
  bill.                                                                        
                                                                               
  Number 441                                                                   
                                                                               
  MYRON MCCUMBER testified from Barrow in support of HB 180                    
  and echoed the above testimony.                                              
                                                                               
  Number 445                                                                   
                                                                               
  JIM MCCORMACK, ALASKA BANKING ASSOCIATION, testified from                    
  Anchorage in support of HB 180, except for the sunset                        
  clause.                                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 450                                                                   
                                                                               
  ROBIN WARD, BUILDING ASSOCIATION OF ANCHORAGE, testified                     
  from Anchorage in support of HB 180 without the sunset                       
  clause.                                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 455                                                                   
                                                                               
  JOHN URE testified from Anchorage in support of HB 180                       
  without the sunset clause.                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 536                                                                   
                                                                               
  TONY DOYLE, ALASKA STATE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION,                          
  testified from Anchorage in support of HB 180 and stated                     
  that he suggested the sunset clause.                                         
                                                                               
  Number 540                                                                   
                                                                               
  JIM STEVENS testified from Barrow in support of HB 180.                      
                                                                               
  Number 572                                                                   
                                                                               
  STEVE WISDOM, KENAI PENINSULA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION,                          
  testified from Homer in support of HB 180.                                   
                                                                               
  REP. SITTON moved for passage of HB 180 with individual                      
  recommendations and fiscal note.  No objections were heard;                  
  it was so ordered.