Alaska State Legislature
News from the House Majority

Jerry Ritter, House Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 465-3804
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Moving to Solve Deferred Maintenance

Blueprint Approved for Avoiding Future Problems

For Immediate Release May 11, 1998 Contact: Rep. Eldon Mulder at (907) 465-2647.

Juneau -- The Alaska Senate today passed House Bill 315, a major part of the Legislature's long-range plan to ensure that the state's deferred maintenance problems do not reoccur. House Bill 315 requires a separate appropriation for maintenance that will limit the use of those funds to maintenance and maintenance alone. HB 315 further requires State agencies to determine the need for maintenance funding, the amount of which will be decided by budget subcommittees in the Legislature. The Senate passed HB 315 18-0.

"The Deferred Maintenance Task Force determined that the best way to prevent a reoccurrence of deferred maintenance was to be proactive in maintenance," said Representative Eldon Mulder (R-Anchorage), Co-Chair of the Alaska Legislature's Deferred Maintenance Task Force. "Passage of House Bill 315, along with passage last week of its companion measure, House Bill 313, is a giant step down the road toward accomplishing that goal," Mulder said.

House Bill 313 requires that local agencies and school districts have in place a preventive maintenance program prior to being able to receive capital for new construction, renovation, or replacement from the state.

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