SB 337-ENERGY PROGRAMS & FUNDS CHAIR CON BUNDE called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:43 p.m. Present were Senators Bettye Davis, Hollis French and Chair Con Bunde. Senator Gary Stevens arrived at 1:50 and Senator Ralph Seekins arrived at 2:35. The first order of business to come before the committee was SB 337. This was its second hearing. SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH moved to adopt amendment 1. 23G-2 A M E N D M E N T 1  OFFERED IN THE SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE TO: SB 337 Page 7, line 9: Delete ", 42.45.200," Page 7, following line 9: Insert new bill sections to read: "* Sec. 12. AS 42.45.200 is repealed.  * Sec. 13. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: TRANSITION: ELECTRICAL SERVICE EXTENSION FUND. Subject to appropriation, the money in the electrical service extension fund established in former AS 42.45.200, repealed by sec. 12 of this Act, is transferred to the general fund." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 7, following line 12: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 15. Sections 12 and 13 of this Act take effect July 1, 2004." Renumber the remaining bill section accordingly. Page 7, line 13: Delete "This" Insert "Except as provided in sec. 15 of this Act, this" CHAIR BUNDE objected for discussion purposes. MS. SARA FISHER-GOAD, Financial Analyst, Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), explained that amendment 1 repeals the Electrical Service Extension Fund effective July 1, 2005 and makes it subject to appropriation. CHAIR BUNDE removed his objection and amendment 1 was adopted. SENATOR FRENCH moved to adopt amendment 2. 23G-2 A M E N D M E N T 2  OFFERED IN THE SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE TO: SB 337 Page 1, line 2: Following "loans": Delete "and" Insert ", to" Following "contracts": Insert ", and to improve, equip, operate, and maintain  bulk fuel, waste energy, energy conservation, energy  efficiency, and alternative energy facilities and  equipment" CHAIR BUNDE objected for an explanation. MS. GOAD explained that it expands the title to contain the subject of the whole bill. CHAIR BUNDE removed his objection and amendment 2 was adopted. He recapped that SB 337 would change the AEA to make additional loans for waste energy, energy conservation and efficiency projects. MS. GOAD agreed that was a good explanation of that section. SENATOR FRENCH said his questions were cleared up. CHAIR BUNDE said CSSB 337(L&C) would be set aside until other members of the committee arrived. SB 337-ENERGY PROGRAMS & FUNDS  CHAIR CON BUNDE announced CSSB 337(L&C) to be back before the committee. SENATOR RALPH SEEKINS moved to pass CSSB 337(L&C) from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. Senators Gary Stevens, Bettye Davis, Hollis French, Ralph Seekins and Chair Con Bunde voted yea; and CSSB 337(L&C) moved from committee.