Legislature(1999 - 2000)
1999-02-18 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf1999-02-18 Senate Journal Page 0287 SB 79 SENATE BILL NO. 79 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: An Act relating to the management and protection of state land legislatively designated for public use under AS 41.23, and state land designated by the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources for special management; and providing for an effective date. was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. Fiscal note published today from Department of Natural Resources. Governors transmittal letter dated February 18: Dear President Pearce: In the interest of public health and safety, the state of Alaska should make every effort to enforce our laws governing conduct on state land and water. Existing statute authorizes certain state employees to enforce these laws in state parks and some recreational facilities. However, it does not extend that enforcement capability to legislatively designated public use areas, other recreation areas, or 1999-02-18 Senate Journal Page 0288 SB 79 special use areas. This bill I transmit today extends enforcement authority to these other highly valued and used lands by authorizing certain employees of the Department of Natural Resources to issue citations for violations. Perhaps the biggest problem this bill tries to address is the removal of abandoned equipment, property, and junk on state land. Without any enforcement authority, the department currently is limited to asking violators to remove their junk, usually with no response. The department would resort to issuing citations when other non-punitive attempts to halt the illegal activity have failed. Penalties for conviction of a special area violation would range from $1,000 to $5,000 and could include the forfeiture of natural resources and profits acquired as a result of the violation. However, the bill authorizes the Alaska Supreme Court to identify offenses that could be paid without a court appearance and to set a bail schedule for these cases. It is likely these fines for incidents such as littering, unauthorized occupancy, or blocking public access to trails, airstrips, and river channels, would mirror fines for these offenses on park lands and range from $25 to $200. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure that will enhance the use of our public lands. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor