Wagoner and Therriault Bill Would Speed Natural Gas Line
Senate Bill 26 Gives the Alaska Supreme Court Jurisdiction

JUNEAU – Senators Tom Wagoner and Gene Therriault introduced legislation today intended to expedite resolution of ExxonMobil’s appeal of the decision denying its proposed plan for developing the Point Thomson Unit.

“I think this is one of the most important pieces of legislation the Legislature can address and pass this year,” said Senator Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai. “It’s going to expedite the legal matter surrounding the cancellation of the unit agreement at Point Thomson and the taking back of those oil and gas leases. This legislation will keep the appeal from dragging on and on in the courts. It will expedite the process so it won’t be such a drag on the progression of putting together a natural gas pipeline.”

ExxonMobil is appealing a decision by the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources affirming denial of the proposed plans for developing the Point Thomson Unit. The appeal is currently in Alaska Superior Court. SB 26 would transfer jurisdiction of an appeal under this circumstance to the Alaska Supreme Court.

“We’re interested in working in a bi-partisan manner with the members of the Legislature, and cooperatively with the Department of Law, to hammer out a reasoned and meaningful bill that will help accelerate the process,” said Therriault, R-North Pole.

BASIS Link – Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement – Sectional Analysis
(Documents are in Adobe Acrobat format)

• SB 1 – Increase Amt of Base Student Allocation
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 2 – Natural Gas Revenue Fund
  Fact Sheet
• SB 3 – Community Dividend Program
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 12 – Sportfishing Services/Nonresident Hunting
  
• SB 15 – Board of Marine Pilots
  Fact Sheet
• SB 16 – Extend Regulatory Commission of Alaska
  Fact Sheet
• SB 18 – Property Foreclosures And Executions
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 21 – Personal Information & Consumer Credit
  Fact Sheet
• SB 22 – Sale Or Donation of Food Items
  
• SB 23 – Sexual Offenses Against Minors
  
• SB 24 – Business License Fee
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 25 – State Planning And Budget
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 26 – Court Jurisdiction Re Oil/Gas Lease
  Fact Sheet
• SB 29 – Medical Patient Billing Disclosures
  
• SB 30 – Failure To Report Crimes
• SB 31 – Truancy
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 32 – WWAMI/Nurse Educ Loan Repayment Program
  Fact Sheet
• SB 33 – DNA From Persons Charged With Felonies
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 34 – Tax On Residents/Employees In REAA;Grants
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 35 – Approp: Funds
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 36 – Sentencing for Alcohol-Related Crimes
  Fact Sheet
• SB 37 – Approp: Bioscience Facility UAF
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 38 – Salvia Divinorum as Controlled Substance
  Fact Sheet
• SB 42 – Parental Liability For Child’s Damage
  Fact Sheet
• SB 43 – Contributions From Perm. Fund Dividends
  Fact Sheet
• SB 47 – Sunset All State Agencies
  
• SB 63 – Campaign Contribution Disclosure
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 70 – Legislative Branch Per Diem
  Sponsor Statement
• SB 77 – Using Union Dues For Political Purposes
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 79 – Approp: Property Tax Exemptions
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 80 - Oil & Gas Production Tax: Expenditures
  Fact Sheet
• SB 95 – Competitive Bidding For Ballot Prep
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 108 – Video Surveillance of Legislative Space
  Fact Sheet
• SB 110 – Public Pension Forfeiture for Bribery Etc
  Fact Sheet
• SB 129 – Approp: AK Gas Market System Project
  Fact Sheet
• SB 134 – Funding Shortfall Policy
  Fact Sheet – Slide Show Presentation
• SB 148 – Veterans’ Vehicle Plates/Fees/Taxes
  Fact Sheet
• SB 149 – Redistribution of Used Eyeglasses
  
• SB 157 – Trafficking/Prostitution/Sexual Abuse
  Fact Sheet
• SB 174 – Oil and Gas Tax
  
