Legislature approves AGDC board change

Following approval by the Alaska House April 9, House Bill 383, allowing the governor to appoint a non-state resident to the board of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., passed the Senate April 15 and was sent to the governor for his signature.

The bill is essentially a fix for HB 4, passed last year, expanding the power of AGDC to work on an in-state gas pipeline. House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, and Rep. Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage, cosponsors of HB 4, said it was always their intent that HB 4 allowed the governor the widest latitude in selecting qualified individuals to serve on the board, including nonresidents.

The Alaska Constitution requires appointments to the U.S. citizens; HB 383 exempts public members of the board from a state statute which requires state residency. As amended in House Rules, it also requires the governor to explain to the Legislature in writing the reasons for appointment of a nonresident. The bill is retroactive to Sept. 1.

The governor appointed one non-state resident, Richard Rabinow, and that nomination drew fire because he is not a resident. The governor’s appointments were up for legislative approval as this issue of Petroleum News went to press.

—Kristen Nelson