2000-02-28                     Senate Journal                      Page 2445
SB 283                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 283 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                              
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
An Act relating to the accounting for and                                     
appropriations of state land disposal program                                  
revenue; 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 25:                                
                                                                               
Dear President Pearce:                                                         
                                                                               
Thoughtfully crafted sales of state land can benefit the public as well        
as the state. Unfortunately, budget restraints severely limit the state's      
financial ability to plan and offer land sales. This bill I transmit           
today provides the mechanism for the state to sell land to Alaskans            
by placing proceeds of sales into a separate account that can then             
fund future sales.                                                             
                                                                               
                                                                               

2000-02-28                     Senate Journal                      Page 2446
SB 283                                                                       
Under this bill, receipts of the state land disposal program                   
administered by the Department of Natural Resources (department)               
would be accounted for separately and placed in the state land                 
disposal income fund. The Legislature may appropriate from the fund            
for department expenses associated with the program. The fund                  
would be capped at $5 million; any revenues in excess of $5 million            
at the end of a given fiscal year would be deposited into the general          
fund.                                                                          
                                                                               
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                       
                                                                               
					Sincerely,                                                                
					/s/                                                                       
					Tony Knowles                                                              
					Governor