03/06/2003 03:30 PM Senate STA

                SCR  4-AVALANCHE AWARENESS MONTH                                                                            
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR  GARY STEVENS  asked for  a motion  to adopt  the committee                                                               
substitute (CS).                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR JOHN  COWDERY made a  motion to  adopt CSSCR 4,  \D Kurtz                                                               
3/6/03 version.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   GARY  STEVENS   asked  Senator   Green  to   present  the                                                               
resolution.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  LYDA GREEN,  resolution  sponsor, explained  on page  2,                                                               
lines 17-18 the CS deletes  reference to "Cleary Summit" and adds                                                               
"Moose Mountain, Ski Land, Birch Hill."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
This  is  the  third  time   a  concurrent  resolution  regarding                                                               
avalanche   awareness   month    has   been   introduced.   "This                                                               
proclamation would proclaim November  2003 as Avalanche Awareness                                                               
Month.  This proclamation  would  raise public  awareness of  the                                                               
hazards  associated with  avalanches,  and  the opportunities  to                                                               
participate in avalanche safety training  at the beginning of the                                                               
winter   recreational   season.   It   is   hoped   that   public                                                               
participation in avalanche safety  programs will be increased and                                                               
that  this increased  participation  will result  in saved  lives                                                               
during the winter."                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL  GLUDE,  director  and lead  avalanche  specialist  for  the                                                               
Southeast Avalanche Center, testified  the center is a non-profit                                                               
educational corporation  based in  Juneau. The  corporation lends                                                               
strong  endorsement   to  the  resolution  and   does  particular                                                               
educational  events in  November for  Avalanche Awareness  Month.                                                               
This year  they presented  an evening program  and did  radio and                                                               
television   advertisements.   Alaska   loses  more   people   to                                                               
avalanches   than  any   other  state.   Currently  it's   mostly                                                               
recreational users who  are lost, but there are also  a number of                                                               
workers and urban residents that are exposed to avalanches.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
He urged members to also  support funding for avalanche education                                                               
and  forecasting programs.  Senator Green  has been  most helpful                                                               
regarding education funds, which have been put to good use.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY  noted Senator  Green is a  valuable ally  due to                                                               
her position on the Finance Committee.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GARY STEVENS called on Aedene Arthur.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
AEDENE ARTHUR,  a private  citizen, testified  via teleconference                                                               
in  support of  the resolution.  She spoke  for the  families and                                                               
friends  of the  over 70  Alaskans that  have died  in avalanches                                                               
since the mid  1980s. She and her husband lost  their only son in                                                               
the Turnagain  Pass avalanche in  March 1999.  He was one  of six                                                               
who died in that avalanche.  Three years ago she co-founded BART,                                                               
a backcountry avalanche awareness group  in her sons' memory. She                                                               
urged members to pass the resolution.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:05 pm                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GARY STEVENS extended his condolences for her loss.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
He asked for a motion.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DYSON  made a  motion to  move CSSCR  4 (STA)  \D version                                                               
from committee  with individual  recommendations and  zero fiscal                                                               
note.