05/03/2004 03:45 PM Senate RES

     CSHJR 41(RES)-LAND RECREATIONAL VISITOR PROTECTION ACT                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR OGAN announced CSHJR 41(RES) to be up for consideration.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BETH  KERTTULA, sponsor,  said that  CSHJR 41(RES)                                                               
supports Senator Ted Stevens' actions  in getting federal funding                                                               
for avalanche  safety in Alaska.  "We have more  avalanche deaths                                                               
than any  other state and it's  not per capita.... We  have a lot                                                               
of support for it...."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WAGONER  pointed out that  the language in  CSHJR 41(RES)                                                               
states  "deaths per  capita" and  asked if  she wanted  to change                                                               
that.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. JULIE  LUCKY, staff to Representative  Kerttula, replied that                                                               
actually the statistic is valid both ways.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KERTTULA  said  she  was  open  to  that  change,                                                               
however.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  SEEKINS asked  if  the federal  effort  applies only  to                                                               
national parks.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KERTTULA  explained  that grant  money  would  go                                                               
through the  national park system,  but it could be  used outside                                                               
of it.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR SEEKINS  asked if the  54 million acres mentioned  in the                                                               
bill were just national park acreage.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA said she would check on that.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BILL GLUDE,  Southeast  Alaska  Avalanche Center,  supported                                                               
CSHJR 41(RES). He said all  of the states with avalanche problems                                                               
have  federally  funded  programs of  forecasting  and  education                                                               
except Alaska.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WAGONER moved  to pass CSHJR 41(RES)  from committee with                                                               
individual recommendations  and attached fiscal note.  There were                                                               
no objections and it was so ordered.