CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 71(FIN) "An Act requiring the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to file an annual report to the legislature regarding statewide and regional economic development projects and regional development organizations; extending the termination date of the Alaska regional economic assistance program; and providing for an effective date." 3:45:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE SHELLEY HUGHES, explained HB 71. The bill would extend the program for an additional three years. She shared that there were 12 ardors in Alaska with the purpose of providing local input and she stressed that the program was formed 25 years earlier. She communicated that the program had been a lifeline for some of the state's villages. She discussed the annual cost per ARDOR. She noted there were different accomplishments across the state. She stated that an audit had not been conducted during the program's lifetime. She pointed to an ARDORS Annual Report (copy on file). She explained that Anchorage had worked with their ARDOR to reach out on an international level. She shared that the Anchorage ARDOR had recently hosted a supplier conference related to the Kodiak based aerospace program. She stressed that the ARDORS had a positive impact on Alaska's economic development. Vice-Chair Fairclough wondered if the public testimony could be heard, before an amendment was addressed. JASON HOKE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COPPER VALLEY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, GLENNALLEN (via teleconference), testified in support of HB 71. He stated that he had developed a food distribution network thanks to the ARDOR program. He remarked that he had reached out to an ARDOR in Nome to share some agriculture feasibility issues. He remarked that the ARDORs had been instrumental in regional energy plans. 3:51:43 PM BARBARA JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NORTH STAR BOROUGH MAYOR'S OFFICE, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke in support of HB 71. ANDY VARNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOUTHWEST ALASKA MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of HB 71. MELODY NIBECK, BRISTOL BAY NATIVE ASSOCIATION, DILLINGHAM (via teleconference), spoke in support of HB 71. Co-Chair Meyer CLOSED public testimony. 4:00:09 PM AT EASE 4:00:52 PM RECONVENED Senator Olson explained that there was a CS to extend the hair crab and scallop limited entry program for the next five years. Vice-Chair Fairclough MOVED to ADOPT the Senate committee substitute for CS HB 71(FIN), Work Draft 28-LS0288\P (Martin, 4/11/13). Co-Chair Meyer OBJECTED for discussion. DAVID SCOTT, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, explained that the change added the extension of the scallop and hair crab limited entry program for five years. Co-Chair Meyer felt like five years may be too long. 4:04:45 PM Vice-Chair Fairclough wondered if five years was consistent with a previous bill. Senator Olson shared that the last extension was made five years prior. Co-Chair Meyer noted that the sponsor requested three years, because there was a requested audit. Vice-Chair Fairclough explained that the programs are two different programs. She wondered if there was a title change in order. Co-Chair Meyer WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Representative Hughes stated that she had not reviewed the CS, and hoped that she could have discussions with Senator Olson. Vice-Chair Fairclough wondered if a conceptual amendment could be offered to insert a severability clause. Mr. Scott explained that Section 1 was inserted at the advice of Legislative Legal. Vice-Chair Fairclough felt that the severability clause could be used to separate the program. Mr. Scott agreed. 4:09:23 PM AT EASE 4:11:06 PM RECONVENED BEN BROWN, COMMISSIONER, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ENTRY COMMISSION, explained that there was not a single subject problem with the legislation, even absent the reporting requirement, based on the precedent of five years prior. He felt that the addition of the reporting requirement, made the two programs very similar. Vice-Chair Fairclough shared that there were many issue that were important for Alaskans, and wondered if the language was similar to the House version. Mr. Brown agreed to provide that information. Vice-Chair Fairclough remarked that the House would have conversations regarding this issue. Senator Olson thanked the sponsor for the legislation MOVED to REPORT SCS CS HB 71(FIN) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. SCS CS HB 71(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with two new zero fiscal notes from Department of Fish and Game, and a previously published fiscal impact note: FN2 (CED).