04/08/1997 03:33 PM Senate STA

                                                                               
                 CSHB 20(FIN) DOG MUSHING CONTESTS                             
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate State Affairs Committee to order             
 at 3:33 p.m. and brought up CSHB 20(FIN) as the first order of                
 business before the committee.                                                
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE IVAN IVAN, prime sponsor of HB 20, said dog mushing            
 contests are historically important activities to many Alaskans and           
 communities across the state, and the legislation would authorize             
 dog musher associations, which run races recognized by the Division           
 of Charitable Gaming, to conduct statewide games of chance.  The              
 division recognizes those associations which have been in existence           
 for at least three years, have at least 25 Alaskan members and be             
 a not-for-profit organization.  The prizes of money will be awarded           
 for the closest guesses of at least three elements of uncertainty             
 about a sled dog race that cannot be determined before the start of           
 the race.  The intent is to provide a mechanism to assist race                
 organizing committees to become financially self-sufficient.                  
                                                                               
 Representative Ivan pointed out that throughout the years high                
 profile protesting by animal rights groups has caused important               
 corporate sponsors to withdraw financial support.  He said CSHB
(FIN) would create a sweepstakes similar to one passed by the               
 previous Legislature for the Iditarod Race Committee and,                     
 hopefully, allow sled dog races which do not have strong financial            
 backing to continue.                                                          
                                                                               
 Representative Ivan clarified the legislation would allow                     
 contestants to purchase tickets on which the contestant would guess           
 the checkpoints and finish line arrival times, the temperature when           
 a particular team crosses the finish line, the total number of dogs           
 that finish the race, etc.  The dog mushers' associations will                
 administer the mushers' contests in conjunction with the state                
 regulatory authority.  He added the legislation is an attempt to              
 start up a mechanism to keep dog mushing activities continuing                
 throughout the state.                                                         
                                                                               
 Number 070                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN inquired if the legislation applies to dog mushing             
 contests in general, and REPRESENTATIVE IVAN acknowledged that it             
 applies to any dog mushing group that is recognized by the Division           
 of Charitable Gaming.                                                         
                                                                               
 There being no further testimony on CSHB 20(FIN), CHAIRMAN GREEN              
 asked for the will of the committee.                                          
                                                                               
 SENATOR WARD moved CSHB 20(FIN) and the accompanying zero fiscal              
 notes be passed out of committee with individual recommendations.             
 Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.