HB 71-AK REGIONAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM  9:03:06 AM CHAIR PRUITT announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 71, "An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska regional economic assistance program; and providing for an effective date." He noted that the committee would be operating under Uniform Rule 42, Conference and Free Conference Committees, and [has convened to resolve the differences between CSHB 71(FIN), which has passed the House, and SCS CSHB 71(FIN), which has passed the Senate]. 9:03:25 AM REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX moved that the 2nd Conference Committee on HB 71 adopt Sections 1-5 of CSHB 71(FIN) as a Conference Committee Substitute (CCS). CHAIR COGHILL objected. A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Kawasaki, LeDoux, and Pruitt voted in favor of the adoption of Sections 1-5 of CSHB 71(FIN). Senator Micciche voted in favor of the adoption of Sections 1-5 of CSHB 71(FIN). The committee took a brief at-ease. CHAIR PRUITT requested that the aforementioned vote be voided. A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Kawasaki, LeDoux, and Pruitt voted in favor of the adoption of Sections 1-5 of CSHB 71(FIN). Senators Micciche, Gardner, and Coghill voted against the adoption of Sections 1-5 of CSHB 71(FIN). Therefore, the motion to adopt Sections 1-5 of CSHB 71(FIN) failed to be adopted. 9:05:13 AM CHAIR COGHILL moved that the 2nd Conference Committee on HB 71 adopt Sections 1-7 of SCS CSHB 71(FIN). CHAIR PRUITT objected. A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Kawasaki, LeDoux, and Pruitt voted in opposition to the adoption of Sections 1-7 of SCS CSHB 71(FIN). Senators Micciche, Gardner, and Coghill voted in favor of the adoption of Sections 1-7 of SCS CSHB 71(FIN). Therefore, the motion to adopt Sections 1-7 of SCS CSHB 71(FIN) failed. 9:05:50 AM CHAIR COGHILL moved that the 2nd Conference Committee on HB 71 request limited powers of free conference from the presiding officers in order to work out the differences. There being no objection, the request for limited powers of free conference will be made. CHAIR PRUITT pointed out that the memorandum requesting the limited powers of free conference states the specific points [Section 1, Section 5(b), Sections 6-8 of SCS CSHB 71(FIN)] for which the limited powers are requested. 9:06:42 AM CHAIR COGHILL explained that the goal is to have two pieces of legislation work together, which requires obtaining powers of free conference. However, the conference committee must first obtain limited powers of free conference. 9:07:10 AM CHAIR PRUITT explained that under the limited powers of free conference committee, the conference committee can adopt any language, dates, and effective dates. The goal is to act on the matter today. 9:07:39 AM CHAIR PRUITT announced that the committee would recess to the call of the chair. 3:06:36 PM CHAIR PRUITT reconvened the 2nd Conference Committee on HB 71 at 3:06 p.m. Representatives Pruitt, LeDoux, and Kawasaki, and Senators Coghill, Gardner, and Micciche were present at the call to order. 3:07:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX moved that the 2nd Conference Committee on HB 71 adopt Sections 1-5 of CSHB 71(FIN) as a Conference Committee Substitute (CCS). CHAIR COGHILL objected. 3:07:31 PM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Kawasaki, LeDoux, and Pruitt voted in favor of the adoption of Sections 1-5 of CSHB 71(FIN). Senators Micciche, Gardner, and Coghill voted against the adoption of Sections 1-5 of CSHB 71(FIN). Therefore, the motion to adopt Sections 1-5 of CSHB 71(FIN) failed to be adopted. 3:08:03 PM CHAIR COGHILL moved that the 2nd Conference Committee on HB 71 adopt Sections 1-7 of SCS CSHB 71(FIN). CHAIR PRUITT objected. A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Kawasaki, LeDoux, and Pruitt voted in opposition to the adoption of Sections 1-7 of SCS CSHB 71(FIN). Senators Micciche, Gardner, and Coghill voted in favor of the adoption of Sections 1-7 of SCS CSHB 71(FIN). Therefore, the motion to adopt Sections 1-7 of SCS CSHB 71(FIN) failed. 3:08:47 PM CHAIR COGHILL, being unable to agree on the limited powers of free conference, moved that the 2nd Conference Committee on HB 71 make request to the presiding officers for the committee to be discharged. CHAIR PRUITT said, without objection, so moved. Further, he stated that letters of request for discharge of the committee would be presented to the presiding officers of both bodies of the legislature. 3:09:17 PM SENATOR MICCICHE offered that the issue at hand has been a question of procedure not agreement. He stressed that as elected officials both bodies are working together without political standing or bias to handle the situation, but must first seek appropriate avenues to accomplish the task. CHAIR PRUITT concurred that this is a procedural step towards agreement. 3:10:06 PM CHAIR COGHILL interjected that lack of agreement did exist at the close of the first session of the 28th Alaska State Legislature, and opined that the current sentiment appears to be one of accord. 3:10:24 PM