00CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 43(RES)                                                                                          
01 "An Act establishing a grant program relating to transplantation of elk; and                                            
02 providing for an effective date."                                                                                       
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 16.25 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                   
05  Sec. 16.25.070.  GRANTS FOR ELK TRANSPLANTATION.  (a)  The elk                                                        
06 transplantation grant account is established in the general fund.  The account consists                                 
07 of money appropriated to it by the legislature.                                                                         
08  (b)  The department may award funds in the elk transplantation grant account                                          
09 to qualified nonprofit organizations for up to 50 percent of the cost of transplanting                                  
10 elk onto land in coastal areas of the state that have a maritime climate and are forested                               
11 with western hemlock and Sitka spruce.  The matching portion of the costs borne by                                      
12 a nonprofit organization that receives a transplantation grant under this section may be                                
13 in cash or in kind.                                                                                                     
14  (c)  A nonprofit organization may apply for a transplantation grant under this                                        

01 section by applying on a form provided by the department.                                                               
02  (d)  The department shall, after public hearings, develop criteria to implement                                       
03 this section that                                                                                                       
04   (1)  specify the type of information required by the department before                                               
05 the department can consider an application for a transplantation grant under this                                       
06 section; the department may require an organization to submit a plan for approval by                                    
07 the department establishing the procedures that will be used by the organization during                                 
08 the transplantation project;                                                                                            
09   (2)  determine eligible costs under a transplantation grant funded under                                             
10 this section;                                                                                                           
11   (3)  govern the minimum qualifications of persons used during a                                                      
12 transplantation project funded under this section; and                                                                  
13   (4)  delineate the areas in the state where elk may be transplanted under                                            
14 a transplantation project funded in part under this section.                                                            
15    * Sec. 2.  This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).