Newspaper Op-Ed
by Representative Ivan M. Ivan
The legislative session has passed the first quarter mark and a number of issues have come before the various committees in both the House and Senate. I have personally introduced 8 pieces of legislation and in this article, I will present a brief summary of each.
This bill would authorize dog mushers' associations, which run races recognized by the Division of Charitable Gaming, to conduct statewide games of chance. The division recognizes those associations which have been in existence for at least three years, have at least 25 Alaskan members and be a not for profit organization. Prizes of money will be awarded for the closest guesses of at least three elements of uncertainty about a sled dog race that cannot be determined before the start of the race. The intent is to provide a mechanism to assist race organizing committees to become financially self-sufficient.
With reduced funding for public broadcasting, I introduced House Bill 21 to provide an alternative funding source and lessen the general fund demand for this service.
This bill provides a tax credit for cash contributions made to a trust fund for public broadcasting which is established in this legislation. The credit to public broadcasting trust fund is limited to 50% of $300,000. The tax credit would be applied against a taxpayer's liability under the following tax types: the insurance premium tax, tax on title insurance premiums, corporation income, oil and gas production, oil and gas property and mining license.
Current law seemingly exempts those who sell liquor without a license (bootleggers) from any civil liability for the damages that may be caused by their illegal acts. The basis of House Bill 22 is to remove that exemption and make bootleggers strictly liable for their actions.
This legislation would ban the sale of farmed salmon within the state of Alaska. This would disallow farmed salmon products from competing with Alaska's wild stocks that are sold commercially.
House Bill 86 establishes the payment in lieu of taxes program within the Department of Community and Regional Affairs for home rule and general law cities located in the unorganized borough within federally designated areas of Alaska.
The payment in lieu of taxes program is financed by funds the state will receive annually from the federal government. The main purpose of this bill is to provide a method for the Department of Community and Regional Affairs to distribute the annual funding and to establish criteria to determine whether a city in the unorganized borough is eligible to receive payment under the program as intended by federal law.
This bill repeals the termination date of the federal tax obligation loan program that is under the Commercial Fishing Loan Act. This program is due to end on May 26, 1997. Thus far, 207 loans have been made to fishermen who, otherwise, would have lost or possibly could have lost their limited entry permits through actions taken by the Internal Revenue Service to seize permits for payment for delinquent taxes.
This proposed constitutional amendment would establish, if approved by the voters, a subsistence preference to residents in the taking of fish and game resources based on customary and traditional use, cultural tradition, direct dependence, local residence or the availability of alternative resources. If passed by the legislature, this amendment would be placed before the voters at the next general election.
HJR 18 proposes an amendment to Article IX, Section 7 of the state constitution. The current article allows for the dedication of funds for a specific purpose as long as it existed by April 24, 1956. The proceeds of the tobacco tax fall under the category of dedicated funds and are placed into the school fund. This resolution could deter potential litigation by allowing a changing of a rate of a tax or license of which the proceeds are dedicated to a special purpose. This proposed amendment would be placed before the voters at the next general election.
If you have any questions on these bills or other legislative matters, please give me a call at 1-800-323-4942. You can also get additional information on these bills on my home page. That address is http://www.akrepublicans.org/pastlegs/Ivan.htm. You may also send an e-mail to Representative_Ivan_Ivan@legis.state.ak.us.