SJR 2-LIMIT FEDERAL INTERVENTION IN STATE  2:19:01 PM CO-CHAIR SEATON announced that the final order of business would be CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2(RES), Commending and supporting actions taken by the Office of the Governor and the attorney general to protect the state from federal government incursion into the care and management of state resources and to promote the economic prosperity of the state; and urging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to limit federal government overreach into management of state resources. 2:19:34 PM SENATOR FRED DYSON, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as the sponsor of SJR 2, stated that he believed the State of Alaska has an admirable record of doing a good job of managing its own natural resources. He suspected that the committee has already tracked the improvements in Alaska's fisheries since statehood. He related that he has observed some very unfortunate overstepping by the federal government, which hugely restrains the state from being stewards of its resources and the ability for the state to develop them consistent with Alaska's constitution. He explained the purpose of SJR 2 is to let the "powers that be" understand that the people of Alaska support the state's administration and its actions with respect to the management of its natural resources to promote the economic prosperity of the state. He related that the resolution has undergone considerable modification in the Senate Resources Standing Committee and the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee and received unanimous support in the Senate. SENATOR DYSON referred to a handout in members' packets titled, "Alaska Native Corporation's Resource Development" dated March 24, 2011 that lists areas of federal overreach of concern to Native Corporations. 2:21:41 PM CHARLES KOPP, Staff, Senator Fred Dyson, Alaska State Legislature, stated that the concerns expressed in SJR 2 are consistent with the ones raised by the Native Corporations. 2:22:12 PM CO-CHAIR SEATON related his understanding that the document was not presented as testimony, but that it corresponds closely to the resolution, SJR 2. SENATOR DYSON answered yes. 2:22:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER, with respect to the management of state resources mentioned throughout the resolution, inquired as to whether the comments are made with respect to the entire state and not just for state or federal land. SENATOR DYSON responded that under current authority, the state does not have much authority on federal lands or with respect to fish and game resource management. He offered that SJR 2 is specifically aimed at what he believes is an over step by federal regulators on state lands. 2:24:15 PM CO-CHAIR SEATON, after first determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on SJR 2. 2:25:03 PM REPRESENTATIVE DICK stated he is in favor of the resolution. He expressed an interest in making a stronger statement. He inquired as to whether legislators are just relieving our consciences or whether this really will have an impact. SENATOR DYSON said he shared his concern and frustration. He remarked that generally speaking, resolutions have little more value than the paper they are written on. He recalled a recent article on the topic and advised he tried to get SJR 2 passed to support the article which was, he believed, in the New York Times. The resolution did not pass in time to be in concert with the article. However, he understood that the Wall Street Journal also plans to publish a similar article. He also said that to the degree that the legislature speaks on behalf of its constituents resolutions have value. He suggested some hint in court proceedings indicate that SJR 2 may be slightly helpful in court, not legally, but to demonstrate widespread support for Alaska's stewardship of its own resources. REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER commented that the backup documents do not seem to support the proposed resolution, but seem to speak to resource development in general. SENATOR DYSON concurred. He reiterated that the document was not presented to endorse this resolution. One page of the handout in which the corporations listed federal overreach, which is applicable to SJR 2, he said. REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER acknowledged his answer. She said she asked the question since SJR 2 pertains to federal overreach on state lands. 2:28:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ moved to report CSSJR 2(RES) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSJR 2(RES) was reported from the House Resources Standing Committee.