02
LR040
Resolve: LR040
Source Root: HCR004
Year: 2002
Source Bill: CSHCR 4(STA) am
Declaring February 2002 to be African-American Citizen Recognition Month.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS the Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, and that these rights include the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; and
WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature would like to recognize and show appreciation to the state's citizens of African-American descent; and
WHEREAS there are approximately 27,617 persons of African-American descent in the state; and
WHEREAS Alaska citizens of African-American descent have made important contributions to the state by participating in the building of the Alaska-Canadian Highway, the Alaska Railroad, the Trans Alaska Pipeline System, by serving in the government of the state and contributing to the state in all facets of the private sector; and
WHEREAS Alaska citizens of African-American descent have served with distinction in the Alaska National Guard and in the United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Revenue Marine Service, and Alaska citizens of African-American descent continue to participate in the military defense of the state;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the governor to declare February 2002 to be African-American Citizen Recognition Month; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests and encourages all public and private agencies and citizens of the state to observe African-American Citizen Recognition Months with appropriate activities and to continue to promote unity among all the races that have made Alaska the great state that it is.
LR041
Resolve: LR041
Source Root: HCR022
Year: 2002
Source Bill: HCR 22
Authorizing a recess by the Senate and the House of Representatives for a period of more than three days.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS art. II, sec. 10, Constitution of the State of Alaska, provides that neither house may adjourn or recess for longer than three days unless the other house concurs; and
WHEREAS Rule 52, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, provides that adoption of a concurrent resolution by a majority vote of the full membership of each house constitutes concurrence;
BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the Senate and the House of Representatives may be in recess during March 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of 2002 and that each house concurs in this five-day recess by the other.
LR042
Resolve: LR042
Source Root: SCR022
Year: 2002
Source Bill: SCR 22
Relating to declaring March 2002 as Sobriety Awareness Month.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS it is the policy of the State of Alaska, under AS 47.37.010 , "to recognize, appreciate, and reinforce the example set by its citizens who lead, believe in, and support a life of sobriety"; and
WHEREAS sobriety has been defined to mean "a positive, healthy, and productive way of life, free from the devastating effects of alcohol and drugs" by more than 50 profit and nonprofit organizations, community groups, and student governments throughout the state; and
WHEREAS these organizations, community groups, and student governments constitute what is commonly referred to as a growing "sobriety movement"; and
WHEREAS the "sobriety movement" is interpreted as "[t]he collective effort on the part of individuals, families and communities, and public and private agencies, affected by, concerned with, and working toward the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse, who by example encourage and support others in leading a life of sobriety"; and
WHEREAS the practice and benefits of leading a life of sobriety to Alaska's citizens are threefold:
(1) improvement in the quality of life and health of individuals, families, and communities;
(2) reduction in the incidence of alcohol and drug related crimes;
(3) reduction in the burden on government by not having to exhaust its resources to pay for the pervasive problems caused by alcohol and drug abuse; and
WHEREAS March has been designated "Sobriety Awareness Month" by the Alaska State Legislature and Governor Knowles every year since 1995 to recognize, appreciate, and reinforce the example set by citizens who lead, believe in, and support a life of sobriety;
BE IT RESOLVED that the month of March 2002 should be proclaimed as Sobriety Awareness Month; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that Governor Tony Knowles proclaim the same and have copies of the proclamation sent to all the respective departments and departmental agencies within the administration that fund or have contact with youth, schools, family services, or provide rehabilitation or correctional services; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that all Alaska citizens who lead, believe in, or support a life of sobriety indicate so by wearing a white ribbon of their choosing so that they may be readily recognized and appreciated during Sobriety Awareness Month 2002.
