ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE  March 28, 2002 8:35 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Randy Phillips, Chair Senator Rick Halford Senator Gene Therriault MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator John Cowdery, Vice Chair Senator Johnny Ellis   COMMITTEE CALENDAR  SENATE BILL NO. 182 "An Act requiring reductions in payments to individuals under certain benefit programs if appropriations are not sufficient to fully fund the statutorily established levels of payments." APPROVED FOR CALENDARING SENATE BILL NO. 270 "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Dispensing Opticians; relating to the regulation of dispensing opticians; and providing for an effective date." APPROVED FOR CALENDARING SENATE BILL NO. 279 "An Act authorizing the commissioner of fish and game to issue complimentary sport fishing licenses and tags to September 11 emergency responders and their spouses; and providing for an effective date." APPROVED FOR CALENDARING SENATE BILL NO. 299 "An Act relating to the establishment of an additional southcentral panel to the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board and to appointments to that panel; and providing for an effective date." APPROVED FOR CALENDARING SENATE BILL NO. 319 "An Act relating to shallow natural gas leasing; and providing for an effective date." APPROVED FOR CALENDARING SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 28 Establishing the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force. APPROVED FOR CALENDARING PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  SB 182 - See Finance Report dated 3/22/02. SB 270 - See Labor and Commerce minutes dated 2/14/02 and Finance Report dated 3/22/02. SB 299 - See Labor and Commerce minutes dated 2/26/02 and Finance Report dated 3/22/02. SB 319 - See Resources minutes dated 2/27/02 and Finance Report dated 3/27/02. SCR 28 - See Resources minutes dated 2/27/02 and Finance Report dated 3/27/02. WITNESS REGISTER  Deb Grundmann Staff to Senator Ben Stevens Alaska State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions about SB 299. ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 02-5, SIDE A  Number 001 CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS called the Senate Rules Committee meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. Senators Cowdery, Therriault and Phillips were present. The committee took up SB 182. SENATOR COWDERY moved to calendar SB 182-PRO RATA REDUCTIONS IN  BENEFIT PROGRAMS with its accompanying fiscal notes at the Chairman's discretion. CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS announced that with no objection, the motion carried. SENATOR COWDERY moved SB 270-BOARD OF DISPENSING OPTICIANS with its accompanying fiscal notes with individual recommendations for placement on the calendar at the Chairman's discretion. CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS announced that with no objection, the motion carried. SENATOR COWDERY moved SB 279-SPORT FISH LICENSES FOR 9/11  RESPONDERS and its accompanying fiscal notes with individual recommendations for placement on the calendar at the Chairman's discretion. CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS announced that with no objection, the motion carried. SENATOR THERRIAULT asked for an explanation of SB 299-WORKERS'  COMPENSATION BOARD PANELS. MS. DEB GRUNDMANN, staff to Senator Ben Stevens, sponsor of SB 299, explained that the measure would add one panel in the southcentral venue as a result of the population increase in the Mat-Su Valley and Anchorage areas. That labor and management position would receive a $50 stipend when working on the panel. The Senate Finance Committee changed the date of appointment to January 1, 2003, to coincide with the election of the new governor. SENATOR COWDERY moved SB 299 and its accompanying fiscal notes for placement on the calendar at the Chairman's discretion and asked for unanimous consent. CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS announced that with no further objection, the motion carried. SENATOR COWDERY moved to calendar SB 319-SHALLOW NATURAL GAS:  LEASING & DISCHARGES with its accompanying fiscal notes at the Chairman's discretion. CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS announced that with no objection, SB 319 will be placed on today's calendar. SENATOR COWDERY moved to calendar SCR 28-JOINT LEGIS SALMON  INDUSTRY TASK FORCE at the Chairman's discretion with its accompanying fiscal notes and asked for unanimous consent. CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS announced that with no objection, the motion carried. There being no further business to come before the committee, CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS adjourned the meeting at 8:42 a.m.