00             CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 23(RES)                                                             
01 Supporting enhanced efforts to protect wildlife and domestic animals in the state from                                  
02 infectious diseases, foreign pathogens, and nonendemic parasites.                                                       
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04       WHEREAS the state contains some of the most productive and unique ecosystems on                                 
05 the planet; and                                                                                                         
06        WHEREAS the livestock and wildlife resources of the state hold intrinsic value to                              
07 the state, including economic value reaching into the billions of dollars annually; and                                 
08       WHEREAS the state's wildlife is enjoyed by myriad user groups for hunting,                                      
09 trapping, viewing, and general outdoor recreation; and                                                                  
10       WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature has the responsibility under the Constitution                              
11 of the State of Alaska to manage its natural resources, including wildlife, for the benefit of all                      
12 the people of the state; and                                                                                            
13       WHEREAS the state subscribes to science-based livestock and wildlife management;                                
14 and                                                                                                                     
15       WHEREAS the state's wildlife managers are tasked with providing for a sustained                                 
16 yield harvest; and                                                                                                      

01       WHEREAS the wildlife of the state is under continuous and increasing threat from                                
02 foreign pathogens, infectious diseases, and nonendemic parasites; and                                                   
03       WHEREAS pathogen and disease transmission to domestic animals and wildlife in                                   
04 other areas of North America has resulted in catastrophic die-offs and extirpation of distinct                          
05 wild populations; and                                                                                                   
06       WHEREAS similar pathogen and disease transmission to domestic animals has                                       
07 resulted in costly and problematic die-offs; and                                                                        
08       WHEREAS screening, reporting, and mitigation are proven and widely used tools for                               
09 preventing the import and transmission of disease pathogens to wild populations as well as                              
10 domestic animals;                                                                                                       
11 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages agencies to gather                                        
12 information, perform tests, and collect data on infectious diseases, foreign pathogens, and                             
13 nonendemic parasites in the state to make science-based management decisions to support                                 
14 enhanced efforts to protect the state's wildlife and domestic animals from infectious diseases,                         
15 foreign pathogens, and nonendemic parasites; and be it                                                                  
16 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages the                                                     
17 Department of Fish and Game, Department of Natural Resources, and Department of                                         
18 Environmental Conservation, including the office of the state veterinarian, to take necessary                           
19 and prudent measures to detect and identify the presence of infectious diseases, foreign                                
20 pathogens, and nonendemic parasites that threaten wildlife and domestic animals in the state                            
21 and to engage in actions to prevent the spread of those diseases and pathogens to at-risk                               
22 wildlife and domestic animals.