Legislature(1997 - 1998)
1997-01-29 House Journal
Full Journal pdf1997-01-29 House Journal Page 0164 HB 92 HOUSE BILL NO. 92 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: An Act relating to domestic animals, to food, and to the Alaska Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act; and providing for an effective date. was read the first time and referred to the Resources, Labor & Commerce and Finance Committees. The following fiscal note applies: Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Environmental Conservation, 1/29/97 1997-01-29 House Journal Page 0165 HB 92 The Governors transmittal letter, dated January 27, 1997, appears below: Dear Speaker Phillips: Included in my effort to create greater efficiencies in state government is getting rid of archaic laws that are no longer used, but just remain on the books gathering dust. This bill is a cleanup of various statutes relating to food and animals under the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), either deleting unnecessary items or transferring them to consolidate our statutes. This will facilitate the publics use and understanding of these laws. History has left the statutes governing food scattered throughout both Title 3, which covers agriculture and animals, and Title 17 on food and drugs. With this bill, statutes governing organic food under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources would remain in Title 3, while statutes governing processed food that fall under the DEC purview would be consolidated in Title 17. Additionally, this bill makes other streamlining and housekeeping measures including deleting unnecessary flour and bread standards, statutes regarding rabies control, and staff reimbursement requirements that conflict with the state Procurement Code. The bill also allows the DEC to use future revisions of three important federal milk and seafood program standards to be sure state standards always conform, to avoid confusion in the industry, and ensure marketability of our milk and seafood products. The people of Alaska are asking for government programs to be consolidated and streamlined. This bill is a step toward that goal. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor