Legislature(2001 - 2002)
2001-03-12 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2001-03-12 Senate Journal Page 0613 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE -- FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday March 12, 2001 Sixty-fourth Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Halford at 11:14 a.m. The roll showed eighteen members present. Senators Ellis, Phillips were excused from a call of the Senate. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Dr. Walter Soboleff. Senator Lincoln moved and asked unanimous consent that the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Most Gracious God, we humbly bow in prayer for the people of this State, especially for its Senate here assembled; that Thou wouldst be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations for the advancement of this State. Kindle, we pray Thee hearts of all, the true love of service and wisdom essential to needs of today and tomorrow. Bless us for every need to maintain strength in body, soul and spirit. Amen. Senator Donley led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Certification Senator Leman moved and asked unanimous consent that the journals for the sixty-first through sixty-third legislative days be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. 2001-03-12 Senate Journal Page 0614 Messages from the Governor SR 1 Message dated March 7 and received March 9 was read, stating the Governor transmitted the engrossed and enrolled copies of the following resolution to the Lieutenant Governor's Office for permanent filing: SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 Establishing a Senate Special Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations. Senate Resolve No. 1 HB 44 Message dated and received March 9 was read, stating the Governor signed the following bill and transmitted the engrossed and enrolled copies to the Lieutenant Governor's Office for permanent filing: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 44(TRA) "An Act designating the Joe Redington, Sr., Memorial Trail." Chapter 1, SLA 2001 Effective Date: 06/07/01 Messages from the House SB 53 Message dated March 9 was read, stating the House passed and returned: SENATE BILL NO. 53 "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers." The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment. 2001-03-12 Senate Journal Page 0615 SJR 9 Message dated March 9 was read, stating the House passed and returned: SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 9 Relating to the development and deployment of the National Missile Defense System. The resolution was referred to the Secretary for enrollment. Message dated March 9 was read, stating the House passed and transmitted for consideration: First Reading and Reference of House Resolutions HCR 4 CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4(STA) am BY THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, Declaring February 2002 to be African-American Citizen Recognition Month. was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs Committee. Introduction and Reference of Senate Resolutions SJR 19 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19 BY SENATORS LINCOLN, Hoffman, Ward, Austerman, Davis, Olson, Elton, Relating to condemning a recent hate crime against Alaska Natives; calling for public and private agencies and citizens to speak out condemning racism and discrimination; and joining in a request for a formal investigation by the United States Commission on Civil Rights on racial discrimination and intolerance in Alaska. 2001-03-12 Senate Journal Page 0616 was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Judiciary Committees. Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 134 SENATE BILL NO. 134 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act establishing the Alaska Commercial Passenger Vessel Coastal Protection Program for certain vessels with overnight accommodations for 50 or more passengers, including a permit and fees for such vessels operating in waters of this state, oversight of the program by the Department of Environmental Conservation, civil and criminal liability for violations of the program, and recognition of superior environmental performance by vessels subject to the program; creating a commercial passenger vessel coastal protection fund; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Transportation and Finance Committees. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Environmental Conservation Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Law Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Governor's transmittal letter dated March 9: Dear President Halford: This bill I transmit today creates a comprehensive program to protect Alaska's pristine coastal environment from pollution emanating from passenger ships that ply our waters. 