LR043
Resolve: LR043
Source Root: HCR012
Year: 2002
Source Bill: HCR 12
Relating to the preservation of employment opportunities for United States longshoremen with respect to unloading and loading of foreign vessels.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS Alaska longshoremen have historically been employed in the loading and unloading of foreign vessels in Alaska, including in the port of Dutch Harbor; and
WHEREAS the United States Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes a reciprocity list consisting of countries where the performance of longshore activities by crewmembers aboard United States vessels is prohibited; a ship flying the flag of a country on the reciprocity list is prohibited from using its own crew members to perform longshore activities in this country; and
WHEREAS the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes a list of exceptions to the reciprocity list; a foreign vessel flying the flag of a country on the list of exceptions may use the vessel's own crew members to load and unload the vessel in United States waters; the federal Act also contains an Alaska exception permitting alien crewmen to work in Alaska ports if an adequate number of Alaska workers are not available to perform the work; and
WHEREAS the United States Department of State apparently maintains that countries for which sufficient information is not available to determine the country's appropriate status will be left off the reciprocity list even though exceptions from the reciprocity list were intended to be limited, and a questionnaire from the United States Department of State suggests that the department intends to leave off the reciprocity list those countries with restrictive laws, regulations, or practices where no United States ships have called since January 1, 1996, contrary to the express terms of the Act; and
WHEREAS several foreign vessels change their flag of registry from that of a country on the reciprocity list to a country on the list of exceptions just before arriving in United States waters, displacing work opportunities for Alaska longshoremen; and
WHEREAS this obvious abrogation of the intent of the reciprocity exception to the United States Immigration and Nationality Act is injurious to the working people and the economy of the State of Alaska; and
WHEREAS much of the Bering Sea pollock harvest is now being loaded on vessels operating under a reciprocity exception through agreements between the vessel owners and certain American seafood processors at the expense of Alaska labor;
BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that Congress should enact legislation to exempt Alaska from the reciprocity exception, since the Act's current "Alaska exception" adequately allows for the continuation of commerce in Alaska ports; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Department of State should refine its regulations to make the process of collecting information about countries easier for the department and more advantageous for American workers; in particular, the department should establish a list of countries that have demonstrated that they are eligible for reciprocity, rather than assuming eligibility unless it is established that the country is ineligible for reciprocity; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Department of State should reverse the burden of proof for the eligibility list to require countries to demonstrate their right to reciprocal treatment by providing a copy of the law, regulation, or practice that allows United States seamen to perform longshore work in that country to the United States Department of State; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Department of State should only grant reciprocity to countries in which United States seamen have recently performed longshore work; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Department of State should deny reciprocity for a vessel that has been chartered from a third party; this will discourage American companies from the practice of "shopping" for vessels from other countries simply to avoid the requirement that they use United States labor.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Colin Powell, United States Secretary of State; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.
LR044
Resolve: LR044
Source Root: SCR027
Year: 2002
Source Bill: SCR 27
Authorizing a recess by the Senate for a period of more than three days.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS art. II, sec. 10, Constitution of the State of Alaska, provides that neither house may adjourn or recess for longer than three days unless the other house concurs; and
WHEREAS Rule 52, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, provides that adoption of a concurrent resolution by a majority vote of the full membership of each house constitutes concurrence;
BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the Senate may be in recess during March 29, 30, and 31, and April 1 of 2002 and that each house concurs in this four-day recess by the Senate.
LR045
Resolve: LR045
Source Root: HCR029
Year: 2002
Source Bill: HCR 29
Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning Senate Bill No. 208, relating to the labeling of, the advertising of, and the disclosure of certain information about halibut, salmon, halibut products, and salmon products.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
That under Rule 54, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, the provisions of Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, regarding changes to the title of a bill, are suspended in consideration of Senate Bill No. 208, relating to the labeling of, the advertising of, and the disclosure of certain information about halibut, salmon, halibut products, and salmon products.
