HB 314-AK REG ECON ASSIST. PROGRAM; EXTEND  1:58:11 PM CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of HB 314. She relayed the intent to adopt a committee substitute (CS), take member's questions, and look to the will of the committee. 1:58:38 PM SENATOR GIESSEL moved to adopt the CS for HB 314, labeled 29- LS1381\P], as the working document. [The presumption is that the committee intended to adopt a Senate committee substitute for the House bill.] CHAIR COSTELLO objected for an explanation of changes. 1:59:07 PM WESTON EILER, Staff, Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee and Senator Costello, said the committee substitute makes two changes. First, language in Section 3 on page 3, lines 6-11, requires the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED) to coordinate with the ARDORs to produce an annual report to the legislature that summarizes the previous year's activities of each of the regional development organizations. The second change appears in Section 4 on page 4, removing the sunset provision for the ARDOR program. The program is reauthorized but not funded. The original bill repealed the sunset provision for the ARDOR program on July 1, 2021. 2:01:17 PM CHAIR COSTELLO removed her objection and the CS for HB 314 was adopted. [The presumption is that the committee intended to adopt a Senate committee substitute for the House bill.] 2:01:55 PM BRITTENY CIONI-HAYWOOD, Director, Division of Economic Development, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), introduced herself and offered to answer questions related to HB 314. CHAIR COSTELLO asked if the reporting requirements in the CS would be unduly burdensome for the ARDORs. MS. CIONI-HAYWOOD said no. She related she spoke with several ARDORs who indicated that the reporting requirements would not be burdensome; most of the ARDORs will be producing this information anyway. CHAIR COSTELLO asked if it is the department's intent that the reports will be submitted electronically. MS. CIONI-HAYWOOD replied her division no longer prints reports; they are posted electronically and that is the intention moving forward. CHAIR COSTELLO asked Mr. Griffin to answer the same question. 2:04:14 PM DOUG GRIFFIN, Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference (SWAMC), stated that the reporting requirements called for in HB 314 would not be problematic. "We generally want you to know what we're doing out here so that is not going to be a problem at all," he said. CHAIR COSTELLO asked the sponsor if she would like to make any final comments. 2:04:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE SHELLEY HUGHES, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of HB 314, said she appreciates the committee substitute. She added, "If the ARDORs are okay with it I'm good with it; this is really to help them move along." She acknowledged that some of the smaller ARDORs may have some concern but she hasn't heard from any. She opined that the data collected will be important over time. 2:05:39 PM SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report the CS for HB 314, labeled 29- LS1381\P, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). [The presumption is that the committee intended to report a Senate committee substitute for the House bill from committee.] CHAIR COSTELLO announced that without objection, [SCS HB 314(L&C)] is reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.