SENATE RULES COMMITTEE April 20, 1998 11:35 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Tim Kelly, Chair Senator Loren Leman, Vice Chair Senator Robin Taylor Senator John Torgerson Senator Jim Duncan MEMBERS ABSENT All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR SENATE BILL NO. 160 "An Act relating to registration, inspection, and testing relating to radiological equipment in dentists' offices." SENATE BILL NO. 305 "An Act relating to rehabilitation of injured workers." CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 51(RLS) am "An Act relating to the Department of Environmental Conservation; amending Rules 79 and 82, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure; and providing for an effective date." CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 168(RLS)(efd fld) "An Act relating to use of traditional means of access to assist in taking game or fish and to traditional means of access for traditional outdoor activities on land and water set aside for fish and game purposes." CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 392(L&C) am "An Act relating to access by the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Fish and Game to confidential records for fisheries businesses and resources prepared or kept by the Department of Revenue under AS 43.75.015; relating to certain salmon products reports; and providing for an effective date." HOUSE BILL NO. 472 "An Act relating to apportionment of business income." CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 17(RES) "An Act establishing the Department of Natural Resources as the platting authority in certain areas of the state; relating to subdivisions and dedications; and providing for an effective date." CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 356(FIN) am "An Act establishing the Joint Committee on Military Bases in Alaska; and providing for an effective date." PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION SB 160 - See Labor and Commerce Committee minutes dated 3/5/98 and 4/2/98 and HESS minutes dated 4/8/98. SB 305 - See Labor and Commerce minutes dated 3/10/98 and Judiciary minutes dated 4/15/98 and 4/17/98. HB 51 - Finance report 4/17/98. HB 168 - See Resource Committee minutes dated 4/17/98. HB 392 - See Resource Committee minutes dated 4/6/98 and 4/17/98. HB 472 - Finance report 4/18/98. HB 17 - See Resource Committee minutes dated 2/11/98 and 3/30/98. Finance report 4/20/98. HB 356 - No previous action to record. WITNESS REGISTER Tim Sullivan, Staff to Representative Eldon Mulder State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Offered information on HB 356. ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 98-5, SIDE A CHAIRMAN KELLY called the Senate Rules Committee meeting to order at 11:35 a.m., and noted the presence of Senators Taylor, Torgerson, Duncan, Leman and Kelly. SENATOR LEMAN moved and asked unanimous consent SB 160 - DENTAL RADIOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT be approved for calendaring at the discretion of the Chair. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. SENATOR LEMAN moved and asked unanimous consent SB 305 - IMPLEMENTATION OF WORK COMP EDITION be approved for calendaring at the discretion of the Chair. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. SENATOR LEMAN moved and asked unanimous consent CSHB 51(RLS) am - DEPT OF ENV. CONSERV./WATER/PENALTIES be approved for calendaring at the discretion of the Chair. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. SENATOR LEMAN moved and asked unanimous consent CSHB 168(RLS) (efd fld) - TRADITIONAL ACCESS FOR TRADITIONAL ACTIVI be approved for calendaring at the discretion of the Chair. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. SENATOR LEMAN moved and asked unanimous consent CSHB 392(L&C) am - REPORTS: FISH TAX & SALMON PRODUCTS be approved for calendaring at the discretion of the Chair. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. SENATOR LEMAN moved and asked unanimous consent HB 472 - APPORTIONMENT OF BUSINESS INCOME be approved for calendaring at the discretion of the Chair. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. SENATOR LEMAN moved and asked unanimous consent CSHB 17(RES) - DNR APPROVE PLATS IN UNORG. BOROUGH be approved for calendaring at the discretion of the Chair. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. CHAIRMAN KELLY brought CSHB 356(FIN) am - JOINT COMMITTEE ON MILITARY BASES before the committee as the final order of business. TIM SULLIVAN, legislative staff to Representative Eldon Mulder, stated he was present to respond to questions from committee members. SENATOR TAYLOR commented it is a good bill, and he asked Mr. Sullivan to explain why the legislation is needed. MR. SULLIVAN explained that recently the Pentagon and the Secretary of Defense have stated that another round of base realignments and closures are necessary for the United Sates military to maintain its strength and readiness. The legislation would establish the Joint Committee on Military Bases in Alaska. He noted the military establishment in Alaska accounts for approximately $1.7 billion throughout the Alaskan economy. In addition, the base closure's experience to date have shown that the process requires considerable attention on the part of state government to monitor the economic and reuse potential of such base closures, and the joint committee would provide that critical attention. CHAIRMAN KELLY added that there are communities in other states that are already hiring lobbyists back in Washington, D.C., to intervene on their behalf in front of the Department of Defense, and states, such as New York, have line item appropriations in their budgets to attempt to protect their bases. However, he pointed out that neither one of those is being requested in this legislation. Responding to an inquiry from Senator Torgerson relating to the fiscal note, CHAIRMAN KELLY clarified the fiscal note is for $3,000 to cover travel expenses for committee members. SENATOR LEMAN asked if this joint committee is similar to the previous Joint Committee on Military Bases. MR. SULLIVAN acknowledged that it is. The only difference is that it establishes the joint committee through the 21st Legislature and just prior to the 22nd Legislature. CHAIRMAN KELLY pointed out that there is discussion of two new rounds of closures, one in 2001 and the other in 2002. SENATOR LEMAN noted he served on the previous joint committee, and he believes it is a very worthwhile effort for the Legislature to get involved in the issue. SENATOR TAYLOR commented he thinks it is crucial that the Legislature maintain the greatest vigilance on this process and provide the most effective effort in support of the state's congressional delegation to make certain that no more fiscal impact occurs to the state of Alaska than has already happened. SENATOR LEMAN moved CSHB 356(FIN) am be passed out of committee with individual recommendations and that it be approved for calendaring at the discretion of the Chair. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting adjourned at 11:41 a.m.