04/09/2002 03:40 PM Senate STA

                                                                                                                                
                    SCR 30-ALASKA SALMON DAY                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SARA NIELSEN, staff to Senator Ben  Stevens, explained that SCR 30                                                              
would  proclaim   June  30,  2002   as  Alaska  Salmon   Day.  The                                                              
proclamation would  recognize the salmon  industry as a  huge part                                                              
of all Alaskans' lives and would  raise public awareness of one of                                                              
Alaska's most important  industries by promoting  the catching and                                                              
eating of salmon.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Alaska is the largest commercial  wild salmon fishery in the world                                                              
and employs  more than  29,000 people.  Nearly  95 percent  of all                                                              
commercially caught  salmon in the United States  are harvested in                                                              
Alaska.  In the  last decade  state salmon  harvests totaled  more                                                              
than  $4.5  billion  making  it extremely  vital  to  the  Alaskan                                                              
economy.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
The sport of salmon fishing is important  to visitors and Alaskans                                                              
alike. In 2001, nearly 500,000 sport  fishing licenses were issued                                                              
in Alaska.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
For generations of  Alaskans salmon has been a  nutritional source                                                              
and is  a large part  of the state's  heritage. Alaska  Salmon Day                                                              
would recognize this importance and promote the salmon industry.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
There was no further testimony on SCR 30                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT  said he had no prepared CS  and no amendments                                                              
were offered. There was one zero fiscal note.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HALFORD  commented  it   was  his  understanding  that  a                                                              
resolution  that  is   sent  out  of  state  should   be  a  joint                                                              
resolution.  He asked whether  the drafters  were responsible  for                                                              
the change.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS.  NIELSON  replied Legislative  Legal  advised  them  to use  a                                                              
concurrent resolution.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HALFORD excused  himself  to get  a copy  of the  Uniform                                                              
Rules.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT  asked him  whether he wanted  him to  set the                                                              
resolution aside.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HALFORD replied he did not want the resolution held.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DAVIS  made a motion  to move  SCR 30 and attached  fiscal                                                              
note from committee with individual recommendations.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
There was no objection.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  THERRIAULT announced  SCR 30 would  move from  committee                                                              
and if it was determined that sending  a joint resolution was more                                                              
appropriate  than sending  a concurrent  resolution then  the form                                                              
could be amended in the Resources Committee.