HB 429-TOBACCO TAXATION; LICENSING                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MURKOWSKI turned to the  final order of business HOUSE BILL                                                               
NO. 429,  "An Act relating  to certain  licenses for the  sale of                                                               
tobacco  products;  relating  to  tobacco  taxes  and  sales  and                                                               
cigarette  tax  stamps;  relating to  provisions  making  certain                                                               
cigarettes  contraband and  subject  to  seizure and  forfeiture;                                                               
relating to  certain crimes,  penalties, and  interest concerning                                                               
tobacco  taxes and  sales; relating  to notification  regarding a                                                               
cigarette manufacturer's  noncompliance with the  tobacco product                                                               
Master Settlement  Agreement or related statutory  provisions and                                                               
to confiscation of the affected  cigarettes; and providing for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MURKOWSKI  informed the committee that  members should have                                                               
received an  amendment.  She  acknowledged that Mr.  Elerding had                                                               
flown to  Juneau to address  the amendment.   She noted  that the                                                               
committee  packet does  include his  previous written  testimony.                                                               
She offered to let Mr.  Elerding testify, although the bill would                                                               
not be taken up today.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MIKE ELERDING, Northern Sales Company,  said that he would submit                                                               
his written  comments.  He announced  that he is in  favor of the                                                               
proposed amendment.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MURKOWSKI  announced that HB  429 would be heard  on Monday                                                               
[April 15th].