SB 37-APPROP: BIOSCIENCE FACILITY UAF    CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS announced SB 37 to be up for consideration. SENATOR WILKEN, sponsor of SB 37, explained that the bill appropriates $105 million from the general fund to the University of Alaska (UA) to design, construct, and equip a bioscience facility (BIOS) on the UA Fairbanks (UAF) campus. This is the only new construction project for the UA this year, and the 110,000 square foot building will house research laboratories, classroom, space, and teaching labs, consolidating current facilities. Each year the UA generates over $130 million in outside funds to support research activities; construction of BIOS will provide much-needed space for research expansion. 1:37:49 PM MARK HAMILTON, president of the UA system, said that it takes a long time to move a concept to reality, and the BIOS idea was first introduced in 2002 through a general order bond. The UA board of regents has termed BIOS the most important construction project currently underway. 1:39:55 PM BUCK SHARPTON, Vice-chancellor of Research for the UAF, said that the building is so essential because research activities have grown by 75 percent since 2000; the UAF has an international reputation in certain fields built around research, and BIOS will allow the UA to consolidate its activities. He then listed services that the UA provides to Alaska, including an Alaska Native Health Center, and explained how the school's laboratories are currently out of date and must be modernized. The new building will also allow for expansion of engineering and agricultural programs. 1:43:52 PM SENATOR THOMAS asked for clarification on the construction costs of the BIOS facility. MR. HAMILTON said that there's a difference between construction and final costs. MR. SHARPTON said that there are several components to the construction, including extensions and outfitting of the laboratories. SENATOR COWDERY asked if the project can be bonded. MR. SHARPTON said that it's possible, but it would mean continuing delays and resulting rises in construction costs. He commented that the construction of the gas pipeline will mean a limited future ability for building elsewhere in the state, and that using a bonding capacity in the years ahead could cause significant issues. At the very least, some phases should be done with non-bonded funding. SENATOR COWDERY asked if design work has been done, and what the shelf life is for the plans. MR. SHARPTON replied that some planning has been done, and should be usable for several years at least. SENATOR COWDERY asked how much has been spent on BIOS to date. MR. HAMILTON replied that the UA has spent $22 million already on planning and preparation. The construction hasn't yet been funded. MR. SHARPTON added that $1 million in non-state funds has been put into planning. SENATOR ELTON asked why the facility would be located in Fairbanks and not Anchorage, where many applicable programs are based. MR. HAMILTON replied that equal excellence is needed in supporting sciences as well as in major fields, so that even programs very involved in medicine can't necessarily support a research facility. MR. SHARPTON said that health services are based heavily on research, and that Anchorage and Juneau campuses are more attuned to application rather than research, like in Fairbanks. 1:53:26 PM SENATOR THOMAS asked which building will be replaced by BIOS. MR. SHARPTON replied that the Arctic Health building will be replaced. 1:54:49 PM SENATOR THOMAS made a motion to move SB 37 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, the motion carried.