Legislature(2005 - 2006)
2005-02-07 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2005-02-07 Senate Journal Page 0238 SB 96 SENATE BILL NO. 96 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act granting certain state land to the University of Alaska and establishing the university research forest; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, University of Alaska Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Fish and Game Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Law Fiscal Note No. 4, Department of Natural Resources Governor's transmittal letter dated February 4: Dear President Stevens: Under authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill that would provide for the conveyance of approximately 260,000 acres of state land to the University of Alaska (university), most of it over the next three years. 2005-02-07 Senate Journal Page 0239 This bill is the product of more than a year of discussions between the Department of Natural Resources (department) and the university. Its major goal is to supplant the more time-consuming and expensive features of legislation enacted in 2000 (ch. 136, SLA 2000). Statutory changes enacted in ch. 136, SLA 2000 provided for a ten-year process during which the university would select up to 260,000 acres of state- owned land to be conveyed to the university for the primary purpose of generating income for the university. Unfortunately, that process has proved difficult, expensive, time-consuming, and subject to litigation. To date, no land has been conveyed to the university under ch. 136, SLA 2000. Over the course of the past year, the university and the department have reached an agreement on land that may be conveyed to the university without unreasonably conflicting with programs associated with, and uses of, state land managed by the department. The land is identified in a document titled "University of Alaska Land Grant List 2005," dated January 12, 2005, a copy of which will be provided upon request. The bill I transmit today would provide legislative approval for the conveyance of that land to the university, thereby avoiding unnecessary delay and expense, and expediting a highly significant source of income for the university. The bill also would establish a university research forest on certain land to be conveyed under the bill in 2055, or soon after that, that is located mainly in the Tanana Valley State Forest. The research forest would be used to advance research into forest practices, ecology, wildlife management, and recreation. Existing law authorizes the university to create a demonstration forest on land selected and conveyed under ch. 136, SLA 2000. This bill would repeal and reenact that law to establish the research forest without requiring a separate procedure. Because the land designated as the university research forest would not be conveyed to the university until 2055, it would be managed by the department until then under applicable state land use and forest management plans, and other applicable state law. While the research forest land is under department management, the department would be able to dispose of certain natural resources located on that land, so long as the disposal is consistent with the purposes of the research forest and complies with other applicable law. 2005-02-07 Senate Journal Page 0240 I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure, which will provide for the cost-effective and timely conveyance of land to the university in order to ensure a very significant and additional source of income for the support of public higher education in Alaska and to secure the benefits of a research forest. Sincerely yours, /s/ Frank H. Murkowski Governor