The Senate Community & Regional Affairs Committee was called to               
 order by Senator Randy Phillips, Chairman, at 9:03 a.m.  He brought           
  HJR 37  (FED MONEY FOR RURAL WATER/SEWER PROJECTS), sponsored by             
 Representative Hoffman, before the committee as the first order of            
 business.                                                                     
                                                                               
 ROGER MCKOWAN, staff to Representative Lyman Hoffman, related that            
 less than one month ago, a 4 year-old girl drowned in a sewage                
 lagoon in the community of Newhalen, and over the last several                
 years there have been numerous cases of viral meningitis and other            
 diseases caused by leaky underground pits filled with human waste.            
                                                                               
                                                                               
 Representative Hoffman has discovered a potential funding source              
 under H.R. 1033 which establishes a federal grant program for                 
 construction of treatment works in economically depressed rural               
 communities.  The program would provide $300 million per year for             
 six years to fund these grants.  HJR 37 urges enactment of H.R.               
 1033 or similar legislation.                                                  
                                                                               
 MR. MCKOWAN noted the presence of Keith Kelton from the Department            
 of Environmental Conservation to respond to questions from the                
 committee.                                                                    
                                                                               
 There being no questions on HJR 37, Chairman Randy Phillips asked             
 for the pleasure of the committee.                                            
                                                                               
 Number 055                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR ADAMS moved that HJR 37 be passed out of committee with               
 individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so                  
 ordered.