04/29/2004 04:12 PM Senate STA

          HJR 41-LAND RECREATIONAL VISITOR PROTECTION ACT                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GARY STEVENS announced HJR 41 to be up for consideration.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
JULIE LUCKY, staff to Representative  Beth Kerttula, informed members                                                           
that Alaska has a  higher rate of avalanche deaths  than any state in                                                           
the nation yet there is almost no avalanche forecasting.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
HJR  41  supports efforts  by  U.S.  Senator  Ted Stevens  to  obtain                                                           
federal  grant  money  for   forecasting,  detecting  and  mitigating                                                           
avalanches.  She pointed  out the  support  letters and  the text  of                                                           
S.931 in the packets.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  GARY STEVENS  noted that  on page  1, line  11 the  resolution                                                           
refers  to  national  parks  but   the  federal  law  used  different                                                           
terminology and  he questioned  whether it was  clear that  they were                                                           
talking about the same areas.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. LUCKY  explained that  S. 931  is funneled  through the  national                                                           
park system but the  grants could be used by that  agency, by private                                                           
entities or by volunteer groups.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
There were no further questions.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked for the pleasure of the committee.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRETCHEN GUESS motioned to  move CSHJR 41(RES) from committee                                                           
with individual recommendations and  attached zero fiscal note. There                                                           
being no objection, it was so ordered.