Of Interest
Bills of Interest are piece of legislation that directly relate to conservation issues in Alaska. ACE keeps a close eye on these bills in order to better inform you of the costs or benefits of each.
Passed the Legislature and In Support of:
SB 289 'Home Energy Conservation' - Senator Hoffman (D-Bethel) - This bill would update and expand the home energy conservation and weatherization programs in the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC). Allow greater flexibility to the agency for the administration of this program and allows better response to issues such as rising fuel costs and energy crisis in Rural Alaska. Additionally, it would broaden the scope of AHFC through greater weatherization and efficiency funding.
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HB 268 ' Damaging a Vehicle on Public Land by Starting a Fire or Causing an Explosion' - Rep. Stoltze (R-Chugiak) | Rep. Lynn (R-Anchorage) | Rep. Ramras (R-Fairbanks) | Rep. Gatto (R-Palmer) | Rep. Crawford (D-Anchorage) The bill would make intentionally burning or exploding cars on state or municipal land a Class C felony - arson in the third degree. It addresses a longstanding concern of many users of public lands in Alaska.
SB230 'Film Office/Film Production Tax Credit' - Sen. Ellis (D-Anchorage) SB230 would create an Alaska Film Office and give a tax credit to TV and film producers to encourage them to shoot in Alaska. Senator Ellis is bringing attention to the fact that Alaska is the setting of many movies that are not actually filmed here. The intention of the bill is to get those producers filming in Alaska so that Alaskans can benefit economically.
HB 283/SB 216 PURPLE HEART TRAIL- Rep. Gardner (D-Anchorage) and Rep. Lynn (R-Anchorage)/ Senator Ellis (D-Anchorage)- Designating the Alaska Highway and portion of the Richardson Highway as the Purple Heart Trail. SB 216 was referred to the Transportation Committee.
HB 267 'Wildlife Violator Compact' - Rep. Johnson (R-Anchorage) - This bill authorizes Alaska to join with 26 other states in entering into the Wildlife Violator Compact (WVC) and authorizes the compact to supersede existing statutes by approving standards, rules, or other actions under the terms of the compact. It also allows the revocation of appropriate licenses in Alaska based on a resident licensee's violation of or failure to comply with the terms of a wildlife resource citation issued in another state that is a party to the compact. HB267 was referred to Resources and Finance. The first hearing occurred last week. While it appeared to have good support in general, the bill was held over to address remaining questions and concerns of committee members.
HB 149 POLLUTANT DISCHARGE PERMITS- This bill was introduced by request of Governor Palin last session to revise certain provisions of law governing the department's permitting and enforcement authority in order to align the state's permit requirements with EPA's permitting oversight. EPA is currently reviewing Alaska's application to run the federal NPDES permitting program. The changes made by the bill are necessary to align state laws with the more stringent federal law.
HB 330 NOXIOUS WEEDS AND INVASIVE PLANTS - HB330 was introduced to create a "Noxious Weed and Invasive Plant Board" in order to limit economic loss and adverse effects to the state's agricultural, natural, and human resources. The bill has since been changed, replacing the Board with a state coordinator for noxious weed, invasive plant, and agricultural pest management and education. The coordinator is required to work in cooperation with the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service and the Association of Conservation Districts' Board of Directors.
HB 370 DAMAGE TO FORESTS/ WILDLAND FIRES- HB 370 modifies the wording in AS 19.40.010 to change the term 'forest fire' to 'wildland fire'. The central purpose of the bill is to allow firefighters the discretion to protect dwellings during a forest fire.
SB229 - Sen. Thomas (D-Fairbanks) - SB299 transfers certain portions of Tanana Valley State Forest land to the Minto Flats State Game Refuge. It was referred to Senate Resources and Finance.
SB229 TANANA VALLEY FOREST/MINTO FLATS REFUGE - Sen. Stevens (R-Kodiak) - This bill, that addresses one of our priorities, is very similar to HB74 to prohibit mixing zones in freshwater spawning areas. The biggest difference is the exemption for all turbidity mixing zones. It was referred to Senate Resources and Finance Committees.
Not Passed, But Still In Support Of:
HB 288 'Net Metering' - Rep. Seaton (R-Homer)- Representative Seaton introduced HB288, a bill that requires electric utilities to offer customers the option of installing a net-metering system, in order to provide incentives for energy customers to generate their own electricity using alternative energy sources such as wind, hydro, solar, tidal, and geothermal. Net-metering allows consumers to get a credit on their bill for the energy they create through alternative energy. HB288 was referred to Labor & Commerce and Finance.