LR046
Resolve: LR046
Source Root: HJR037
Year: 2002
Source Bill: HJR 37
Congratulating Alaska Airlines on its 70th Anniversary.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS Alaska Airlines had its beginning in May 1932 as McGee Airways, which provided service between Anchorage and Bristol Bay using a three-seat Stinson; and
WHEREAS Alaska Airlines continued to expand its service in Alaska through several mergers with local carriers during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s; and
WHEREAS the Alaska Airlines name was adopted in 1944; and
WHEREAS by the 1960s Alaska Airlines was providing jet air service between Alaska and Seattle; and
WHEREAS Alaska Airlines strengthened its operating base in Alaska by merging with Alaska Coastal-Ellis Airlines and Cordova Airlines in the late 1960s; and
WHEREAS Alaska Airlines expanded methodically throughout the West Coast of the United States during the 1980s; and
WHEREAS Alaska Airlines joined with its sister carrier Horizon Air and merged with Jet America in 1987; and
WHEREAS Alaska Airlines had grown to be the 10th largest domestic airline in 2000 and is the dominant carrier in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest; and
WHEREAS Alaska Airlines continues to distinguish itself by offering more flights than any competitor in almost every market it serves, providing a superior level of customer service, and pioneering technologies that improve on-time performance and expand flight safety margins; and
WHEREAS it is the people of Alaska Airlines and their spirit -- the unique spirit of "The Great Land" where Alaska Airlines began -- that makes Alaska Airlines unique; and
WHEREAS Alaska Airlines will celebrate its 70th anniversary in May 2002;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature acknowledges 70 years of service to Alaska by Alaska Airlines; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED the Alaska State Legislature congratulates Alaska Airlines on reaching this significant landmark in its corporate history.
LR047
Resolve: LR047
Source Root: SCR023
Year: 2002
Source Bill: SCR 23 am H
Relating to declaring April 6, 2002, as Alaska Tartan Day.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS April 6 has special significance for all Americans, and especially for those Americans of Scottish descent, because the American Declaration of Independence was modeled on the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, which was signed on April 6, 1320; and
WHEREAS Scottish Americans have played a major role in the founding of the United States of America, and nearly half the signatories of the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, and the governors of nine of the original 13 states were of Scottish ancestry; and
WHEREAS Scottish Americans have made monumental achievements and invaluable contributions to the fields of science, technology, and medicine; and
WHEREAS more than 200 organizations throughout the United States and Alaska already observe Tartan Day on April 6 of each year to honor Scotland's role in the human struggle for liberty; and
WHEREAS the Scottish Highland Games is a prominent summer event held annually in Eagle River, Alaska, where longstanding Scottish traditions of strength and skill are celebrated by many Alaskans and visitors; and
WHEREAS people of Scottish descent have played a significant role in the history, discovery, and exploration of Alaska throughout history, most notably Captain Cook and many of his crew, and there are numerous Alaska landmarks, such as Point MacKenzie, honoring those Scots; and
WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature wishes to recognize the contributions of Alaskans of Scottish descent to Alaska and the United States;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature requests Governor Tony Knowles to issue a proclamation calling on the people of Alaska to observe April 6, 2002, as Alaska Tartan Day and that this resolution is effective immediately.
LR048
Resolve: LR048
Source Root: HJR033
Year: 2002
Source Bill: CSHJR 33(MLV) am
Expressing gratitude to President George W. Bush, to the President's cabinet, to the men and women of the United States armed forces, and to the United States Congress and declaring support for the war on terrorism and for the President's effort to support democracies and promote peace worldwide.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS, since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush has shown leadership at home, using his office to rally the nation and wisely counseling the American people to be patient and determined in the fight against terrorism, and has shown leadership internationally, building a broad coalition of nations to support the fight against terrorism; and
WHEREAS Secretary of State Colin Powell has led a successful effort to build a worldwide coalition to fight terrorism; and
WHEREAS Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has led a successful military effort against sponsors of terrorism abroad; and
WHEREAS Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge is leading the effort to build an effective defense against the terrorist threat; and
WHEREAS the men and women of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and National Guard have shown great courage and sacrifice, protecting the American people from the threat of international terrorism;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature expresses gratitude to President George W. Bush, to the President's cabinet, and to the men and women of the United States armed forces for their leadership and sacrifice; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature expresses gratitude to the United States Congress for working in a bipartisan manner to achieve victory over the enemies of America; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature declares support for this long and difficult war on terrorism; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature declares support for the President's effort to support democracies and promote peace worldwide.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable Tom Ridge, Director, Office of Homeland Security; General Richard B. Myers, United States Air Force, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Honorable Colin Powell, United States Secretary of State; to the Honorable Donald Rumsfeld, United States Secretary of Defense; and to each member of the United States Congress.
