Alaska State Legislature
News from the House and Senate Majorities

Media Advisory

House Majority Press Office
Anchorage, AK 99501
Jerry Ritter (907) 258-8164
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540
http://www.akrepublicans.org

Five Bills Signed Today

HB 393 Becomes Law

For Immediate Release: June 16, 1998

Anchorage - At an Anchorage ceremony, Governor Knowles Wednesday signed into law House Bill 393, which authorizes the state to negotiate contracts with project sponsors to develop stranded gas resources in Alaska, particularly those on the North Slope. The bill will allow Alaska natural gas to compete with other gas projects around the world. The local hire provisions of this bill mean the gasline project from the North Slope to tidewater will produce thousands of construction jobs over the years it takes to build the line. It will also mean hundreds of jobs in Alaska for the next forty years and literally billions of dollars to the state. The bill will also mean ample gas supplies for Alaskans into the foreseeable future as well as reasonable prices for that gas. The bill provides for legislative review and public hearings on any contract negotiated by the State to develop a natural gas project.
| Sponsor Statement |

Governor Knowles also signed into law four other bills that were passed overwhelmingly by the 20th Alaska Legislature.

• Senate Bill 354, sponsored by Senator Robin Taylor, makes changes to the state's probate laws which should make it more attractive to set-up trusts in Alaska.
  | Sponsor Statement |
• House Bill 252, sponsored by Representative Joe Ryan, tightens registration requirements for sex offenders and brings the state into compliance with federal sex offender laws.
  | Sponsor Statement |
• House Bill 16, sponsored by Representative Pete Kelly, rewrites the state's juvenile delinquency laws with an emphasis on providing swift and consistent consequences to juvenile offenders.
  | Sponsor Statement | Talking Points |
• House Bill 7, sponsored by House Majority Leader Representative Brian Porter, provides for voluntary face-to-face mediation between juvenile offenders and their victims.
  | Sponsor Statement |

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Broadcasters: Comments are available on the Majority Actuality Line, 1-800-478-6540.

House Box 2: Rep. Pete Kelly, sponsor of HB 16, comments on the importance of ensuring that juvenile offenders understand there are consequences for their illegal actions.
= Pete Kelly, 87 K

House Box 3: Rep. Ramona Barnes, who chaired the Legislative Task Force that began the process of authorizing development of stranded gas resources, comments after today's ceremony.
= Ramona Barnes, 57 K

House Box 4: Rep. Mark Hodgins, who carried HB 393 in the Legislature, comments on the importance of developing Alaska's stranded gas reserves.
= Mark Hodgins, 63 K

House Box 5: Rep. Joe Ryan talks about SB 354 and HB 252. Rep. Ryan sponsored companion legislation ( Sponsor Statement ) in the House similar to SB 354 and discusses the potential benefits of the trust industry to Alaska. Rep. Ryan also discusses HB 252, which he sponsored. The measure tightens Alaska's sex offender laws.
= Joe Ryan, 96 K

House Box 6: Rep. Brian Porter discusses HB 7, which he sponsored. This law authorizes voluntary mediation between juvenile offenders and their victims in lieu of court proceedings.
= Brian Porter, 56 K