HB 79-NAMING VIC FISCHER SHOUP BAY MARINE PARK  2:10:03 PM VICE CHAIR DUNBAR reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 79 "An Act naming the Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park." 2:10:24 PM COURTNEY OWEN, Staff, Representative Zack Fields, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, delivered a presentation titled HB 79: Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park. 2:10:43 PM MS. OWEN moved to slide 1, Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park: [Original punctuation provided.] Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park  In 1983, Vic Fischer's SB 128 passed establishing the first 13 State Marine Parks, including Shoup Bay State Marine Park. There are currently 49 State Marine Parks in Alaska that were established to maintain natural, cultural, and scenic values; maintain fish and wildlife resources and lawful existing uses of these resources; promote and support recreation and tourism in the state. HB 79 would Shoup Bay State Marine Park to the "Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park" in honor of Vic Fischer and his contributions to the State of Alaska. 2:11:13 PM MS. OWEN moved to slide 2, Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park: [Original punctuation provided.] Vic Fischer's Service  Vic Fischer had a long and accomplished career serving the people of Alaska. • In 1955 he was elected to the Alaska Constitutional Convention and was an original signatory of the first State Constitution. • In 1962, Vic was appointed director of the Office of Metropolitan Development in the Housing and Home Finance Agency. • In 1966 he became the director of the University of Alaska Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER). • In 1980, Vic Fischer was elected as a Senator in the Alaska Legislature where he served until 1986. 2:11:34 PM MS. OWEN moved to slide 3, Vic Fischer's Involvement in Valdez: [Original punctuation provided.] Vic Fischer's Involvement in Valdez  Immediately following the 1964 earthquake, Vic Fischer was part of a delegation of Alaskans in Washington D.C. that secured a flight on Air Force One back to Alaska to survey the damage. He was instrumental in communicating the damage the earthquake has caused to Alaska and advocating for federal funding to rebuild, especially in Valdez where the earthquake-induced tsunami had been particularly destructive. As a city planner and a director at the Housing and Home Finance Agency, Vic Fischer's advocacy was crucial in rebuilding the town of Valdez quickly and efficiently. Photo: Valdez after the 1964 earthquake 2:11:52 PM MS. OWEN moved to slide 4, Establishing the State Marine Parks: [Original punctuation provided.] Establishing the State Marine Parks On February 16th, 1983, Vic Fischer introduced SB 128, a bill to create the State Marine Park System. This bill also added 13 new State Marine Parks to protect them for future generations. "It was a marvelous idea," Fischer said. "Subsequently, I kayaked right into some of those places that we helped create and I said, 'wow, we have preserved this for recreation.' That is such a good thing. It's great to know that somebody can kayak through the inland waters, through Prince William Sound, and know that there are state parks; that there is a good, secure, safe place to camp out, to come ashore or even if you're with a boat, a safe place to anchor." "It's good from a recreation standpoint and as an Alaskan to know there are these protected areas." SB 128 was signed into law on July 15, 1983, by Governor Sheffield. Above: Vic and Ruthie Fischer kayaking at Aialik Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park 1985 2:12:32 PM SENATOR DUNBAR commented that, while he knew Mr. Fischer, he was not aware of Mr. Fischer's connection to Alaska's State Marine Parks. He said he is working with the Board of Regents and the director of the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) to rename ISER the Vic Fischer Institute. He stated that Mr. Fischer is a seminal figure in Alaska's history. 2:13:51 PM VICE CHAIR DUNBAR opened public testimony on HB 79; finding none, he closed public testimony. 2:14:10 PM MS. OWEN thanked the committee. 2:14:18 PM VICE CHAIR DUNBAR held HB 79 in committee.