LR049
Resolve: LR049
Source Root: HCR020
Year: 2002
Source Bill: SCS CSHCR 20(STA)
Relating to declaring September 11, 2002, as a Day of Remembrance.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS, on September 11, 2001, at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center North Tower in New York City causing the loss of 92 lives onboard; and
WHEREAS, on September 11, 2001, at 9:03 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the World Trade Center South Tower causing the loss of 65 lives onboard; and
WHEREAS 343 New York City firefighters and 23 New York City police officers were lost in the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, many of whom were climbing resolutely toward the upper floors of the buildings in an effort to stem the fire and rescue building occupants when the towers collapsed; and
WHEREAS an estimated 2,840 lives were lost in the collapse of the World Trade Center's North and South Towers; and
WHEREAS, on September 11, 2001, at 9:43 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the west side of the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C., causing the loss of all 64 lives aboard; and
WHEREAS 125 service members, employees, and contract workers at the Pentagon building also lost their lives as a result of the crash of American Airlines Flight 77; and
WHEREAS the passengers and crew onboard United Airlines Flight 93, aware of the earlier attacks on the World Trade Center towers, refused to stand by and allow the Boeing 757 to be used in the same manner; and
WHEREAS passengers and crew onboard United Airlines Flight 93 put a plan into action to stop the hijacking signaled by the now famous words "Are you guys ready? Let's roll"; and
WHEREAS, on September 11, 2001, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, all 45 lives aboard United Airlines Flight 93 were lost when the plane crashed in southwestern Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, in the aftermath of this national tragedy, hundreds more firefighters, paramedics, police officers, members of the National Guard, and other emergency response personnel, including many individuals from Alaska, have participated selflessly in the rescue and cleanup efforts at the World Trade Center; and
WHEREAS the tragic events of September 11 remind us of the tremendous contribution of these highly trained and dedicated individuals to our society and way of life;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature honors the emergency service providers, armed forces personnel, and citizen volunteers of Alaska for their courage, sacrifice, and dedication in serving Alaskans; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the governor to proclaim September 11, 2002, as a Day of Remembrance; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages all public and private agencies and citizens of the state to show their appreciation for the state's emergency service providers, armed forces personnel, and citizen volunteers on September 11, 2002.
LR050
Resolve: LR050
Source Root: HJR044
Year: 2002
Source Bill: SCS CSHJR 44(RES) am S (reengrossed)
Strongly urging the President of the United States, the United States Congress, and appropriate federal officials to support the construction and operation of the Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline route.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS the Alaska North Slope (ANS) has the largest known, discovered natural gas resources, estimated to be 35 trillion cubic feet, in the United States and estimated, undiscovered gas resources in excess of 100 trillion cubic feet; and
WHEREAS demand for natural gas in the lower 48 states is expected to experience record growth, rising from approximately 22 trillion cubic feet a year in 2000 to 30 - 35 trillion cubic feet a year in 2020, with some experts predicting demand to be as large as 50 trillion cubic feet a year in 2020; and
WHEREAS the lower 48 states have an inadequate resource base to meet this expected demand, and experts expect that more natural gas will have to be imported from Canada and from other countries in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG); and
WHEREAS the near record drilling in the last two years in the lower 48 failed to provide any significant gas supply increase and many experts are questioning whether other United States frontier areas like the deepwater Gulf of Mexico will be able to deliver material new gas supplies and, therefore, more imports may be required than previously thought; and
WHEREAS it is important for the United States to have a reliable and affordable source of domestic natural gas for its citizens and businesses, and for national security, especially given the recent tragic events; and
WHEREAS energy supply disruptions have significant negative effect on the United States economy, including the losses of tens of millions of United States jobs; and
WHEREAS, if the United States imports significant amounts of LNG, it can be subjected to the market power of the exporting country through mechanisms such as embargoes and price making; and
WHEREAS ANS is one of few known locations in the United States that can supply significant natural gas supplies to the lower 48 for years to come; and