• SB 188 – Extend Alaska Commission on Aging
  Fact Sheet
• SB 189 – Approp.: Bridges, Service Roads, Trails
  Fact Sheet
• SB 190 – Minors Traveling Alone by Air
  Fact Sheet
• SB 192 – State Government Missions: General & HSS
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
  
• SB 193 – State Govt Missions: General & Educ.
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 194 – State Govt Missions: General
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
  
• SB 199 – Campaign Finance Complaints
  Fact Sheet
• SB 200 – Public Servant’s Failure to Report Crimes
  Fact Sheet
• SB 204 – Muni Tax Exemption: Combat Deaths
  Fact Sheet
• SB 205 – Legislative Employment; Nepotism
  
• SB 207 – Appropriations to Budget Reserve Fund
  Fact Sheet
• SB 208 – Sex Offenses: ‘Without Consent’ Defined
  
• SB 213 – Legislative Audit Division Powers
  Sponsor Statement
• SB 217 – Power Cost Reduction/Energy Council
  Sponsor Statement
• SB 219 – Gov Panel on School District Cost Factors
  Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement
• SB 228 – Municipal Land Use Regulation
  Sponsor Statement
  
• SB 244 – Consumer Health Information Website
• SB 252 – Document Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
• SB 270 – High Tech Crimes Against Children/Women
• SB 271 – State Employee Health Savings Accts.
• SB 275 – Criminal Use Of The Internet
  
• SB 276 – State Construct’n Project Labor Agreement
• SB 279 – Notice & Consent For Minor’s Abortion
  Sponsor Statement
  
• SB 283 – State Budget Priorities
• SB 291 – Admin Subpoenas; Crimes Against Children
• SB 292 – Sex Offenses Committed By Minors
  
• SCR 1 – State of Our University Address
  Fact Sheet
• SCR 3 – Point Thomson Unit Appeal
  Fact Sheet
• SJR 9 – Const. Am: Benefits & Marriage
  
• SJR 12 – Cruise Ship Port Times: Jones Act
  Fact Sheet
  
• SJR 16 – Const Am: Control Of Minor’s Medical Car
• SR 3 – Request Removal of Regent Hayes
  Fact Sheet
• SR 6 – Oppose Threatened Status for Polar Bear
  
  

Senate Republican Minority Charges into Session
Pre-filed Bills Address Education, Crime and Communities

JUNEAU – Alaskans would be better protected from identity theft, pay less for a business license, and have more tools available to control truancy under bills introduced today by members of the Senate Republican Minority.

“Our members have taken advantage of their considerable experience in the Legislature to craft bills that will better the lives of residents across the State. Our bills will benefit all Alaskans, regardless of their party affiliation, and we plan to work cooperatively with all members of the Legislature, regardless of their party affiliation,” said Senate Republican Minority Leader Gene Therriault, R-North Pole.

“Alaskans deserve legislation to close all loopholes that would allow their personal information to be compromised,” said Therriault, who re-introduced anti-identity theft legislation similar to that which he co-sponsored last year, but which failed to pass in the final days of the session. Other topics he is working on include the gas pipeline, controlled substances and contributions to non-profits.

Sen. Gary Wilken, R-Fairbanks, has introduced legislation to “Bank a Billion” of the anticipated FY 07 surplus; increase the per student dollar amount; repeal the 2003 business license fee increase; create a sustainable dividend program; and expand the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho medical education program to more students.

Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, plans to tighten truancy laws by including “interventions” such as parental notification, parent/teacher conferences, a written family agreement, or, for the worst offenders, a court petition to determine juvenile delinquency.

“Chronic truants are often vulnerable to being recruited into gangs. Superintendents around the state have contacted my office for help in dealing with chronic truancy. This legislation assists parents, school administrators and students in tackling school absence issues. It is modeled after other states’ best practices in controlling truancy and keeping kids in school,” Bunde said.

Sen. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River, will pursue legislation that requires hospitals to declare their discount rates and cost shifts; that makes minors more responsible for restitution to the victims of vandalism; and strengthens cost controls with: spending caps, accountability audits and long-term fiscal planning.