HB 147-TOURISM CONTRACT MATCHING FUNDS 8:03:17 AM CHAIR COGHILL announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 147, "An Act relating to matching funds in state tourism marketing contracts with trade associations." 8:03:32 AM REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS moved to adopt CSHB 147, Version 25- LS0560\K, Bannister, 2/28/08, as the working document. CHAIR COGHILL objected. 8:03:54 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS, speaking as the sponsor of HB 147, explained that Version K increases the total match amount to $9 million with the split remaining 70:30. The industry will still be required to match with 30 percent. This merely means that $9 million is the total appropriation amount up to which the industry can match. Representative Harris opined that it will likely be difficult for the tourism industry to match that level of funding. 8:05:45 AM CHAIR COGHILL removed his objection. There being no further objection, Version K was before the committee. He then noted that there is a new fiscal note. 8:06:33 AM SUZANNE ARMSTRONG, Staff, Representative Kevin Meyer, Alaska State Legislature, explained that the appropriation required by this fiscal note is $4.794 million, which is approximately the difference between the House operating budget and what's necessary to reach the $9 million for the Qualified Trade Association (QTA) project. CHAIR COGHILL noted that the provision sunsets in 2011. MS. ARMSTRONG noted her agreement and added that in 2011 it will return to a 50:50 match. REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS explained that the industry would have to receive the $9 million from the state and the industry would have to raise $2.7 million to receive the full $9 million from the state. The committee took a brief at-ease. 8:08:22 AM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS moved to report CSHB 147, Version 25- LS0560\K, Bannister, 2/28/08, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 147(RLS) was reported from the House Rules Standing Committee.