Legislature(1999 - 2000)
1999-09-22 House Journal
Full Journal pdf1999-09-22 House Journal Page 1807 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE SECOND SPECIAL SESSION Juneau, Alaska Wednesday September 22, 1999 First Day Pursuant to the Governor's proclamation, the House was called to order by Speaker Porter at 1:03 p.m. Roll call showed 36 members present. Representative Kohring was absent. Representative Green moved and asked unanimous consent that the following members be excused from a call of the House. There being no objection, the members were excused as noted: Representative Halcro - from today to 9:30 a.m., plane time, September24, 1999 Representative Kapsner - to afternoon plane time Representative Williams - to 7:00 p.m., plane time, today The invocation was offered by the Chaplain Designee, Representative Hudson. Representative Davies moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it appears below: Let us pray, Lord we know from the Bible that You made the birds of the air, the fishes in the sea and all living creatures on this Earth. 1999-09-22 House Journal Page 1808 Each of us are part of Your grand design. We are blessed with Your gifts of love, compassion and unique intelligence. Thank you Lord for our wonderful life and for those we love. Now we assemble one more time to consider the divisive issue of subsistence. We Alaskans are richly blessed with a land and waters teeming with all of Your creation. We need Your guidance. We need Your steady hand. We need understanding. We need charity in our hearts. Lord, we ask You to elevate our thinking and give each of us renewed humility to forget our own self interest, that we can truly become statesmen and women that embrace the wonderful difference that You have created in all mankind. Give us respect for each other. Let us walk in each others shoes. Let us pierce into the eyes and minds of those that others serve and fill us with love for all we serve and a feeling of satisfaction when the day is done. Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Green. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Green moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the sixth legislative day of the First Special Session, the First Supplement for the First Regular Session and the First Special Session, and House Journal Supplement No. 4 be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR The following proclamation was read: "Under the authority of art. II, sec. 9, and art. III sec. 17, of the Alaska Constitution, and in the public interest, I call the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Alaska into its second special session at 1999-09-22 House Journal Page 1809 Juneau, Alaska, in the Legislative chambers on September 22, 1999, at 1:00 p.m., to consider an amendment to the Alaska Constitution granting authority to the legislature to provide a priority in the taking of fish and wildlife and other renewable natural resources for subsistence uses. Dated at Anchorage, Alaska this 2nd day of September 1999. Done by /s/ Tony Knowles, Governor" COMMUNICATIONS The following reports were received: Dept. of Commerce & Economic Development Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank 1999 Annual Report (as required by AS 44.81.200) Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute FY 98 Annual Report (as required by AS 16.31.100) Dept. of Fish & Game Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission Executive Summary - Changes in the Distribution of Alaska's Commercial Fisheries Entry Permits, 1975 to 1998 Dept. of Health & Social Services 1999 Comprehensive Integrated Mental Health Plan (as required by AS 47.30.660) The following audit reports were received: Division of Legislative Audit Legislative Budget and Audit Committee (as required by AS 24.20.311) 1999-09-22 House Journal Page 1810 Office of the Governor Select Public Relations or Information Dissemination Expenditures for Fiscal Years 1997 and 1998 April 14, 1999 Dept. of Community & Regional Affairs Division of Energy Teller Bulk Fuel Facility Upgrade April 29, 1999 Dept. of Natural Resources State Recorder's Office Procurement of Document Conversion Services May 13, 1999 Dept. of Transportation & Public Facilities Anchorage International Airport Terminal Redevelopment Project February 19, 1999 INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Alaska National Guard Youth Corps School, Graduating Class 99-2 By Representative Mulder Honoring - Reverend E. Leon Thompson By Representatives Hudson, Kerttula; Senator Elton Honoring - Jude T. Metoyer By Representative Mulder Honoring - Alaska State Trooper Barry J. Croy, National Sixth Annual Top Cop Award Recipient By Representative Morgan; Senator Lincoln 1999-09-22 House Journal Page 1811 Honoring - Galena School District, Suzuki Motors of Japan & America and General Motors Corporation of America, Corporate and Business Partnerships Promoting Education By Representative Morgan; Senator Lincoln Honoring - Morris Thompson By Representatives Brice, Phillips Commemorating - VFW 100th Anniversary By Senator Leman Honoring - Juneau Little League Juniors All-Star Team By Senator Elton; Representatives Hudson, Kerttula Honoring - Mike McMullen By Senator Elton; Representatives Hudson, Kerttula Honoring - Chugiak High School's Olympiad Team By Senators Phillips, Halford Honoring - Tina and Samuel Pilch on their 50th Wedding Anniversary By Senator Phillips Honoring - Chugiak High School Concert and Swing Choirs By Senators Phillips, Halford Honoring - Colonel Timothy S. Brady, United States Air Force By Senator Tim Kelly In Memoriam - John Paul Cooper By Representative Phillips In Memoriam - Amanda E. 