2003-04-04                     Senate Journal                      Page 0700
          "An Act relating to certain suits and claims by                                           
          members of the military services or regarding acts or                                     
          omissions of the organized militia; relating to liability                                 
          arising out of certain search and rescue, civil defense,                                  
          homeland security, and fire management and                                                
          firefighting activities; and providing for an effective                                   
          date."                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance                                   
Committees.                                                                                         
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal information was published today:                                               
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Natural Resources                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Law                                                         
                                                                                                    
Fiscal information forthcoming.                                                                     
                                                                                                    
Governor's transmittal letter dated April 3:                                                        
                                                                                                    
Dear President Therriault:                                                                          
                                                                                                    
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am                          
transmitting a bill relating to certain suits and claims by members of                              
the military services or regarding acts or omissions of the organized                               
militia, and relating to liability arising out of certain search and rescue,                        
civil defense, homeland security, and fire management and firefighting                              
activities.                                                                                         
                                                                                                    
The bill consists of four main parts:                                                               
                                                                                                    
               Suits Arising from Search and Rescue Activities                                   
                           (Section 2 of the bill)                                               
                                                                                                    
First, by statute, search and rescue activities are permissive functions                            
of the commissioner of public safety. In practice, the Alaska State                                 
Troopers make decisions about when and where to conduct search and                                  
rescue activities, and how to allocate resources - both state personnel                             
and community volunteers - to those activities. The expenses are borne                              
by the state treasury.