ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE  January 16, 2013 1:01 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Eric Feige, Co-Chair Representative Dan Saddler, Co-Chair Representative Mike Hawker Representative Craig Johnson Representative Kurt Olson Representative Paul Seaton Representative Peggy Wilson Representative Geran Tarr Representative Chris Tuck MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR  COMMITTEE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING - HEARD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  No previous action to record WITNESS REGISTER No witnesses to record ACTION NARRATIVE 1:01:20 PM CO-CHAIR ERIC FEIGE called the House Resources Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. Representatives Hawker, Johnson, Olson, Seaton, P. Wilson, Tarr, Saddler, and Feige were present at the call to order. Representative Tuck arrived as the meeting was in progress. ^COMMITTEE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING COMMITTEE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING  1:01:44 PM CO-CHAIR FEIGE announced that the only order of business would be a committee organizational meeting to review committee procedures. He began by noting that the co-chairs are inclined to allow iPads in committee provided they are used for "a useful and productive purpose during the committee meetings". CO-CHAIR FEIGE reported that he and Co-Chair Saddler have selected Representative P. Wilson as the committee vice chair. CO-CHAIR FEIGE said drinks and candy, such as lemon drops, could be eaten during meetings, but not food. Cell phones [will not be allowed]. Notes between members can be passed directly to another member or given to the [committee] aide to deliver, but all notes to committee members from the gallery or outside must go through the committee aide. 1:04:22 PM CO-CHAIR FEIGE stated the policy on amendments is that they are to be submitted 24 hours before the start of the meeting, and ideally should be vetted by Legislative Legal and Research Services. Responding to Representative Olson, he confirmed that an amendment should be submitted as a "PDF file". CO-CHAIR FEIGE explained that the co-chairs will determine between themselves who will handle a specific bill and that the co-chair for each bill will have the gavel during the meeting on that bill. CO-CHAIR FEIGE noted the department overviews scheduled for the next three meetings will be specific to the current issues and problems that each department is dealing with. 1:06:24 PM CO-CHAIR FEIGE, responding to Representative Olson, said he preferred that iPads not be used as a communication device between aides and members. He related the co-chairs' view that iPads are to be used for information acquisition, such as researching a particular subject about which a witness is talking and then asking questions based on the research. CO-CHAIR FEIGE, responding to Representative Olson, confirmed that committee packets would go out digitally. CO-CHAIR SADDLER added that the aforementioned is a goal. 1:07:34 PM CO-CHAIR FEIGE, responding to Representative Hawker, stated that a quorum would be five. REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER inquired whether it would take a majority of the committee or a majority of those present to carry amendments and report bills. CO-CHAIR FEIGE replied that five would be needed. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON understood, then, that the committee would not be following the guidelines that amendments are passed by the majority of those present and a bill is passed by the majority of the committee. He asked whether there has been a change such that any amendment must be passed by five votes. CO-CHAIR FEIGE answered the co-chairs had not specifically addressed that and would get back to members in this regard. 1:08:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, regarding the 24-hours-in-advance requirement for amendments, presumed that the committee packets with information would be out well in advance of 24 hours. He asked whether this means that a bill would have to have two hearings if an amendment is desired. CO-CHAIR FEIGE responded that the co-chairs are not going to set a specific-number-of-hearings rule; rather, the number will be up to the chairs. 1:09:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked whether there would be flexibility for taking amendments at the time the information on a bill is [first] presented, given that otherwise an amendment would have to be submitted prior to hearing the information on a bill. CO-CHAIR FEIGE replied that the co-chairs would be flexible if the will of the committee is along those lines. He said the co- chairs are trying to keep a reasonable sense of order and keep things moving with minimal interruption. Unless a bill is very simple, he continued, it will have multiple hearings and therefore it will be known well in advance whether the committee plans to take amendments in a particular meeting. 1:10:25 PM CO-CHAIR FEIGE, in response to Representative Olson, confirmed that 24 hours in advance applies to the co-chairs as well. CO-CHAIR FEIGE, responding to Representative Wilson, confirmed that "reasonable" would include the ability to make simple conceptual amendments, such as changing an "and". CO-CHAIR FEIGE, responding to Representative Seaton, confirmed that amendments would be distributed to the entire committee. He added that that is the major reason for having amendments due 24 hours prior to the next meeting. 1:11:47 PM CO-CHAIR FEIGE related that the co-chairs are very happy with the makeup and talent of the committee, given the committee will be addressing some very weighty issues regarding the direction the State of Alaska will head. CO-CHAIR SADDLER conveyed that he is impressed with the caliber and experience of the committee. He introduced several people who will be serving as the committee's support staff. 1:13:15 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:13 p.m.