'Mandy' Walker By Representative Smalley In Memoriam - Francis Mae Meeks By Representative Smalley In Memoriam - Mildred 'Peggy' Enberg By Representative Rokeberg 1999-09-22 House Journal Page 1812 In Memoriam - Lynne E. Frost By Representative Rokeberg; Senator Pearce In Memoriam - Samuel 'Sam' V. Green, Sr. By Representatives Rokeberg, Porter In Memoriam - Richard Gadbury By Representative Coghill In Memoriam - Jack C. Phillips, Sr. By Representative Coghill In Memoriam - Ruby Tansy John By Representatives James, Coghill In Memoriam - Vera Matherly By Representative Murkowski In Memoriam - William S. 'Bill' Rose By Representatives Mulder, Rokeberg In Memoriam - April R. Relyea By Representatives Mulder, Rokeberg In Memoriam - Charlie Selman By Representatives Murkowski, Rokeberg In Memoriam - Michael Joseph Soolook, Jr. By Senator Adams; Representative Joule INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HJR 201 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 201 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to subsistence use of renewable natural resources by residents of the state; and providing for an effective date. 1999-09-22 House Journal Page 1813 HJR 201 was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Judiciary Committees (meeting jointly) and the Finance Committee. The following fiscal notes apply: Fiscal note, Office of the Governor, 9/22/99 Fiscal note, Dept. of Fish & Game, 9/22/99 The Governor's transmittal letter dated September 22, 1999, appears below: "Dear Speaker Porter: On October 1 the federal government will take over management of subsistence fishing on nearly 60 percent of Alaskas rivers and lakes. That date will mark a historic reversal of Alaskas independence. Our state will lose the right to manage a significant portion of the fish and wildlife within its borders, a right that was at the heart of the battle for Alaska Statehood. Today I am once again putting forward the only approach that will prevent this federal takeovera simple, permissive constitutional amendment to be placed before the voters at the next general election. In the past, the consequences of inaction by the Legislature have been postponed by the action of our Congressional delegation and the Secretary of Interior, but the messages from Washington now are loud and clear: No one is going to bail us out again; there are no more reprieves. Either the Legislature acts to bring the state into compliance with the provisions of ANILCA, or the federal government will expand its current management of game resources on federal lands to include the management of fisheries for subsistence on inland rivers and lakes within and adjacent to federal public lands. The potential impact of fisheries management is far greater than that of game management. Because of the complexity of fishery management, the federal government's reach, under the federal case law principle of "extra-territoriality," could well extend to fish now managed by the state in waters distant from federal lands. 1999-09-22 House Journal Page 1814 HJR 201 This joint resolution calls for a vote on a state constitutional amendment to permit a preference to rural residents for subsistence uses of renewable natural resources, a principle a majority of Alaskans support. Subsistence defines the special tie we as Alaskans have to our land. It makes us unique among the 50 states. In rural Alaska, subsistence is the special bond that defines the very essence of the rural way of life. The language of the amendment is similar to what I have proposed in the past and what has been recommended by the Governors Subsistence Task Force and rural legislators. When the amendment is coupled with appropriate statutory changes, it will enable the state to comply with ANILCA, thereby retaining complete management of fish and regaining management of wildlife on all land and water in Alaska. Over the years, we have studied many options for resolving the subsistence issue. Now, we are down to two. We can place a simple, permissive constitutional amendment on the ballot to be decided by Alaskans, or we can relinquish, without a whimper, some of our most precious assets to the heavy hand of federal management. There are no other alternatives. Every public opinion survey says Alaskans want us to act to preserve state sovereignty and the culture of rural residents. As elected leaders, I urge you to demonstrate your faith in Alaskans by allowing a vote on this measure that will avert a federal takeover. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor" ANNOUNCEMENTS House committee schedules are published daily under separate cover. Majority Caucus Speaker's Chamber upon adj., 9/22 Minority Caucus upon adj., 9/22 1999-09-22 House Journal Page 1815 ADJOURNMENT Representative Green moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn to a call of the Speaker. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 1:23 p.m. Suzi Lowell Chief Clerk