WHEREAS, given these supply and demand projections, several companies and entities have studied three different pipeline routes, including a "northern" route, running off the shore of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the Beaufort Sea to the Mackenzie Delta and south through Canada to the lower 48; a "southern" route along the Alaska Highway through Canada to the lower 48; and an "LNG" route adjacent to the Trans Alaska Pipeline System pipeline to Valdez and LNG tankers for delivery to California; and
WHEREAS, in 1976, Congress passed the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976 (ANGTA) authorizing the President to select a route to transport natural gas from ANS to the lower 48 and providing procedures to expedite the construction and operation of the selected route; and
WHEREAS, in 1977, following lengthy public hearings and negotiations with Canada, the President issued a decision ("President's Decision") choosing the southern route and selecting the predecessor of a consortium of pipeline companies headed by Foothills Pipe Lines, Ltd. ("Pipeline Companies") to construct and operate the Alaska segment of the project; and
WHEREAS the Alaska Gas Producers Pipeline Team ("Producers") has proposed new federal enabling legislation that is currently being debated in the United States Senate; and
WHEREAS the Majority Leader of the United States Senate has introduced the Energy Policy Act of 2002, which contains the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act of 2002 ("Pipeline Act"); and
WHEREAS the Pipeline Act is not opposed by the Pipeline Companies, and they desire certain amendments to the ANGTA to modernize it; and
WHEREAS ANGTA granted the State of Alaska "authoriz[ation] to ship its royalty gas on the approved transportation system for use within Alaska and . . . to withdraw such gas from the interstate market for use within Alaska," which rights will be impaired if a northern route is followed; and
WHEREAS President Carter's decision in support of the southern route explicitly recognized that it could "supply the energy base required for long-term economic development" within Alaska and it could supply natural gas to communities within Alaska along the route as well as other Alaska communities through local distribution lines, and these potential benefits will be lost if a northern route is followed; and
WHEREAS the United States Senate has concurred with the United States House of Representatives to oppose the northern route and has expressed its support for the southern route; and
WHEREAS the southern route presents the United States with petrochemical extraction opportunities in the United States while the northern route does not; and
WHEREAS a northern route pipeline could not easily be expanded to increase the volume of gas when needed; and
WHEREAS the southern route provides petrochemical extraction opportunities in the United States and other marketing opportunities for ANS gas, including gas to liquids (GTL) and LNG, to the West Coast or Asia; and
WHEREAS it is widely recognized that maximum benefit to Alaskans from the commercialization of ANS natural gas lies in market exposure for that gas, opportunities for in-state use of the natural gas, and for participation by Alaskans in construction, maintenance, and operation of the gas pipeline transportation project, and the recovery of revenue by the state from the development, transport, and sale of ANS gas reserves; and
WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature has expressed a preference for the expedited construction and operation of a natural gas pipeline along a southern route and has authorized funds to conduct various studies regarding a natural gas pipeline, including the study of in-state natural gas demand, natural gas supply, a natural gas fiscal system, and the effect of natural gas sales on the Prudhoe Bay reservoir; and
WHEREAS the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature established the Joint Committee on Natural Gas Pipelines ("Joint Committee") to take whatever action may be appropriate to ensure that the best interests of the state are protected; and
WHEREAS it is vital for the continued exploration and development of natural gas resources on the ANS that oil and gas companies that do not have an ownership interest in the pipeline ("Explorers") have access to it on fair and reasonable terms and have the ability to seek expansion of the pipeline when economically and technically feasible; and the Joint Committee adopted recommendations supporting enactment of these provisions in federal law; and
WHEREAS it is vital for the economic development of Alaska that Alaskans and Alaska businesses have access to gas from the pipeline on a fair and reasonable basis, and that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska participate with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to develop methods to provide for such access; and the Joint Committee adopted recommendations supporting enactment of these provisions in federal law; and
WHEREAS the Joint Committee has issued various recommendations requesting that Congress reaffirm the validity of ANGTA and modernize it; and
WHEREAS natural gas prices in the lower 48 states periodically fluctuate below those required to adequately cover investment; and
