End of Session Press Packet
Second Session 21st Legislature Republican-led Majority
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Last Updated: May 5, 2000 |
The Republican-led Majority adjourned the 21st Alaska Legislature after tackling the State's financial picture. Using input from citizens, the Majority advanced efforts to transfer government services to the private sector where appropriate. We made sweeping reforms and financial decisions to bring efficiency and accountability to State government.
HB 40 combined the Department of Community and Regional Affairs with the Department of Commerce and Economic Development into the new Department of Community and Economic Development. HB 40 brings significant savings and efficiencies by re-engineering state government and eliminating one commissioner's office.HB 290 addresses regulatory aspects of the development of natural gas reserves on Alaska's North Slope.
HB 312 The Operating Budget. HB 312 fulfills the Majority's five-year "Commitment to Alaska" to reduce State government spending by $250 million.
HB 446 sells the Four-Dam Pool in Southeast and establishes an endowment to pay for Power Cost Equalization (PCE) in rural Alaska.
HB 447 authorizes the transfer of $100 million from the State's reserves to the PCE endowment.
HB 281 establishes a bond/debt reimbursement package totaling $302.9 million. It authorizes AHFC to issue bonds in the amount of $76 million to fund University capital projects, ports and harbors, student housing, and Senior and low-cost housing projects. The bill authorizes a $28 million Municipal Harbor Bond Reimbursement Plan and renews the Municipal School Bond Debt Reimbursement Program.
HCR 12 established the Joint Committee on Mergers to study issues relating BP-Amoco's proposed acquisition of ARCO.
SB 7 gives 250,000 acres of State land to the University of Alaska.
SB 107 eliminated the Tourism Marketing Council. In its place, a qualified trade association will promote the state's tourism industry. The change will reduce State spending in this area while private participation will provide the same or an increased level of commitment to this service.
SB 133 repealed the inefficient Alaska Public Utilities Commission and transfers its duties to the new Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA). SB 133 also establishes the groundwork for merging the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) into the new regulatory agency, if warranted. Lawmakers authorized Legislative Budget and Audit to prepare a report addressing both the new RCA and the AOGCC and their functions, making suggestions on how both commissions can best serve the interests of the state.
SB 157 reaffirmed the importance of the Power Cost Equalization program to communities dependent on diesel-generated power. The Legislature developed a plan to extend the life of the program. This plan makes PCE as equitable as possible for all users. It alters both the floor and ceiling levels from which funding is based, provides a balance for the program, and reduces costs to the State.
SB 169 built accountability in government by mandating results based budgeting. Results based budgeting is the practice of establishing objective performance measures for State agencies. This will enable lawmakers and the public to better evaluate how effectively these agencies are spending State money.
SB 267 adds to the functions of the Commissioner of Fish and Game the management of the state's big game resources to achieve an abundance of game for human utilization.
SB 273 would expand the oil spill prevention and response program to include larger non-tank vessels and the railroads transporting oil in bulk, requiring response plans for cleaning up spills quickly and with minimal environmental damage and requiring proof of financial ability to respond to damages resulting from a spill. SCR 1 establishes a task force to develop contingency plans for these vessels and for railroad cars.
SB 281 sets out clearly defined Missions and Measures for State departments.
SCR 11 begins to rein-in the spiraling costs of the State's workforce. For the first time in Legislative history, lawmakers refused to accept negotiated labor contracts. Instead they delivered on their pledge to withhold funding for labor agreements that call for more money than current contracts.
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Table of Contents
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Senator Pearce's Page
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Representative Porter's Page
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