00                      CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 278(RES)                                                                   
01 "An Act creating the Alaska Climate Change Task Force; and providing for an effective                                   
02 date."                                                                                                                  
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section                          
05 to read:                                                                                                                
06       ALASKA CLIMATE CHANGE TASK FORCE. (a) The Alaska Climate Change                                                   
07 Task Force is established. The purpose of the task force is to                                                          
08            (1)  assess the current and potential impacts of climate warming trends on the                               
09 citizens, natural resources, and the economy of the state, in particular, the adverse effects on                        
10 natural resource development, forest safety, fish and game utilization, and transportation and                          
11 community infrastructures;                                                                                              
12            (2)  estimate costs to the state and its citizens of adverse effects associated with                         
13 climate warming; and                                                                                                    
14            (3)  make recommendations to the legislature and the administration on                                       

01 measures that would address or mitigate the near and long-term effects of climate change.                               
02       (b)  The task force consists of 13 members, as follows:                                                           
03            (1)  two state senators appointed by the president of the senate, one of whom                                
04 shall be a member of the minority;                                                                                      
05            (2)  two state representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of                                      
06 representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the minority;                                                         
07            (3)  the following members appointed jointly by the president of the senate and                              
08 the speaker of the house of representatives:                                                                            
09                 (A)  one member from the University of Alaska with expertise in arctic                                  
10       and sub-arctic geophysics or climatology;                                                                         
11                 (B)  one member from the University of Alaska with expertise in arctic                                  
12       and sub-arctic ecology or fisheries;                                                                              
13                 (C)  one member with expertise in arctic engineering;                                                   
14                 (D)  one member of the Alaska Federation of Natives;                                                    
15                 (E)  one member of the Alaska Conservation Alliance; and                                                
16            (4)  one ex-officio member, the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee,                                
17 from each of the following departments:                                                                                 
18                 (A)  Department of Natural Resources;                                                                   
19                 (B)  Department of Fish and Game;                                                                       
20                 (C)  Department of Environmental Conservation;                                                          
21                 (D)  Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.                                                
22       (c)  The task force shall                                                                                         
23            (1)  select a chairperson from among members of the legislature, collect                                     
24 information, research reports and expert opinion, and conduct at least eight hearings                                   
25 throughout the state to fulfill its purpose;                                                                            
26            (2)  make a preliminary report to the legislature on March 1, 2007, on findings                              
27 of immediate concern;                                                                                                   
28            (3)  make a final written report to the legislature on January 10, 2008, with its                            
29 findings and recommendations; and                                                                                       
30            (4)  be available for legislative hearings on its recommendations.                                           
31    * Sec. 2. Section 1 of this Act is repealed June 1, 2008.                                                          

01    * Sec. 3. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).