WHEREAS governmental involvement, including tax incentives, is essential and quite common on major projects to enable private enterprises to undertake the risks;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature strongly urges the President of the United States, the United States Congress, and appropriate federal officials to actively support the expeditious construction and operation of a natural gas pipeline through Alaska along a southern route; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature strongly urges passage during the first half of 2002 of the Alaska Gas Producers Pipeline Team's federal enabling legislation, so long as it contains a provision similar to that in H.R. 4 banning the over-the-top route and the following amendments:
(1) provisions for Alaskans and Alaska businesses that ensure they have access to the pipeline for in-state consumption and value-added manufacture on a fair and reasonable basis and that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska is part of the process in determining that access;
(2) provisions for access to the pipeline by Explorers on a fair and reasonable basis, including a proper open season with fair and reasonable tariffs, and that provide that they and the State have the ability to obtain expansion of the pipeline if economically and technologically feasible;
(3) provisions for the reaffirmation of the validity of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976 and the modernization of that Act as necessary;
(4) provisions for federal financial incentives, including accelerated depreciation and an income tax credit that is designed to provide mitigation of long-term natural gas price risks and the risks associated with funding the large capital costs of the project; the amount of any tax credit should be limited in operation to periods when natural gas prices are extremely low and recovered when natural gas prices are high; and
(5) specific provisions declaring that the content of amendments (1) - (4) is not intended to exclude supply of Alaska North Slope natural gas to markets in the form of LNG or GTL.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable Richard B. Cheney, Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Tom Daschle, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Trent Lott, Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Colin Powell, United States Secretary of State; the Honorable Gale Norton, United States Secretary of the Interior; the Honorable Don Evans, United States Secretary of Commerce; the Honorable Spencer Abraham, United States Secretary of Energy; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.
LR051
Resolve: LR051
Source Root: SCR021
Year: 2002
Source Bill: CSSCR 21(HES)
Supporting the development of adequate in-state treatment capacity for severely disturbed children.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS, on October 1, 2001, Alaska's Medicaid program funded over 300 severely emotionally disturbed Alaska children placed in out-of-state residential treatment facilities by the Department of Health and Social Services or private parties; and
WHEREAS the total number of all types of licensed child residential beds in Alaska is approximately 561, and only 108 of these beds provide the same level of treatment received by severely emotionally disturbed children in out-of-state placements; and
WHEREAS the lack of in-state residential treatment beds clearly contributes to the number of out-of-state placements; and
WHEREAS residential treatment beds are a critical component in the continuum of treatment and care for severely emotionally disturbed children; and
WHEREAS providing residential treatment in Alaska allows for increased involvement of a child's family, members of the child's support system, and involved community providers in the child's treatment, thereby improving the quality of care and leading to better outcomes, long-term success, and improved client satisfaction; and
WHEREAS subsequent placement in foster care, referral for other treatment, and reintegration of the child back into Alaska communities can be more easily and quickly achieved when a child is discharged from an in-state residential treatment facility, while focusing on transition and a variety of local community-based services, in the child's home of origin; and
WHEREAS development of residential treatment facilities in Alaska will create local construction and institutional jobs;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the governor to direct the Department of Health and Social Services to work in conjunction with the Alaska Mental Health Board, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and other interested parties to strengthen the full continuum of residential and community-based care and to work in a coordinated, cooperative, collaborative, and partnering manner towards integration of services in Alaska for the treatment of severely emotionally disturbed children; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the governor to encourage the Department of Health and Social Services, the Alaska Mental Health Board, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and other interested parties to establish as a priority the development of sufficient in-state residential care to serve severely emotionally disturbed children who would otherwise be placed in out-of-state facilities.