2001-03-12 Senate Journal Page 0617 In the last ten years, the number of visitors traveling in Alaska on cruise ships increased from less than 200,000 to more than 640,000 and the forecast is for continued growth. Before the late 1990's most cruise ships carried fewer than 1,500 people. Newer ships carry up to 3,500 passengers and crew and that number will soon reach more than 4,500 on ships now under construction. The number of cruise ship passengers and crew on Southeast Alaska waters at any one time can equal the population of the region's largest city. Like any city, this concentration of people will generate solid and liquid waste and air emissions. Alaska has comprehensive laws in place for monitoring and controlling the discharges from our land-based cities. We have reached the point where similar programs must be put in place for the floating cities on our waters. This bill creates a comprehensive permitting program for cruise ships covering wastewater, solid waste, and air emissions. This innovative program is carefully designed to protect our coastal environment while making it as easy as possible for the cruise industry to do business in Alaska. Each ship would carry a single permit per season covering water, land, and air. Cruise ship operators would automatically obtain a permit through a simple notification procedure with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). With the notification, operators state their intent to enter Alaska waters, agree to abide by the standard terms of the permit, and state where the owners or their agents may be found if anything goes wrong. The exact conditions of the permit would be developed through a public regulation-making process involving the industry and building upon the extensive work of the Alaska Cruise Ship Initiative, a group composed of federal, state, local, and industry representatives. The regulations would generally require reports related to the release of pollutants, sampling waste discharges, limitations on the times, locations and composition of waste discharges, and development of plans for the safe management of wastes. The bill specifically provides that reporting, sampling, and limitations, where practicable, be consistent with existing federal law and tailored to different classes of vessels to reduce any unnecessary burden on the permitees. The program minimizes paperwork and includes field verification of the effectiveness of industry's performance through direct discharge 2001-03-12 Senate Journal Page 0618 monitoring. The industry is civilly and criminally liable for any violations, with consequences consistent with those faced by other facilities operating in the state. Similar to other industries using the state's infrastructure, services, and natural resources, cruise ships must bear the cost of the coastal protection program that safeguards the pristine and picturesque environment upon which their business is based. The bill establishes a fee system based on the amount of business conducted in Alaska waters, and is limited to recoupment of the costs of carrying out the program. Finally, the bill acknowledges the importance of the voluntary efforts of the cruise industry in going beyond compliance with the letter of the law, through a program to recognize and reward superior environmental performance. This innovative program fairly, efficiently, and comprehensively addresses the environmental challenges of increasing cruise ship activity in Alaska. I urge your prompt consideration and passage of this bill. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor SB 135 SENATE BILL NO. 135 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET AND AUDIT COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act relating to mental health information and records; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education and Social Services and Judiciary Committees. 2001-03-12 Senate Journal Page 0619 SB 136 SENATE BILL NO. 136 BY THE SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act relating to resource development and to grants for the purpose of promoting resource development from appropriations of a portion of the revenue derived from the extraction of certain state natural resources." was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. Consideration of the Calendar Citations Honoring - Katie Hurley Representative(s) Croft Senator(s) Ellis, Hoffman, Elton, Lincoln, Davis, Austerman, Taylor, Kelly, Green, Pearce, Halford In Memoriam - James "Big Jim" Martin Senator(s) Davis, Leman, Donley, Hoffman, Elton, Lincoln, Austerman, Taylor, Kelly, Green, Pearce, Halford In Memoriam - Margaret Kennison Jack Senator(s) Davis, Leman, Donley, Hoffman, Elton, Lincoln, Austerman, Taylor, Kelly, Green, Pearce, Halford In Memoriam - Evan Michael Alexie Representative(s) Morgan Senator(s) Lincoln, Halford, Leman, Hoffman, Elton, Davis, Austerman, Taylor, Kelly, Green, Pearce In Memoriam - Philip Alexie Representative(s) Morgan Senator(s) Lincoln, Halford, Leman, Hoffman, Elton, Davis, Austerman, Taylor, Kelly, Green, Pearce 2001-03-12 Senate Journal Page 0620 In Memoriam - Venzy H. Vecera Representative(s) Croft Senator(s) Ellis, Leman, Donley, Hoffman, Elton, Lincoln, Davis, Austerman, Taylor, Kelly, Green, Pearce Senator Leman moved and asked unanimous consent that the citations be adopted. Without objection, the citations were adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. Unfinished Business Senator Wilken moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from afternoon plane time, March 22 through the morning of March 23. Without objection, Senator Wilken was excused. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. Adjournment Senator Leman moved and asked unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment until 11:00 a.m., March 13, 2001. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 11:29 a.m. Heidi Vogel Secretary of the Senate March 2001 2001-03-12 Senate Journal Page 0621 Announcements Americans with Disabilities Act Notice - Persons with disabilities who require special accommodation or alternative communication formats to access committee meetings may contact the appropriate committee office or the Legislative Information Office in their community. Reasonable advance notice is needed to accommodate the request. For further information, call the ADA Coordinator at 465-3854 Voice/465-4980 TDD.