Legislative briefs: Feb. 22, 2015

Senator seeks to repeal film credits

JUNEAU — Sen. Bill Stoltze, (R-Mat-Su/Chugiak), has introduced a bill to repeal the state’s film production tax credit program.

Credited partially for a boom in Alaska-based television programming, the film tax credit program began in 2008 and, according to a press release regarding Stoltze’s bill, has paid out or approved $75 million in tax credits.

Critics like Stoltze say that the credits are a bad investment.

“Given the current budget situation we are facing, how can we possibly justify not putting this money towards our critical services such as education, transportation and public safety?” Stoltze said in a press release. “As shown by recent audits, the reality of this program is that the State is paying millions to out-of-state film crews to attract these productions to our state while we are getting little or no revenue in return.”

The same week Stoltze introduced the bill saw at least two significant press releases about Alaska productions.

On Feb. 19, Sleeping Lady Films, a Native-owned production company out of Anchorage whose president, Irene Bedard, was the voice and body model for Disney’s Pocahontas, announced it had secured the rights to Two Old Women, a novel by Gwich’in Ahtabascan author Velma Wallis.

On Feb. 17, KTUU-TV and Piksik, LLC, a subsidiary of NANA Development Corporation, announced they were teaming up to create Alaska Media House, LLC. The new company will produced Alaska-based television content for national and international distribution.

Stoltze, Neuman seek fishing rules change

JUNEAU — A pair of Mat-Su Republicans have introduced legislation to prioritize personal-use and subsistence fishing over other types of fishing.

Sen. Bill Stotlze of Chugiak and Rep. Mark Neuman of Big Lake say the bill applies to limits put on fish harvests in order to meet a goal for the number of fish allowed to escape during times when fish are scares.

Those limits can be put on any kind of fishing — commercial, sport, subsistence or personal use — but the Stoltze/Neuman bill prioritizes the latter two.

“In times of shortages, I feel Alaskans should have the first preference for our commonly-owned salmon resources. Subsistence and personal use are fisheries in which only Alaskans participate,” Stoltze said in a press release.

House recognizes hobby fliers

JUNEAU — The Alaska House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution lauding the Academy of Model Aeronautics for its work on unmanned aircraft safety and regulations.

Rep. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, who has taken on as one of her signature issues the regulating of unmanned aircraft — known colloquially as drones — sponsored the measure.

“We want people, in the air and on the ground to be safe. That’s the goal,” Hughes said in a press release on Feb. 20, the day the House Joint Resolution 5 passed. “HJR5 formally recognizes the AMA, and is a way to let Alaskans know who they are, what they’re about and how they can help.”

Hughes singles out for praise Mat-Su Borough Assemblyman Steve Colligan, a longtime flier of model airplanes. Hughes called him, “a tremendous resource and sounding board.”

Mat-Su office teleconference schedule

WASILLA — Mat-Su residents hoping to monitor pending legislation in Juneau need only travel as far as the Legislative Information Office in Wasilla and join a teleconference.

And, if you don’t know what’s on tap in Juneau, here’s the list for Feb. 23:

•At 8 a.m. is a House Education Committee hearing for a bill regarding constitutional curriculum at

•At 9 a.m. is a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the budget for the departments of Fish and Game, Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.

•At 1 p.m. is a House Judiciary Committee hearing for a powers of attorneys bill

•Also at 1p.m. is a House Resources committee hearing to get an overview of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge issue from the departments of Natural Resources and Revenue.

•At 1:30 p.m. is a House Finance Committee meeting about the capital budget, the operating budget, the mental health budget and the governor’s budget amendments

•Also at 1:30 p.m. is a Senate Health and social Services Committee meeting on the Medicaid expansion

•Also at 1:30 p.m. is a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on confirmation of the governor’s appointees to various boards and commissions and about a bill regarding prostitution laws

•At 3:15 p.m., is a House Labor and Commerce Committee hearing about a bill regarding rules for private investigators

•At 3:30 p.m. is a Senate Resources Committee hearing regarding confirmation of the governor’s appointees to the Board of Game.

•At 5 p.m. is a House Finance subcommittee meeting about the governor’s budget

•Also at 5 p.m., a different House Finance subcommittee will discuss the University of Alaska

•At 6 p.m. yet another House Finance subcommittee will discuss the supplemental budget and budget amendments

•Also at 6 p.m. a fourth House Finance subcommittee will talk about labor and workforce development issues.