HB 230/SB 118 'Plastic Bag Fee' - Rep. Doll (D-Juneau)/ Senator Elton (D-Juneau) - Representative Doll and Senator Elton introduce companion bills HB230/SB118, identical bills that calls for a 15-cent fee to be levied on plastic bags distributed in Alaskan retail stores and for the establishment of a marine litter fund. These bills would encourage retail stores and consumers to use less plastic bags, which have been found to be harmful to human and environmental health.
Turning the Tides, a non-profit grassroots organization in Juneau, is holding a letter writing campaign to support this legislation. To participate please click here.
HB 271 ''FLAME RETARDANTS AND TOXIC CHEMICALS' - Rep. Doll (D-Juneau)/ Rep. Gruenberg (D-Anchorage)- HB271 prevents anyone from manufacturing, selling, or distributing a product that contains more than 0.1 percent by mass of pentaBDE, octaBDE, or a combination of pentaBDE and octaBDE, known commonly as PBDEs. PBDEs have been shown to have negative health effects and are commonly found in many household products ranging from mattresses to television sets. Additionally, the bill allows the state to prohibit the use of other non-brominated flame retardants if they are found to be not safe for public health or environment. This bill was referred to the House Labor & Commerce Committee and the Health, Education and Social Services Committee.
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HB 302 'MAKE INFO ABOUT MIXING ZONES PUBLIC' - Rep. Seaton (R-Homer)- HB302 fits with our clean water for salmon priority. The intent of the bill is to make sure Alaskans are informed of the location, type, duration, amount, nature and description of pollutants, contaminants, and waste discharged under permits into Alaska waters. Exemptions include permits issued for streambed disturbance, water turbidity and private sewer systems. The information would be available on the internet. Committee referrals included Resource and Finance.
HB 387 'Distribution of Telephone Books' - Rep. Gardner (D-Anchorage)
HB387 would limit telephone and other utility companies from distributing more than one phonebook to each household. Any households wanting additional phonebooks would be able to contact their utility and request additional copies. This bill would limit paper consumption and the number of phonebooks that end up in local landfills.
SJR18 'Child Product Safety' - Sen. Wielechowski (D-Anchorage)
SJR18 is a resolution requesting the President of the United States to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to test the materials that are used in toys and other products for children and to make those results pubic. Sen. Wielechowski's resolution points out that the chemicals that make up the toys and products used by children in Alaska and across the US are not tested for short or long-term health effects. This resolution has been referred to the Health Education and Social Services Committee and Labor & Commerce Committee.
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SB 268 / HB 365 ' Knik Arm Crossing' - Sen. Ellis (D- Anchorage)
This piece of legislation would require the state legislature and the public to have a say in any Knik Arm "bridge to nowhere" deal before it could be built. SB 268 and HB 365 would require a 60 day review period and legislative approval. The Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority (KABATA) is the state agency created in 2002 during the Murkowski administration to build a bridge to Knik Arm, which has been acting with almost no input from the public or from the Palin Administration. KABATA is believed by many to have grossly underestimated the $600 million price tag for the project and the environmental impacts of the structure.
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Passed and Opposed to:
SB 253 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF GAME - Senator Huggins and
Representative Keller- This bill is HB 348's companion bill. It passed the Senate and then adopted the same format of the House Bill. SB 253 attempts to cut Alaska's citizens out of all future decision making when it comes to important wildlife issues within the state, leaving wildlife policy in the hands of a very small number of people representing a very small minority of the state's broader wildlife interests.
Not Passed and Still Opposed To:
HB 348 'Board of Game Regulations' - Representative Wes Keller (R-Wasilla)/ Mike Kelly (R-Fairbanks) - 'Board of Game Regulations.' This bill intends to remove the public from having the means to participate in the management of our wildlife resources. This bill adds language to the statutes governing the Board of Game's use of intensive management programs by changing our wildlife from a public resource to a "public asset."
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SB 176/HB 256 - Request of the Governor - This bill overlooks the requirement of a comprehensive game management plan before invoking aerial predator control, it completely ignores Alaskan voters ban on same-day airborne shooting of predators, and it eliminates aerial predator control programs of its scientific standards.
