2001-07-20                     House Journal                      Page 1898
HB 132                                                                                            
The following letter, dated July 3, 2001, was received:                                             
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                                               
                                                                                                    
On this date I have signed the following bill passed by the first session                           
of the Twenty-second Alaska State Legislature and am transmitting                                   
the engrossed and enrolled copies to the Lieutenant Governor's office                               
for permanent filing:                                                                               
                                                                                                    
      SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 132(FIN)                                                  
      "An Act relating to the possession, distribution, importation, and                            
      transportation of alcohol in a local option area; requiring liquor                            
      license applicants to submit fingerprints for the purpose of                                  
      conducting a criminal history background check, and relating to                               
      the use of criminal justice information by the Alcoholic Beverage                             
      Control Board; relating to the offenses of operating a motor                                  
      vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft while intoxicated and refusal to take                        
      a breath test; relating to implied consent to take a chemical test;                           
      relating to presumptions arising from the amount of alcohol in a                              
                  person's breath or blood; and providing for an effective date."                  

2001-07-20                     House Journal                      Page 1899
      Chapter No. 63, SLA 2001                                                                      
      [Effective Date: See Chapter]                                                                 
                                                                                                    
The substance of this bill indicates legislative interest in toughening                             
our drunk driving laws. But that cannot be effective without adequate                               
funding for enforcement and, particularly, treatment. In signing this                               
bill, I note and am disheartened by the severe lack of funding the                                  
legislature provided to support its provisions. Of the $2.5 million the                             
administration identified as necessary to fund all of the provisions in                             
this bill, less than half -- some $1.17 million -- was funded. This will                            
greatly hamper the administration's ability to carry out this worthwhile                            
legislation.                                                                                        
                                                                                                    
                                            Sincerely,                                             
                                          /s/                                                       
                                          Tony Knowles                                              
                                             Governor"