2005-04-20                     Senate Journal                      Page 1053
SB 96                                                                                             
The Resources Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 96 "An                                           
Act granting certain state land to the University of Alaska and                                     
establishing the university research forest; and providing for an                                   
effective date" and recommended it be replaced with                                                 
                                                                                                    

2005-04-20                     Senate Journal                      Page 1054
          CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 96(RES) "An Act                                                    
          relating to the grant of certain state land to the                                        
          University of Alaska and establishing the university                                      
          research forest; and providing for an effective date."                                    
                                                                                                    
and further recommended the adoption of the following Letter of                                     
Intent:                                                                                             
                               Letter of Intent                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                 th                                                                 
      It is the intent of the 24 Alaska State Legislature that the                                  
      University of Alaska maintain its role in the state as an                                     
      academically strong and financially secure state university                                   
      system in order to remain a cornerstone of the long-term                                      
      development of a stable population and contribute to a                                        
      healthy, diverse economy in the state.                                                        
                                                                                                    
      The state of Alaska and the University of Alaska have                                         
      identified particular lands to be conveyed to the Board of                                    
                                                                       th                           
      Regents in trust for the University of Alaska.  The 24                                        
      Alaska State Legislature intends that the Board of Regents                                    
      of the University of Alaska receive land in trust for the                                     
      University of Alaska under the provisions in SB 96 in an                                      
      expeditious manner; and encourage the development of in-                                      
      state value-added industries to the extent economically                                       
      feasible and practicable when it develops the land                                            
      conveyed.                                                                                     
                                                                                                    
      The University has agreed that land conveyed at Cold Foot                                     
      Node will not be used for the purposes of establishing                                        
      businesses that would compete with an existing business                                       
      that has entered into a long-term lease with the Department                                   
      of Natural Resources.  It is the intent of the Legislature to                                 
      approve that arrangement between those parties and the                                        
      University.                                                                                   
                                                                                                    
      Further, it is the intent of the Legislature that the University                              
      of Alaska uses the land for development purposes that                                         
      contribute to the economic diversification and vitality of                                    
           Alaska.  The University may not convey the land to a not-                               
      for-profit corporation or to an entity that intends to set the                                
      land aside in trust for conservation purposes or non-                                         
      economically productive uses.                                                                 

2005-04-20                     Senate Journal                      Page 1055
Signing do pass: Senator Wagoner, Chair; Senators Dyson, Seekins,                                   
Ben Stevens. Signing do not pass: Senator Elton. Signing no                                         
recommendation: Senators Guess, Stedman.                                                            
                                                                                                    
The following previously published fiscal information applies:                                      
 Fiscal Note No. 1, University of Alaska                                                            
 Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Fish and Game                                               
 Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Law                                                               
 Fiscal Note No. 4, Department of Natural Resources                                                 
                                                                                                    
The bill was referred to the Finance Committee.