(JUNEAU) With an historic increase of $82 million to the state's education budget, passage of personal and co-sponsored legislation, and approval of numerous District R capital projects prior to adjournment, Senator Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) is calling the second session of the 23rd Alaska State Legislature a success.

"This session the Legislature made a solid commitment to public education and that's reflective in the budget increase," Senator Stevens said. "This increase will boost the budgets of the school districts within my district, and will also give municipal leaders the ability to increase their local contribution."

Commenting on the Capital Budget, Senator Stevens said, "In working with Homer Representative Paul Seaton and Kodiak Representative Dan Ogg, we were able to gain Legislative approval for numerous important public works projects."

Among the projects receiving funding in the FY '05 Capital budget are:

• $10,000 City of Akhiok Community Facilites.
• $100,000 for the Anchor Point Sewer Study.
• $70,000 for Anchor Point Fire Service Area for a 2000 gallon tanker.
• $1,270,000 for the Anchor Point Water Systems Construction Phase 4 project.
• $1,418,500 to the Alaska Vocational Technical Educational Center for deferred maintenance.
• $75,000 for Cooper Landing Senior Citizens Corporation, Inc for road access.
• $1,235,000 for Beluga Lake Float Base Improvements in Homer.
• $130,000 for the City of Homer animal shelter.
• $414,000 for Iliamna sludge disposal site.
• $75,000 for Karluk water and sewer feasibility study.
• $660,000 for the Rezanof Drive 'Y' Intersection improvement.
• $100,000 City of Kodiak for design and engineering of replacement multi-sport field and track.
• $41,839 for Kodiak community projects and improvements.
• $20,000 for rehabilitation and elevator upgrade at the Kodiak Senior Center.
• $10,000 for City of Larsen Bay community facilities/equipment.
• $35,000 for Lake and Peninsula Borough community facilities/equipment.
• $10,000 for Newhalen for community facilities/equipment.
• $10,000 for City of Old Harbor community facilities/equipment.
• $10,000 for City of Ouzinkie community facilities/equipment.
• $375,000 for Port Alsworth Airport Master Plan.
• $170,000 for the Port Graham Airport Master Plan.
• $100,000 for an outfall consolidation study in Port Graham.
• $10,000 for Port Lions Community facilities/equipment.
• $1,400,000 for Seldovia snow removal equipment.
• $20,000 to the City of Seldovia for medical equipment purchase.
• $1,300,000 for rehabilitation of Nash Road Milepost 0.0 to 5.3 in Seward.
• $26,000,000 for the Seward Marine Center Renovation.
• $2,250,000 for the Voznesenka Water Improvement project.

Personal Legislation

Two bills and one resolution introduced by Senator Stevens passed the Legislature this session.

SB 273 changes the financial support structure of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), and reduces the size of its board from 25 to either 7 or 9 members, depending on the outcome of an election. The current tax structure levies 1 percent on salmon harvesters and a voluntary .3 percent on processors for marketing activities. SB 273 requires an election this Fall for processors to vote on whether to: A) eliminate the ASMI assessment; B) retain the current .3 percent; or C) increase the assessment to .5 percent. If processors approve the .5 percent assessment, the 1 percent salmon marketing tax would be repealed on December 31, 2004, and could be available, if fishermen choose, for regional salmon marketing. If processors retain the .3 percent or eliminate the assessment, the 1 percent salmon harvester tax would be retained, and two more fishermen would be added to the ASMI board.

"This is an important bill for ASMI, which performs a valuable service for the seafood industry by marketing our products throughout the world," said Senator Stevens. "We need a strong and adequately funded ASMI in the future, especially since we may see reduced federal support for seafood marketing."

Senator Stevens developed SB 273 in conjunction with the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force. The task force was created in 2002 to address multiple challenges of the depressed commercial salmon fishing industry.

SB 194 was introduced in response to constituents who desired to expand business opportunities by allowing the delivery of up two bottles of distilled spirits or 72 ounces of beer with a floral arrangement to cruise ship or hotel guests. Current statute allows only wine or champagne deliveries with floral arrangements.

SCR 19 was introduced to emphasize the importance of fisheries education, training, and research as a long-term solution for revitalizing the fishing and seafood industry.

"Currently, there are no educational institutions in the United States that offer a seafood business degree." Senator Stevens explained. "This resolution recommends that the education providers in this state collaborate to develop and provide fisheries education programs."

Among legislation co-sponsored by Senator Stevens is SB 65, which provides for the expansion of the Spring Creek Correctional Facility in Seward.

"If Senate Bill 65 becomes law, the Department of Corrections will be able to enter into an agreement with the City of Seward to expand the Spring Creek Prison by 144 beds," Senator Stevens said. "This expansion makes sense for Alaska's prison system. It will relieve over-crowding of our prisons and lessen the extensive use of out-of-state correctional facilities."

SB 65 will also provide $2 million for the City of Kodiak to replace its aging 16-bed jail with a new, 22-bed facility. Senator Stevens said the municipality's commitment to providing jail service was a critical factor in winning legislative approval.

Senator Stevens will return to Kodiak later this month. You can reach the senator and his staff throughout the interim at (907) 486-4925 in Kodiak, 1-800-821-4925 in Juneau, and in Homer at (907) 235-0690.

(For more information, please contact Doug Letch or Katrina Matheny at 465-4925)

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