LR052
Resolve: LR052
Source Root: SJR031
Year: 2002
Source Bill: CSSJR 31(STA)
Urging the United States Congress to permit the use of tax exempt bonds to fund loans for veterans who served after 1976.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS, in order to facilitate home ownership by veterans, five states, Alaska, California, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin, have chosen to offer state veterans' home loan programs to resident veterans who have provided faithful service while in the U.S. armed forces; and
WHEREAS these programs have existed for many years and have assisted hundreds of thousands of veterans to obtain affordable housing and make better lives for themselves and their dependents; and
WHEREAS current law that governs the use of the tax-exempt bonds used to fund these loans, contained in 26 U.S.C. 143(l)(4) (Internal Revenue Code), limits these programs to only those veterans who served before 1977; and
WHEREAS thousands of men and women have provided faithful service to our nation after 1976, serving in peacetime as well as in hostile military confrontations in locations such as Beirut, Grenada, Latin America, the Persian Gulf, Somalia, and Bosnia; and
WHEREAS these veterans and their families are being, without basis, denied under current law the opportunity to participate in these state veterans' home loan programs; and
WHEREAS the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) administers the qualified veterans' mortgage program funded with the proceeds of tax-exempt debt under existing federal authorization; and
WHEREAS, since 1983, the AHFC has issued $2,100,000,000 in veterans' mortgage bonds and anticipates the benefit to a new group of veterans to be well over $100,000,000 per year; and
WHEREAS the United States Congress is considering measures to extend the authorization to serve a new, large group of veterans that have served our country since 1977, but, unless the measures are enacted, the veterans' mortgage program will sunset due to a lack of eligible participants; and
WHEREAS Alaska has approximately 70,000 veterans who could potentially use the lower interest rates from this program toward home ownership;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully urges the 107th United States Congress to support H.R. 959 and S. 615 to remove the portion of the Internal Revenue Code which restricts access to state veterans' home loan programs for veterans who served after 1976 so they and their families may enjoy the same benefits as their earlier counterparts.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Thomas Daschle, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Trent Lott, Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Richard A. Gephardt, Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.
LR053
Resolve: LR053
Source Root: SCR028
Year: 2002
Source Bill: HCS CSSCR 28(FIN)
Establishing the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS the salmon industry is one of the cornerstones of the Alaska economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs, and salmon is one of our most valuable foreign export commodities; and
WHEREAS the global salmon market has changed considerably in recent years, placing the Alaska salmon industry in economic peril and threatening not only the main engine of the rural economy of the state but also a significant contributor to urban economies; and
WHEREAS imports of farmed salmon from nations with a significantly cheaper labor market are causing harmful revenue losses to the state's general fund and to municipal budgets; and
WHEREAS current inventories of canned Alaska salmon are expected to remain full well beyond the upcoming salmon season, and a large portion of the fleet-wide production is processed into cans; and
WHEREAS hundreds of harvesters are in danger of actually being without markets and being forced into bankruptcy this year; and
WHEREAS numerous salmon processing facilities have recently ceased operations or plan to do so before the 2002 salmon fishing season due to market factors and difficulty in obtaining operating loans; and
WHEREAS Alaska wild salmon is a renewable resource that is becoming increasingly unique in the global market and can provide immeasurable economic benefit to this state into perpetuity;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature establishes the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force to address those elements of the crisis in the Alaska salmon industry that can be solved through governmental policy; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall also address those elements of the crisis in the Alaska salmon industry that can be solved through action on the part of the industry; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall develop a long-term vision for the Alaska salmon industry as a critical element of the state's economic future; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the duties of the task force include
(1) recommending specific means by which state government can assist one of the state's most important industries to adapt to changing economics in the most efficient and effective way possible;
(2) recommending public policy options that account for effects on the dozens of communities that are severely affected by the crisis in the Alaska salmon industry;
(3) finding areas of potential improvement to the seafood transportation infrastructure in the state;
(4) recommending improvements for the coordination of the harvesting, processing, and marketing of wild Alaska salmon;
(5) encouraging the development of new product forms for salmon;
(6) investigating the feasibility of regional and statewide cooperatives for fishing, marketing, and transportation for Alaska wild salmon and salmon products;
(7) recommending improvements to the marketing efforts of the Alaska salmon industry and ensuring the distinction of Alaska salmon products from farmed salmon;
(8) researching methods to improve the quality of Alaska salmon products;
(9) encouraging Alaska salmon hatcheries to tailor their programs to market dynamics and to provide the maximum possible percentage of their production to common property fisheries;
(10) contracting and cooperating with appropriate private and public agencies in order to provide sound economic, social, and environmental data to the decision-making process;
(11) contracting for research, consultants, and staff, as the task force considers necessary;
(12) recommending ways to ensure that the benefit provided to the state as a result of research efforts is commensurate with the funding for that research;
(13) reviewing findings of previous salmon summits and incorporating useful information in its report; and
(14) exploring the potential of regional solutions and not just statewide results; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force are to conduct their business with a statewide vision of the crisis in the Alaska salmon industry and the need to find solutions to the crisis; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of 11 members, as follows:
(1) four members of the legislature, of which at least one member must be a member of the minority of the senate or the house of representatives, appointed as follows:
(A) two members from the senate appointed jointly by the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives;
(B) two members from the house of representatives appointed jointly by the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives; and
(2) seven public members who are involved in the commercial salmon industry appointed jointly by the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the two members of the senate appointed under (1)(A) of this clause, and the two members of the house of representatives appointed under (1)(B) of this clause; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall be appointed to represent the statewide salmon industry as a whole and not just a particular region or harvesting sector of the industry; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall jointly appoint the chair and vice-chair of the task force; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force members are entitled to per diem and travel expenses; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall schedule meetings to account for commercial fishing seasons and openings so that no member of the task force must forego economic opportunity in order to participate in the task force; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a report of its findings and proposed industry and legislative changes to the legislature by January 31, 2003, and may make any interim reports it considers advisable; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is terminated at 11:59 p.m. on March 1, 2003.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.
