ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE  May 5, 2007 12:45 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Anna Fairclough, Co-Chair Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Co-Chair Representative Nancy Dahlstrom Representative Mark Neuman Representative Kurt Olson Representative Sharon Cissna Representative Woodie Salmon MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE BILL NO. 232 "An Act relating to the sale, distribution, and purchase of alcoholic beverages; relating to a state database for records of certain purchases of alcoholic beverages; relating to the relocation of a license to sell alcoholic beverages; relating to procedures for local option elections for control of alcoholic beverages; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED CSHB 232(CRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 199 "An Act relating to an optional exemption from municipal property taxes for residential property." - MOVED CSHB 199(CRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 214 "An Act naming the state parking garage being constructed in Anchorage north of the Robert B. Atwood Building as the Carolyn 'Linny' Pacillo Parking Garage." - MOVED HB 214 OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 60 "An Act relating to and increasing the municipal property tax exemption on residences of certain seniors and others; and providing for an effective date." - BILL HEARING CANCELED PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 232 SHORT TITLE: ALCOHOL SALE/PURCHASE/DISTRIBUTION SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) MEYER 04/04/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/04/07 (H) CRA, JUD, FIN 04/12/07 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124 04/12/07 (H) Heard & Held 04/12/07 (H) MINUTE(CRA) 04/26/07 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124 04/26/07 (H) Heard & Held 04/26/07 (H) MINUTE(CRA) 05/02/07 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 05/02/07 (H) 05/04/07 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 05/04/07 (H) 05/05/07 (H) CRA AT 11:00 AM BARNES 124 BILL: HB 199 SHORT TITLE: MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KAWASAKI 03/14/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/14/07 (H) CRA, FIN 05/03/07 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124 05/03/07 (H) Heard & Held 05/03/07 (H) MINUTE(CRA) 05/05/07 (H) CRA AT 11:00 AM BARNES 124 BILL: HB 214 SHORT TITLE: NAMING PACILLO PARKING GARAGE SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) FAIRCLOUGH 03/21/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/21/07 (H) CRA 05/05/07 (H) CRA AT 11:00 AM BARNES 124 WITNESS REGISTER MIKE PAWLOWSKI, Staff to Representative Kevin Meyer Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: During hearing of HB 232, answered questions. REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT KAWASAKI Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as the sponsor of HB 199. ACTION NARRATIVE CO-CHAIR ANNA FAIRCLOUGH called the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 12:45:02 PM. Representatives Olson, Dahlstrom, Cissna, LeDoux, and Fairclough were present at the call to order. Representatives Neuman and Salmon arrived as the meeting was in progress. HB 232-ALCOHOL SALE/PURCHASE/DISTRIBUTION 12:46:06 PM CO-CHAIR FAIRCLOUGH announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 232, "An Act relating to the sale, distribution, and purchase of alcoholic beverages; relating to a state database for records of certain purchases of alcoholic beverages; relating to the relocation of a license to sell alcoholic beverages; relating to procedures for local option elections for control of alcoholic beverages; and providing for an effective date." 12:46:23 PM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 232, 25-LS0831\C, Bullard, 5/4/07, as a work draft. There being no objection, Version C was before the committee. 12:46:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE OLSON moved to report CSHB 232, Version 25- LS0831\C, Bullard, 5/4/07, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. 12:47:03 PM CO-CHAIR FAIRCLOUGH objected and requested an explanation of the changes made in Version C. CO-CHAIR LEDOUX explained that Version C doesn't include Sections 4-5 of the original legislation. Sections 4-5 of the original legislation related to the transfer of a liquor license between a borough and a city. She related her understanding that the sponsor of HB 232 doesn't object to not including Sections 4-5 of the original legislation. Co-Chair LeDoux explained that the provisions were not included in Version C because if a borough license is allowed to transfer into a city, it devalues the city liquor license. 12:47:45 PM CO-CHAIR FAIRCLOUGH removed her objection. 12:47:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE SALMON [objected] and directed attention to Section 8, which relates to the possession of the ingredients for homebrew. The ingredients listed are common household goods. He indicated a desire to hear from the sponsor. 12:48:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM said that although she shared his concern initially, the language "with the intent to use" eased her mind because that would have to be proven. 12:49:13 PM MIKE PAWLOWSKI, Staff to Representative Kevin Meyer, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Meyer, prime sponsor of HB 199, said the sponsor would commit to highlight this issue before the House Judiciary Standing Committee and discuss whether there needs to be a language change in relation to how "the intent to use" is proven. 12:50:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE SALMON removed his objection. 12:50:23 PM There being no further objection, CSHB 232(CRA) was reported out of the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee. HB 199-MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION 12:50:47 PM CO-CHAIR FAIRCLOUGH announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 199, "An Act relating to an optional exemption from municipal property taxes for residential property." 12:51:10 PM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 199, Version 25-LS0705\M, Cook, 5/2/07, as a work draft. There being no objection, Version M was before the committee. 12:51:32 PM REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT KAWASAKI, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of HB 199, commented that several city councils and boroughs have requested higher exemption amounts [than specified in Version M]. However, he opined that Version M offers a fair compromise. 12:52:06 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN expressed concern about upcoming deficits. 12:52:33 PM CO-CHAIR FAIRCLOUGH informed the committee that she had requested that the state assessor prepare a fiscal note. The state assessor, at a prior hearing, estimated that a $50,000 exemption would result in a loss to the general fund of $1-1.5 million due to property assessed through taxation on the North Slope for oil and gas production. 12:53:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI acknowledged that this legislation would result in perhaps some negative effects to the state coffers. However, the legislation attempts to provide a local option exemption to local communities, which will provide more money in residents' pockets that is likely to be spent locally. 12:54:45 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved to report CSHB 199, Version 25- LS0705\M, Cook, 5/2/07, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 199(CRA) was reported from the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee. HB 214-NAMING PACILLO PARKING GARAGE 12:55:11 PM CO-CHAIR FAIRCLOUGH announced that the last order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 214, "An Act naming the state parking garage being constructed in Anchorage north of the Robert B. Atwood Building as the Carolyn 'Linny' Pacillo Parking Garage." 12:55:59 PM CO-CHAIR FAIRCLOUGH, upon determining no one wished to testify, closed the public hearing. 12:56:05 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN moved to report HB 214 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 214 was reported out of the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee. ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 12:56:38 PM.