2000-01-21                     House Journal                      Page 1971
HB 306                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 306 by the House Rules Committee by request of                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act authorizing the commissioner of fish and game to award                
grants for certain resource activities; and providing for an effective         
date."                                                                         
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance              
Committees.                                                                    
                                                                               
The following fiscal note applies:                                             
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Fish & Game, 1/21/00                                
                                                                               
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 20, 2000, appears              
below:                                                                         
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                          

2000-01-21                     House Journal                      Page 1972
HB 306                                                                       
To continue our efforts to protect and enhance Alaska's natural                
resources, I am transmitting this bill authorizing the commissioner of         
the Department of Fish and Game to award grants for certain resource           
activities.                                                                    
                                                                               
Under this bill, the commissioner would have express authority to              
directly award grants that serve core missions of the department               
protecting, maintaining, and improving public access to fish, game, and        
habitat resources of Alaska.  Current law necessitates the department          
to channel money through other agencies which causes delay and adds            
considerable administrative cost.                                              
                                                                               
An increasing amount of federal funding is available to restore fish           
habitat and passage.  We have many opportunities to use these funds,           
particularly in the more developed areas of the state.  Many of these          
opportunities are found on private land on some of Alaska's most               
productive fish streams, such as the Kenai River.                              
                                                                               
Since the inception of the Kenai River 50/50 Cost Share project in             
1995, the department has approved 160 projects to rehabilitate some            
9,600 feet of riverbank and protect more than 15,700 feet of the Kenai         
River.  But more money could have been directly targeted to these              
projects if we did not have to pay the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service          
its 11 percent administrative cost for channeling these funds to the           
state.  Direct grant authority for the department will eliminate the need      
to use the federal agency in this way.                                         
                                                                               
This legislation represents a cost-effective way to continue efforts on        
private and public land to rehabilitate riverbanks, protect fish streams       
and enhance access to these areas.  I urge your prompt and favorable           
action on this measure.                                                        
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"