05/01/2003 08:06 AM House STA

HJR 24-ALASKA-YUKON INTERGOV RELATIONS ACCORD                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH  announced that  the next  order of  business was                                                               
HOUSE  JOINT  RESOLUTION NO.  24,  Relating  to the  Alaska-Yukon                                                               
Intergovernmental   Relations  Accord,   to  annual   legislative                                                               
exchanges, and  to continuing  intergovernmental work  on matters                                                               
of joint concern and mutual interest.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Number 2890                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG,  speaking  as the  sponsor,  explained                                                               
that this resolution grew out  of the recent exchange between the                                                               
Alaska  State Legislature  and  the  Yukon Legislative  Assembly.                                                               
The committee packets  should include a copy  of the Alaska-Yukon                                                               
Intergovernmental Relations  Accord.   The agreement  will expire                                                               
on  September  8,   2003,  and  therefore  the   purpose  of  the                                                               
resolution is to  urge the continued extension  of accord between                                                               
the Alaska State Legislature and  the Yukon Legislative Assembly.                                                               
In  the   past,  there  have   been  times  when   the  Northwest                                                               
Territories  of Canada  have participated  as well.   He  said he                                                               
would appreciate the support of the committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
TAPE 03-47, SIDE B                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG  informed the committee that  during the                                                               
exchange there  was an  informal discussion  with the  premier of                                                               
the Yukon, regarding  continuing the accord.   However, there was                                                               
no  discussion  of [the  Yukon  Legislative  Assembly] passing  a                                                               
resolution.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Number 2940                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM, speaking as  a co-sponsor, related that                                                               
during conversations  with the  Yukon Legislative  Assembly there                                                               
was  positive sentiment  and verbal  commitments  to continue  to                                                               
address  concerns  and  issues  with Alaska.    She  related  her                                                               
feeling  that Alaska  will have  a positive  working relationship                                                               
with the premier and the rest of the parliament.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG related  that he  felt that  it was  an                                                               
extremely positive  exchange and  the Yukon  Legislative Assembly                                                               
wants to work with Alaska.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 2904                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HOLM moved that the  committee adopt the following                                                               
conceptual amendment:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 10:                                                                                                           
          Delete "Pat Duncan"                                                                                                   
          Delete "Tony Knowles"                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
He explained that  including specific names in  government from a                                                               
specific  point in  time doesn't  blend  with the  notion of  two                                                               
governments attempting to solidify their relationship.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted his support  of that.  However, he                                                               
proposed that  the language  on page 1,  lines 10-11,  be changed                                                               
such that  it would read, "WHEREAS  the Premier of the  Yukon and                                                             
the Governor of Alaska, signed ...".                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DAHLSTROM mentioned  that she  and Representative                                                               
Gruenberg   had  this   conversation   previously   and  she   is                                                               
comfortable with that change.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH  reviewed some of the  very important connections                                                               
Alaska and  the Yukon  Territory share, such  as the  Yukon River                                                               
and  the U.S.-Canada  Salmon Treaty.   Chair  Weyhrauch announced                                                               
that there  was no objection to  Representative Holm's conceptual                                                               
amendment, and therefore it was adopted.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved to report  HJR 24, as amended, out                                                               
of  committee with  individual recommendations.   There  being no                                                               
objection,  CSHJR 24(STA)  was reported  out of  the House  State                                                               
Affairs Standing Committee.