SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE                             
                          May 6, 1997                                          
                           4:15 P.M.                                           
                                                                               
                                                                               
 MEMBERS PRESENT                                                               
                                                                               
 Senator Loren Leman, Chairman                                                 
 Senator Jerry Mackie, Vice Chairman                                           
 Senator Mike Miller                                                           
 Senator Lyman Hoffman                                                         
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
 Senator Tim Kelly                                                             
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                           
                                                                               
 SENATE BILL NO. 159                                                           
 "An Act relating to the new business incentive program."                      
                                                                               
  - MOVED CSSB 159(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                       
                                                                               
 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 31                                                 
 Requesting the United States Congress to amend the Federal Food,              
 Drug, and Cosmetic Act.                                                       
                                                                               
  - MOVED HJR 31 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                              
                                                                               
  PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION                                             
                                                                               
 SB 159 - See Labor and Commerce minutes dated 4/17/97 and 4/24/97.            
                                                                               
 HJR 31 - No previous action to consider.                                      
                                                                               
  WITNESS REGISTER                                                             
                                                                               
 Nicole Poirrier, Intern                                                       
 Representative Pete Kott                                                      
 State Capitol Bldg.                                                           
 Juneau AK 99801-1182                                                          
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Staff to sponsor of HJR 31.                            
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
  TAPE 97-23, SIDE A                                                           
 Number 001                                                                    
                                                                               
             SB 159 NEW BUSINESS INCENTIVE PROGRAM                            
                                                                              
  CHAIRMAN LEMAN  called the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee               
 meeting to order at 4:15 p.m. and announced  SB 159  to be up for             
 consideration.                                                                
                                                                               
  SENATOR MACKIE  established that the proposed CS included the                
 changes suggested by AIDEA and moved to adopt the CS to SB 159.               
 There were no objections and it was so ordered.                               
                                                                               
 SENATOR MACKIE moved to pass CSSB 159(L&C) from committee with                
 individual recommendations.  There were no objections and it was so           
 ordered.                                                                      
                                                                               
         HJR 31 FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT                       
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN LEMAN  announced  HJR 31  to be up for consideration.               
                                                                               
  NICOLE POIRRIER,  intern to Representative Kott, said that HJR 31            
 asks Congress to amend the federal food, drug, and cosmetic act to            
 approve drugs and biological products in a more rapid manner while            
 maintaining patient safety and product effectiveness.  The                    
 resolution is very broad and nonspecific and simply encourages                
 Congress to reexamine the act.  Currently it takes about 15 years             
 for the FDA to approve new medicine in this country.                          
                                                                               
  SENATOR MACKIE  moved to pass HJR 31 with individual                         
 recommendations.  There were no objections and it was so ordered.             
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN LEMAN  adjourned the meeting at 4:18 p.m.