1999-01-22                     House Journal                      Page 0064
HB 57                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 57 by the House Rules Committee by request of the               
Governor, entitled:                                                            
                                                                               
"An Act relating to immunity for certain claims against the state, a          
municipality, or agents, officers, or employees of either, arising out         
of or in connection with the year 2000 date change; and providing              
for an effective date."                                                        
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional Affairs       
and Judiciary Committees.                                                      
                                                                               
The following fiscal note applies:                                             
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Administration, 1/22/99                             
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 20, 1999, appears below:       
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                          
                                                                               
As part of the state's thorough efforts to prepare for the transition into a   
new millennium, I am transmitting this bill to protect the state and           
municipalities from liability claims for damages in connection with year       
2000 (Y2K) computer software and processor failures.                           
                                                                               
This bill is not meant to interfere with an individual's right to receive      
statutorily mandated services or entitlements.   In  the event of an error     

1999-01-22                     House Journal                      Page 0065
HB 57                                                                        
associated with the Y2K date change, that individual will continue to          
have recourse through administrative procedures to rectify the error.          
However, as explained in the findings, the magnitude of preparations for       
Y2K is unprecedented in the relatively young world of computer                 
technology.  Although the state and local governments are working              
diligently to smoothly transition their computer systems into the year         
2000, it may be expected that, despite these best efforts, some failures       
might occur.  Under this bill, the state, municipalities, and their agents     
would be immune from liability for certain damages arising before the          
year 2006.                                                                     
                                                                               
Meanwhile, I can assure the Legislature and the public the state of Alaska     
is taking extensive efforts to attempt to make our move into the twenty-       
first century one without interruptions in public services.                    
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"