1999-01-21                     Senate Journal                      Page 0050
SB 37                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 37 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
An Act relating to immunity for certain claims                                
against the state, a municipality, or agents, officers,                        
or employees of either, arising out of or in                                   
connection with the year 2000 date change; and                                 
providing for an effective date.                                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance              
Committees.                                                                    
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note published today from Department of Administration.            
                                                                               
Governors transmittal letter dated January 20:                                 
                                                                               
Dear President Pearce:                                                         
                                                                               
As part of the state's thorough efforts to prepare for the transition          
into a new millennium, I am transmitting this bill to protect the state        
and municipalities from liability claims for damages in connection             
with year 2000 (Y2K) computer software and processor failures.                 
                                                                               
This bill is not meant to interfere with an individual's right to              
receive statutorily mandated services or entitlements.  In the event of        
an error associated with the Y2K date change, that individual will             
continue to have recourse through administrative procedures to rectify         
the error.  However, as explained in the findings, the magnitude of            
preparations for Y2K is unprecedented in the relatively young world            
of  computer  technology.  Although the state and local governments            

1999-01-21                     Senate Journal                      Page 0051
SB 37                                                                        
are  working diligently to smoothly transition their computer systems          
into the year 2000, it may be expected that, despite these best                
efforts, some failures might occur.  Under this bill, the state,               
municipalities, and their agents would be immune from liability for            
certain damages arising before the year 2006.                                  
                                                                               
Meanwhile, I can assure the Legislature and the public the state of            
Alaska is taking extensive efforts to attempt to make our move into            
the twenty-first century one without interruptions in public services.         
                                                                               
					Sincerely,                                                                
					/s/                                                                       
					Tony Knowles                                                              
					Governor