1998-05-26                     Senate Journal                      Page 4199
SJR 101                                                                      
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 101 BY THE SENATE                                  
RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR,                                    
                                                                               
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the                             
State of Alaska authorizing a priority for subsistence                         
uses of renewable natural resources that is based on                           
place of residence; and providing for an effective                             
date.                                                                          
                                                                               
                                                                               

1998-05-26                     Senate Journal                      Page 4200
SJR 101                                                                      
was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance              
Committees.                                                                    
                                                                               
Fiscal note published today from Office of the Governor. Zero fiscal           
note published today from Department of Law.                                   
                                                                               
Governors transmittal letter dated May 26, 1998:                               
                                                                               
Dear President Miller:                                                         
                                                                               
This joint resolution calling for a vote on a state constitutional             
amendment is the key element in a plan that offers a solution to               
Alaska's longstanding subsistence dilemma.  Taken in conjunction               
with a companion bill I also present today on behalf of Alaskans and           
the subsistence task force, and with amendments to the Alaska                  
National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) passed by                    
Congress in 1997, this measure will enable the state to regain and             
retain complete management of fish and wildlife on all land and                
water in Alaska.  It is identical to the joint resolutions I offered on        
January14, 1998, as Senate Joint Resolution 31 and House Joint                 
Resolution 46.                                                                 
                                                                               
This comprehensive solution to the subsistence question is the result          
of the outstanding work of a bipartisan task force made up of public           
and private members I convened last summer.  These Alaska leaders              
joined me in developing an approach, which not only enables the                
state to regain subsistence management of fish and wildlife, but also          
recognizes the paramount importance of the subsistence lifestyle to            
Alaskans.  The task force members included Lt. Governor Fran                   
Ulmer, Senate President Mike Miller, House Speaker Gail Phillips,              
former Governor Jay Hammond, former Attorney General Charlie                   
Cole and Byron Mallott, Executive Director of the Permanent Fund               
Corporation and myself.  Working together, we agreed the best                  
approach was to adhere to the original intent of ANILCA, not to                
expand or diminish its fundamental provisions, and to recommend                
only those changes in current federal and state law absolutely                 
necessary to affect the original purposes.                                     
                                                                               
                                                                               

1998-05-26                     Senate Journal                      Page 4201
SJR 101                                                                      
The attached joint resolution allows the people of the state to vote           
to amend the Alaska Constitution.  Under this constitutional                   
amendment, the Legislature could establish a priority for subsistence          
uses of fish and game based on a person's place of residence.                  
                                                                               
The task force designed its three-part package--the constitutional             
amendment, state statutory changes, and amendments to ANILCA--to               
be interdependent.  Neither the statutory changes presented in the             
companion bill, nor the already-approved amendments to ANILCA,                 
will take effect unless the voters adopt this constitutional amendment.        
Giving Alaskans an opportunity to make their contribution to solving           
the dilemma by voting on the amendment is critical.  I urge the                
Legislature to demonstrate its faith in Alaskans by considering and            
passing this resolution.                                                       
                                                                               
						Sincerely,                                                               
						/s/                                                                      
						Tony Knowles                                                             
						Governor