00Enrolled HCR 23                                                                                                         
01 Supporting enhanced efforts to protect wildlife and domestic animals in the state from                                  
02 infectious diseases, foreign pathogens, and nonendemic parasites.                                                       
03                                          _______________                                                                
04 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                             
05      WHEREAS the state contains some of the most productive and unique ecosystems on                                    
06 the planet; and                                                                                                         
07       WHEREAS the livestock and wildlife resources of the state hold intrinsic value to                                 
08 the state, including economic value reaching into the billions of dollars annually; and                                 
09      WHEREAS the state's wildlife is enjoyed by myriad user groups for hunting,                                         
10 trapping, viewing, and general outdoor recreation; and                                                                  
11      WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature has the responsibility under the Constitution                                 
12 of the State of Alaska to manage its natural resources, including wildlife, for the benefit of all                      
13 the people of the state; and                                                                                            
14      WHEREAS the state subscribes to science-based livestock and wildlife management;                                   
15 and                                                                                                                     
16      WHEREAS the state's wildlife managers are tasked with providing for a sustained                                    
17 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.