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New Beginnings:
When we arrived in Juneau last week, the city was in a deep freeze. Within two days the weather changed to rain and 40-degree temperatures and then quickly back to snow. The weather may be a portent for a roller coaster session. It has been good to personally connect with other legislators rather than just talking via teleconference. I actually expect the legislature to get a lot of work done even though it is an election year. I presume most of you heard or read about the Governor's State of the State speech (see link to speech at bottom of newsletter). The big surprises in his speech were establishing the Permanent Fund Conference and calling for a "Special Session". This would truly be a special session, as it is would occur during the active legislative session. We are still working through questions regarding separation of powers and the ability of the legislature to set its own agenda, in order to find out how such a special session could work. I anticipate one of the main topics of discussion at the Permanent Fund Conference will be the Percent Of Market Value (POMV) concept. The Ways and Means Committee held numerous statewide hearings on the POMV calculation method during the summer and fall months; the legislature will consider bill proposals based on POMV this session. I outlined my position on POMV extensively in the December newsletter, which can be viewed on my website. I have always welcomed additional ideas on ways to fund state services and I look forward to hearing the ideas put forth by the Conference after they meet in Fairbanks this February.
This weekend the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force will be meeting here in Juneau starting at 1 pm on Sunday and continuing all day on Monday. Even though I am a task force member, I am not sure which legislation the task force will recommend to the legislature this year.
Committees are starting to meet on the many pieces of unfinished legislation left over from last year; we also have to consider the numerous other bills that are currently being introduced. Right now there are 493 bills awaiting action, most of which will not make it through the entire legislative process before the session adjourns in May.
Shallow Natural Gas:
I am the sponsor of (HB 364) which gives authority to the Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to enter into agreements to reacquire the controversial shallow natural gas leases let this summer in the Homer area. District R Senator Gary Stevens has introduced a companion bill in the other body. HB 364 was read across the floor on the first day of session and received three committees of referral: Oil and Gas, Resources, and Finance. I sponsored this bill because I believe that the constituents of District 35 have voiced a clear opinion on this issue: "Buy back the leases, and protect our renewable resource based economy." As I point out in my sponsor statement (which will be available on my website in the next few days), the state has twice found it appropriate to exclude the Homer area from oil and gas development.
The urgent fiscal crisis is certain to take up much of the Legislature's time this session, so getting this bill through both bodies will be an uphill battle. However, I remain optimistic and am encouraged by the Governor's willingness to entertain the idea, as well as the Kenai Peninsula Borough's recent resolution supporting the buyback. A new bill to clarify regulations on SNG leasing and requirements for operation will be introduced by a group of legislators next week.
Lake Tustumena Salmon Enhancement Project:
A recent Ninth Circuit Court case decision barring the salmon enhancement project in Lake Tustumena threatens the livelihood of eastside setnetters. This corridor provides driftnet fishery openings and is also the source of the Kasilof river personal use dipnet fishery. The enhancement project currently releases six million salmon fry into the Kasilof River system every year. Eggs from the program are also used to stock China Poot Lake, which is a popular personal use fishery near Homer. The court's narrow interpretation of the "no commercial activities clause" of the 1964 Wilderness Act leaves ADF&G managers wondering if their salmon counting weirs will be the next management tool to be found impermissible in wilderness designations. The broad implications of this decision have galvanized efforts across the state to pressure the Department of the Interior to appeal this case to the Supreme Court. The House Fisheries Committee is joining in the effort by writing a letter on behalf of the salmon industry, local residents and ADF&G management.
Municipal Special Elections Bill:
At the end of session last year we introduced , which allows for municipalities to vote on special initiatives and referendums in the annual fall scheduled elections. With the near elimination of state revenue sharing, this bill will save municipalities and boroughs costly special elections. This bill will probably be heard for the first time in House State Affairs in about two weeks.
State Affairs Committee:
The State Affairs committee met once this week to work over a number of bills. Only one bill, , "An Act naming the Jack Coghill Bridge to the Interior," moved out of the committee. The committee listened to testimony and presentations on - Constitutional Amendment to the Permanent Fund, - Identification Cards and Driver's Licenses, and - Remote Recreational Cabin Site Sales. I am opposed to HB 40 because it would require all Alaskans to provide proof of citizenship when applying for or renewing a driver's license, causing unnecessary hardship especially on people not born in hospitals who might not have a birth certificate. A teleconferenced public hearing will be held on HJR 3 January 22nd at 8 am; contact your local Legislative Information Office if you are interested in participating.
Health, Education and Social Services Committee:
This week the House Health, Education and Social Services Committee (HESS) met to discuss the Governor's Senior Care proposal, part of which is included in (HB 374). HB 374 establishes a prescription drug cash benefit as an alternative to the $120 monthly payment low-income seniors currently receive. If seniors opt for the drug cash benefit, they can get up to a $1600 yearly reimbursement for their out of pocket expenses such as co-pays. The administration predicts that about 70% of seniors will keep the cash benefit and the other 30% with catastrophic drug costs will go for the new option. Another aspect of the new Senior Care program allows seniors who live between 135-150% of the poverty level to receive up to $1000 a year in drug reimbursement money; currently these seniors are not eligible to receive any funds from the state. The new program, with its expanded eligibility, will help another approximately 2,200 low-income Alaskan seniors. This is a transition program that will go into effect April 1st, 2004 if it makes it through both sides of the legislature. The program will stay in effect until the federal Medicare prescription drug benefit goes into full effect in January of 2006. To get more information about this program, please call the Senior Care information office at 1-800-478-6065. We passed HB 374 out of the House HESS Committee; it now moves on to the House Finance Committee for consideration.
This week in HESS we also heard a presentation from a representative of Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD). MADD has been working across the country for more than 20 years to prevent drunk driving accidents and strengthen the rights of victims of drunk driving. The Alaska State Legislature has worked with MADD over the years to lower the legal blood alcohol content level from .10 to .08 as well as strengthening penalties against drunk drivers. MADD is currently working with a number of legislators on bills such as: increased penalties for repeat DUI offenders, uniform bar closure hours and graduated driver's licenses. In a few short years, we have succeeded in reducing the number of drunk driving accidents in Alaska from the highest per capita in the nation to 26th.
Safe Haven Legislation:
I will be introducing a bill this session that establishes a way for parents to surrender their babies to designated facilities, such as hospitals or police stations. This type of legislation is typically called "Safe Haven" and gives desperate parents who feel they have no place to turn alternatives to abandoning their babies in unsafe ways. Similar legislation has been passed in 45 other states. I feel this is an important piece of legislation and is worth instituting even if it only saves one child's life.
Bill Access System:
All bills can be found on the State's BASIS system. You can see what committee a bill is in, when it will be heard, how committee members voted, and much more. You can access the system from the website below:
Live on the Web:
Remember that you can hear most committee hearings or tune into just about any legislative session, present or past, by going to Gavel to Gavel, which transmits TV and public radio broadcasts of the state legislature as they occur. Gavel to Gavel also has an online archive of past meetings. Click on the link below to connect to Gavel to Gavel:
Link to Governor's State of the State Speech:
If you need to contact the staff please click on one of the links below:
Lauren Radcliffe,
Cameron Yourkowski,
Chris Knight,
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