00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 231                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to qualifications of ocean rangers serving aboard large commercial                                     
02 passenger vessels."                                                                                                     
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1. AS 46.03.476 is amended to read:                                                                      
05            Sec. 46.03.476. Ocean rangers [RANGERS]. (a) An owner or operator of a                                 
06       large commercial passenger vessel entering the marine waters of the state is required                             
07       to have (1) a marine engineer licensed by the United States Coast Guard or (2) a                          
08       person who holds a degree in marine safety and environmental protection, or an                                
09       equivalent course of study approved by the department, from an accredited                                     
10       maritime educational institution [HIRED OR RETAINED BY THE                                                    
11       DEPARTMENT] on board the vessel to act as an independent observer for the                                         
12       purpose of monitoring state and federal requirements pertaining to marine discharge                               
13       and pollution requirements and to insure that passengers, crew, and residents at ports                            
14       are protected from improper sanitation, health, and safety practices.                                             

01            (b)  The person whose presence is required by (a) of this section                                        
02       [LICENSED MARINE ENGINEER] shall monitor, observe, and record data and                                            
03       information related to the engineering, sanitation, and health related operations of the                          
04       vessel, including but not limited to registration, reporting, record-keeping, and                                 
05       discharge functions required by state and federal law.                                                            
06            (c)  Any information recorded or gathered by the person whose presence is                                
07       required by (a) of this section [LICENSED MARINE ENGINEER] shall be                                           
08       promptly conveyed to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the                                  
09       United States Coast Guard on a form or in a manner approved by the commissioner of                                
10       environmental conservation. The commissioner may share information gathered with                                  
11       other state and federal agencies.