CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 365(FIN)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the rapid response to, and control                                                                     
     of, aquatic invasive species."                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PAUL SEATON,  introduced HB  365 and  stated                                                                    
that the legislation addressed an  issue of invasive species                                                                    
coming into Alaska. He explained  that there were situations                                                                    
where  an  invasive species  would  come  into an  area  and                                                                    
instead  of a  rapid containment  and elimination  response,                                                                    
studies  were conducted.  He shared  that containment  of an                                                                    
invasive   species   could  be   done   at   the  point   of                                                                    
introduction,  but  that  after a  species  was  established                                                                    
throughout  a  range,  it  became  extremely  difficult  and                                                                    
expensive  to  remove.  He  discussed  an  invasive  species                                                                    
situation  in Sitka,  where Didemnum  Vexillum had  infested                                                                    
Whiting  Harbor   and  related   its  potential   impact  on                                                                    
fisheries in  the area.  He explained that  HB 365  gave the                                                                    
Department of  Fish and  Game and  other state  agencies the                                                                    
authority and  tools to rapidly respond  to invasive species                                                                    
outbreaks.  The legislation  also  directed  the "board  and                                                                    
staff" to prioritize the eradication  of an invasive species                                                                    
over the other management issues  in that area. He furthered                                                                    
that the  bill required the Department  of Natural Resources                                                                    
to include  a "hold  harmless" provision  in its  leases and                                                                    
permits in order  to enable the department to  respond on an                                                                    
emergency basis and not be held liable.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman discussed three  zero fiscal notes from the                                                                    
Department of Environmental  Conservation and the Department                                                                    
of Health and  Social Services, one fiscal  impact note from                                                                    
the  Department  of  Natural  Resources  in  the  amount  of                                                                    
$84,200, and  a fiscal  impact note  from the  Department of                                                                    
Fish and Game in the amount of $489,200.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:27:45 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 365(FIN)  was HEARD and  HELD in committee  for further                                                                    
consideration.