HB 140 SMALL FISH PROCESSOR SURETY BONDS                          
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN gave the following testimony.  He                    
 introduced HB 140 at the request of the Southwest Municipal                   
 Conference  of the Alaska Municipal League.  HB 140 reduces the               
 surety bonds on small processors, as an incentive to get small                
 processing businesses going throughout the state.  It lowers the              
 surety bond to $2,000 on fish processing of 30,000 pounds or less,            
 and increases the amount of the surety bond upon reapplication, if            
 wages are not paid.                                                           
                                                                               
 Number 043                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR moved that HB 140 be moved from committee with                 
 individual recommendations.  SENATOR LEMAN asked what position the            
 Department of Revenue took on the measure in previous committee               
 hearings.                                                                     
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN acknowledged the Department testified in             
 support of the measure and questioned the need for a surety bond in           
 any amount.  He explained the surety bond has come into play in the           
 past in cases where large processors did not pay employees.                   
                                                                               
 There being no objection to Senator Taylor's motion, HB 140 moved             
 from committee with individual recommendations.