2000-01-21                     Senate Journal                      Page 2033
SB 212                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 212 BY THE SENATE 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.                                                                    
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note published today from Department of Fish and Game.             
                                                                               
Governors transmittal letter dated January 20:                                 
                                                                               
                                                                               

2000-01-21                     Senate Journal                      Page 2034
SB 212                                                                       
Dear President Pearce:                                                         
                                                                               
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