From Site Selection magazine, November 2001
STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY
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Alabama
New Alabama Voluntary Cleanup Act will allow the reuse and redevelopment of older industrial and business sites by exempting new property owners from liability for past environmental damages. The state Dept. of Environmental Management will oversee the program.
Gov. Don Sieglman was handed a large political setback last October when Alabama voters turned down his plan for a state lottery for funding of college scholarships and other educational programs.
Science Research Center opened in Huntsville with US$16 million in state and federal funds.
Governor: Don Siegelman (D) 334-242-7100
A bill to use bed tax dollars for tourism marketing has passed the Legislature. Alaskan officials hope to use the funds to increase tourism and help the flagging Alaskan economy.
The House passed a bill, which would allow the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to sell $76 million in bonds to finance a natural gas supply to Southeast Alaska.
The U.S. House voted in early August to allow oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). A 2,000-acre (810-hectare) area of ANWR, which was created by President Eisenhower and was originally set aside for possible oil exploration with congressional approval, is slated for exploration.
Governor: Tony Knowles (D) 907-465-3995
SCR 1005 sets up a public vote to deposit all new money earned by sales of state land trust land into the Classroom Site Fund for Arizona schools.
The legislature also passed a $3 million new economy initiative which will aide in the establishment of rural telecom infrastructure development.
Gov. Jane Dee Hull signed a bill in early May, which continues the state's enterprise zone program through June of 2006. The program also lowers the capital investment requirement in rural parts of the state to either $1 million or $500,000 depending on the population of the community.
Governor: Jane Dee Hull (R) 602-542-4331
Tax Increment Financing allows local governments to finance improvements in redevelopment areas via bonds.
House passed a measure calling for a study for the establishment of the Arkansas Infrastructure Technology Fund, which would be funded through technology initiatives. It will fund statewide projects for technology advancement.
Arkansas also is implementing a statewide geographic information systems project, which will enable companies to search a database of Arkansas locations for site selection.
The Arkansas Legislature also passed a measure that would delay the implementation of electric deregulation.
Governor: Mike Huckabee (R) 501-682-2345
The Highway to Space and Space Flight Competitive Grant programs was created to continue growth and innovation of high-tech industries. The $2 million matching grants program was designed to improve California's international competitiveness.
California dedicated $200 million toward low-performing schools. With the increased budget shortfall, the state increased budget spending $2.5 billion on K-12 schools.
New Legislative committee re-vamped power boards and gives the state control over the sale of some power plants.
Governor: Gray Davis (D) 916-445-2841
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