05/10/2007 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

                    HB 132 - AGRICULTURE DAY                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:26:40 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the consideration of HB 132.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARL  GATTO,  Alaska State  Legislature,  Juneau,                                                               
bill sponsor, introduced HB 132  to the committee. The bill seeks                                                               
to dedicate the  first Tuesday in May as "Agriculture  Day."  The                                                               
impetus behind the  bill is to raise awareness of  the annual $50                                                               
million agricultural industry.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:27:47 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if Representative  Gatto wanted to change the                                                               
date since the first Tuesday had already passed.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO  said the day  will be celebrated  this year                                                               
no matter what.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCGUIRE clarified  that page 1, line 5, of  the bill should                                                               
remain "the first  Tuesday in May."  She asked  if the intent was                                                               
to  get young  people  aware  of what  agriculture  means to  the                                                               
state.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO  described some of the  school projects that                                                               
could  occur  around  this  designated day.  He  hopes  to  raise                                                               
awareness  that all  food does  not come  wrapped in  plastic and                                                               
originate from a grocery store.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCGUIRE closed public testimony on HB 132.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GREEN  moved  HB  132  from  committee  with  individual                                                               
recommendations and  attached zero  fiscal notes. There  being no                                                               
objection, the motion carried.