HB 352: "An Act directing preparation of a feasibility study report relating to expanding the Alaska marine highway system to Yukon and Kuskokwim River locations and amending legislative findings regarding marine highway transportation to recognize benefits to Yukon and Kuskokwim River communities that would come from an expansion of the system to serve them."
00 HOUSE BILL NO. 352 01 "An Act directing preparation of a feasibility study report relating to expanding the 02 Alaska marine highway system to Yukon and Kuskokwim River locations and amending 03 legislative findings regarding marine highway transportation to recognize benefits to 04 Yukon and Kuskokwim River communities that would come from an expansion of the 05 system to serve them." 06 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 07 * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 08 to read: 09 FEASIBILITY STUDY. (a) The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 10 shall prepare a study on the feasibility of expanding the Alaska marine highway system to 11 Yukon and Kuskokwim River locations. 12 (b) In conducting the study required by (a) of this section, the department shall 13 consider, but is not limited to, studying the feasibility of using the latest vessel technology.
01 (c) Unless the department includes the study required by this section in a 02 comprehensive long-range plan for the development and improvement of the Alaska marine 03 highway system under AS 19.65.011 that is delivered to the legislature during 2011, the 04 department shall prepare the feasibility study required by this section and deliver it to the 05 legislature not later than August 31, 2011. 06 * Sec. 2. AS 19.65.050(a) is amended to read: 07 (a) The legislature finds that 08 (1) the Alaska marine highway system is an essential part of the state 09 transportation system, and that it warrants continued and predictable state support; 10 (2) many communities' economies are dependent on a steady and 11 stable marine highway system service level; 12 (3) many communities along the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers 13 will greatly benefit from regular marine highway transportation service for 14 passengers and freight; 15 (4) the state's tourism industry is greatly enhanced by a dependable 16 marine highway transportation network; and 17 (5) [(4)] efficient and prudent management of the system will benefit 18 the state's economy and foster economic development.