2018-01-26                     Senate Journal                      Page 1835
The bill would make confidential certain records of animal or crop                                                              
importation and lab testing. Farmers in Alaska must provide certain                                                             
practices and information in order to comply with federal and state                                                             
regulations. Commonly, farmers disclose animal importation records,                                                             
farm locations, test results, and animal identification to the State.                                                           
Farmers may be reluctant to participate in voluntary testing of animals                                                         
in order to protect their information and competitive advantage, which                                                          
increases the risk of animal disease outbreaks. Providing                                                                       
confidentiality for these records will promote farmer participation in                                                          
voluntary testing. Confidentiality would also limit a competitor's                                                              
unfair advantage in the market by not making available information                                                              
regarding trade secrets and proprietary business information.                                                                   
Confidential records may still be disclosed if there is a threat to the                                                         
health or safety of an animal, crop, or to the public. This bill also                                                           
provides a definition for 'varietal'.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this bill.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SB 165                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 165 BY SENATOR MACKINNON, entitled:                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
             "An Act relating to the Alaska comprehensive health                                                               
          insurance fund; and providing for an effective date."                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce and                                                              
Finance Committees.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                        Consideration of the Calendar                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                  Citations                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Bruce Rife                                                                                                           
Representative(s) Seaton                                                                                                        
Senator(s) Stevens, Kelly, Begich, Bishop, Coghill, Costello, Egan,                                                             
Gardner, Giessel, Hoffman, Hughes, MacKinnon, Meyer, Micciche,                                                                  
Olson, Stedman, von Imhof, Wielechowski