1997-03-06                     House Journal                      Page 0559
HB 176                                                                       
Tax credits would not exceed  50% of a company's salmon tax liability          
and could not be used to fund more than 50% of an expenditure. The             
credit would be available for the 1997, 1998 and 1999 tax years with           
a two-year carry-forward through 2001.  These coming years will be,            
perhaps, the most critical years the Alaska salmon industry has ever           
faced.                                                                         
                                                                               
This legislative proposal is designed to be very surgical.  It is not a tax    
holiday; it is a hand-up to those Alaska salmon businesses that are            
taking on a tremendous risk and expense in developing new and                  
innovative products, so that more people will eat Alaska salmon.               
Ensuring the salmon industry is equipped to meet the challenges of the         
world marketplace will pay big dividends to Alaskas economic future.           
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor                                                                
                                                                               
HB 177                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 177  by the House Rules Committee by request of                 
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
An Act relating to loans to commercial fishermen for marketing                
development purposes; and providing for an effective date.                     
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce                   
Committee, the House Special Committee on Fisheries and the Finance            
Committee.                                                                     
                                                                               
The following fiscal note applies:                                             
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Commerce & Economic Development, 3/6/97             
                                                                               
The Governors transmittal letter, dated March 5, 1997, appears below:          
                                                                               
Dear Speaker Phillips:                                                         
                                                                               
Alaskas salmon industry is facing extremely difficult times; some have         
even referred to it as a crisis.  World salmon supplies have more than