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

Move Toward Adjournment Continues

Senate Passes Significant Legislation

For Immediate Release May 9, 1998 Contacts: See Individual Bills below

Juneau -- With just three more days remaining in the Second Session of the 20th Alaska Legislature, the Alaska Senate today approved House bills dealing with a number of issues:

House Bill 370: "1997 Fisheries Disaster"

Contact: Rep. Ivan Ivan (D-Akiak) 907-465-4942

House Bill 370 provides authorization for the expenditure of the $7 million in federal funds allocated for relief of the 1997 fisheries disaster in Bristol Bay and on the Kuskokwim River through the Magnuson-Stevens Act;

Broadcasters note: Comments in both English and Yupik from Rep. Ivan are available on the House Majority Line 1-800-478-6540
= Ivan Ivan in english, 47 K = Ivan Ivan in yupik, 66 K

House Bill 197: "Public Libraries"

Contact: Rep. Fred Dyson (R-Anchorage) 907-465-2199

House Bill 197 defines what constitutes a library in the state of Alaska and further defines which libraries may be eligible for public library assistance grants;

House Bill 231: "Regulation of Snowmobiles"

Contact: Rep. Beverly Masek 907-465-2679

House Bill 231 simplifies and greatly increases the effectiveness of the State's snowmobile registration program, permitting dealers to handle registration at the time of purchase. It also permits dealers and other agents to handle renewals. A good accounting of how many snowmobiles there are in Alaska is integral to the formula for acquiring National Trails Fund monies for Alaska;

House Bill 383: "Expected Home Deaths"

Contact: Rep. Gary Davis (R-Soldotna) 907-465-2693

House Bill 383 states that peace officers do not need to respond to the scene of an expected home death provided that certain criteria are met. A form signed by the person’s physician concerning the expectation and the death must occur at the dead person’s home as expected. A person authorized to determine and pronounce death must do so. If these criteria are met, a peace officer need not respond to the scene of the death;

House Bill 451: "Assistive Technology and Mobility Aids"

Contact: Rep. Joe Green (R-Anchorage) 907-465-4931

House Bill 451 establishes an express warranty for technology designed to help people who are physically disabled. Under the terms of HB 451, if a consumer reports a nonconformity to a manufacturer within a year of delivery, the manufacturer must repair or replace the equipment, or offer a refund of the purchase price;

House Joint Resolution 44: "Reapportionment Board and Redistricting""

Contact: Rep. Brian Porter 907-465-4930 or Rep. Eldon Mulder 907-465-2647 (both R-Anchorage)

House Joint Resolution 44 proposes Constitutional Amendments to remove the threat of political gerrymandering from the state's Reapportionment and Redistricting provisions.

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