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Passed, But Keeping an Eye On:
SB 214 HUNTING BY MILITARY,COAST GD., DEPENDENTS- Sen. Huggins (R-Wasilla) - SB 214 gives non-resident members of the military service and their dependents special exemptions for big game hunting.
HB 294 MARINE TRANSPORTATION: BOARD & DIVISION - Rep.Wilson (R-Sitka), Rep. LeDoux (R-Kodiak), Rep. Seaton (R-Homer)- HB 294 establishes the Alaska Marine Highway Authority and transfers the operation, management, planning, construction and maintenance of Alaska's marine highway system from the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) to the newly created Alaska Marine Highway Authority.
Not Passed, But Still Monitoring
The bills of monitor status are pieces of legislation that are of potential interest to ACE and our conservation community. In as much, your Watchdog is keeping track of them as well.
HB 394 Wood-Tikchik State Park - Rep. Egdmon (D-Bristol Bay) - This bill will add Kisaralik and Aniak Lakes and their watersheds to the Wood-Tikchik State Park as part of the Alaska State Park System. Therefore, HB 394 will protect the watersheds of Kisaralik and Aniak. The Kisaralik and Aniak are important to subsistence, commercial and the increasingly economically important sport fisheries of the region. The inclusion of Kisaralik and Aniak Lakes and the surrounding area in the Wood-Tikchik State Park will benefit commercial, subsistence, and recreational interests.
HB 298 'MARINE TRANSPORTATION: BOARD & DIVISION' - Rep. Johansen (R-Ketchikan)- This bill seeks to create a long-range plan for the Alaska marine highway system, including a 14-year capital improvement plan for development and improvement. It received referrals to the Transportation and Finance Committees.
SB 189 APPROP.: BRIDGES, SERVICE ROADS, TRAILS - Sen. Therriault (R-North Pole)- Senator Therriault introduced this bill to appropriate $25 million from the general fund to DOTPF for the design, planning and construction for repair of existing bridge infrastructure on the state highway system and $10 million for the construction of local service roads and trails. SB 189 was referred to Transportation and Finance.
HJR 28 OPPOSE FED AIR TRANSPORT ACT PROVISIONS - Rep. Samuels (R-Anchorage) - constitutional amendment creating a production tax fund, dedicating a portion of the oil tax to the fund and limiting appropriations from that fund - only 4.5 of the FMV per year could be spent
SB 217 POWER COST REDUCTION/ENERGY COUNCIL - Sen. Wagoner (R- Kenai) and Senator Therriault (R-North Pole)- This bill would provide all Alaska Residents eligible for the 2007 PFD an additional $250 to offset high energy costs. The bill was sent to the Senate Finance Committee
HJR 27 CONST. AM: LIMITING TAXES ON GAS- Rep. Ramras (R-Fairbanks) - Permitting contractual limits on gas taxes to provide fiscal certainty
HB 308 HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - Rep. Nelson (D-Bethel) - HB308 would create a heating assistance program under the Department of Health and Social Services. This assistance program would be in addition to existing federal low-income heating and energy assistance and would provide greater eligibility for Alaskan residents for home heating assistance. This bill was referred to House Community & Regional Affairs Committee and Finance Committee.
HB 257 AQUATIC FARMING & HATCHERIES - Rep. Harris (R-Valdez) - transfers duties relating to aquatic farming and hatchery operations from the Department of Fish and Game to the Department of Natural Resources, eliminating certain permit requirements applicable to aquatic farming and hatchery operations
SB 225/HB 315 EXTEND BIG GAME COMMERCIAL SERVICES BOARD- Rules by Request of Leg Budget & Audit - The Governor introduced legislation to delay the termination date of the Big Game Commercial Services Board from 2008 to June 30, 2012.The bill was sent to the Senate Resources and Finance Committees. On the House side, the bill was sent to the Labor & Commerce and Finance Committees.
SB246 SUSITNA HYDRO WORKING GROUP; REPORT - Sen. Thomas (D-Faibanks) | Sen. Therriault (R-North Pole) - This bill creates a working group to analyze the potential of a hydroelectric power project on the Susitna River. It has been referred to Resources and Finance Committees.
Please contact the Juneau Watchdog at mikayla@akcenter.org if you have any questions or would like more information. |
