SCR 1-AVALANCHE AWARENESS MONTH CO-CHAIR MASEK announced that the first order of business would be CS FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1(RLS), Relating to Avalanche Awareness Month. Number 0173 REPRESENTATIVE McGUIRE moved that the committee adopt the proposed House committee substitute (CS) labeled 22-LS0335\J, Utermohle, 1/31/01, as the work draft. There being no objection, HCS CSSCR 1, version J, was before the committee. JERRY BURNETT, Staff to Senator Green, read Senator Green's sponsor statement as follows: Alaska is avalanche country. Each year Alaskans lose their lives as a result of avalanches. One of the worst years was 1999, when 14 people were killed by avalanches in Alaska. While often little or nothing can be done to prevent the occurrence of an avalanche, much can be done to prevent the loss of life from avalanches. Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 would proclaim November 2001 as "Avalanche Awareness Month." This proclamation will raise public awareness of the hazards associated with avalanches, and the opportunities to participate in avalanche safety training at the beginning of the winter recreation season. It is hoped that public participation in avalanche safety programs will be increased and that this increased participation will result in saved lives during the winter. The need for this resolution was brought to our attention by the Backcountry Avalanche Awareness Response Team (BAART). MR. BURNETT noted that [the sponsor] has reviewed the proposed HCS. He said that he understood the HCS to simply expand the number of agencies and people to whom the resolution is being sent. Number 0365 CO-CHAIR MASEK requested that Mr. Burnett review the changes that the HCS encompasses. MR. BURNETT reiterated that the HCS simply expands the number of agencies and people to whom the resolution is being sent. The HCS is now being sent to "the mayors, chiefs of police, and fire chiefs of the Municipality of Anchorage, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Haines Borough, City and Borough of Juneau, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, City and Borough of Sitka, City of Cordova, City of Fairbanks, City of Haines, City of Palmer, City of Petersburg, City of Seward, City of Skagway, City of Valdez, and City of Wasilla; to the operators of the ski areas at Eaglecrest, Alyeska, Alpenglow, Hilltop, Cleary Summit, and Cordova Ski Hill; and to legislative communication offices for statewide distribution." REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if there is any other [awareness issue] that would fall under the month of November. MR. BURNETT replied yes. He specified that last November there were some [issues] that were recognized. Number 0500 REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA thanked the sponsor's staff for including Bill Glude, Southeast Alaska Avalanche Center, as they play an important part in this. CO-CHAIR MASEK remarked that this is a needed resolution. She noted that recently two men lost their lives in Eureka [due to an avalanche]. Number 0580 REPRESENTATIVE McGUIRE moved to report HCS CSSCR 1 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objections, HCS CSSCR 1(RES) was reported from the House Resources Standing Committee.