"An Act relating to construction of a legislative hall."

HB 60 is the vehicle by which the Alaska State Legislature will move to a legislative hall that is befitting for a Legislature in the 21st century. Alaska's legislative hall should symbolize the spirit and meaning of Alaska. Alaskans should take pride in a building that reflects our diversity, unity, history, and vision of the future.

Specifically, HB 60 allows boroughs or unified municipalities with at least 30,000 residents to make bids to build a new Capitol Building in their community. The boroughs or unified municipalities able to make the bid would include Juneau, Matanuska-Susitna, Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Kenai Peninsula Borough, and Anchorage.

The current Capitol Building was built in 1931. Alaska was still a territory, governed by the 10th Territorial Legislature, which was comprised of a total of 24 legislators. The issues facing the great State of Alaska have matured and developed since this time, and our State Legislature has grown to rise up and meet these issues. However, the building in which we work to promote Alaska's interests, where the public comes to see Alaskan history made, remains the building of 1931. Many of the problems with having an antiquated building cannot be rectified with patchwork remedies. These problems include a lack of access to disabled Alaskans (many of whom are veterans), insufficient space for our legislators and legislative committees, corridors which do not meet safety requirements, a lack of amenities to serve the public (including gallery seating and a public lounge), as well as the constant need to update obsolete electrical, heating, and communications systems.

Upon accepting the borough's or unified municipality's bid, the legislative counsel will be responsible for carrying out the terms of the proposal, and for the operation and maintenance of the building. Rent would be $1 per year. The new building will be completed and ready for occupancy by 2008.

HB 60 will provide Alaskans with a functional, beautiful, accessible, and safe legislative hall-a distinguished symbol of our government and a structure of which Alaskans can be proud.

For these reasons, I urge you to support HB 60.

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