LR054
Resolve: LR054
Source Root: HCR019
Year: 2002
Source Bill: HCR 19
Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning Senate Bill No. 176, prohibiting certain coercive activity by distributors, relating to certain required distributor payments and purchases; prohibiting distributors from requiring certain contract terms as a condition for certain acts related to distributorship and ancillary agreements; allowing dealers to bring certain court actions against distributors for certain relief; and exempting from the provisions of the Act franchises regulated by the federal Petroleum Marketing Practices Act, situations regulated by the Alaska Gasoline Products Leasing Act, and distributorship agreements relating to motor vehicles required to be registered under AS 28.10.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
That under Rule 54, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, the provisions of Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, regarding changes to the title of a bill, are suspended in consideration of Senate Bill No. 176, prohibiting certain coercive activity by distributors; relating to certain required distributor payments and purchases; prohibiting distributors from requiring certain contract terms as a condition for certain acts related to distributorship and ancillary agreements; allowing dealers to bring certain court actions against distributors for certain relief; and exempting from the provisions of the Act franchises regulated by the federal Petroleum Marketing Practices Act, situations regulated by the Alaska Gasoline Products Leasing Act, and distributorship agreements relating to motor vehicles required to be registered under AS 28.10.
LR055
Resolve: LR055
Source Root: HCR026
Year: 2002
Source Bill: CSHCR 26(STA)
Supporting increased use of the house arrest program/electronic monitoring with sobriety monitoring as a means of preventing crime and reducing the high costs of imprisonment in Alaska.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS a recent study shows that 42 percent of arrests and 44 percent of incarcerations in Alaska are attributed to alcohol and other drug abuse; and
WHEREAS, among this population, treating alcoholism and other drug addiction also prevents future criminal offenses; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, the legislature established the house arrest program/electronic monitoring (HAP/EM) and authorized the commissioner of corrections to designate prisoners to serve their terms of imprisonment or temporary commitment by 24 hour electronic monitoring and supervision at their residences or other places selected by the commissioner under AS 33.30.065 ; and
WHEREAS HAP/EM protects the public by restricting offenders' freedom and movement through 24 hour electronic monitoring and supervision, yet improves the likelihood that the offender can function productively in society through employment, care of family, and education; and
WHEREAS offenders on HAP/EM are required to pay all or some of the costs of the program, thus saving the state from paying the costs of imprisonment; and
WHEREAS HAP/EM now uses a new technology for sobriety monitoring of alcohol abusing offenders, a computerized device that tests offenders for sobriety and transmits the blood-alcohol reading by telephone; and
WHEREAS offenders on the HAP/EM program who are also in the Anchorage district court's wellness court are required to take the prescription medicine Naltrexone to quell the craving for alcohol and are required to participate in a state-approved alcoholism treatment program; and
WHEREAS the experience of the Anchorage district court wellness court shows that, with a combination of intensive monitoring, treatment, and anti-craving medication, alcohol and other drug abusing defendants can attain and maintain total abstinence from alcohol and other drugs and avoid further criminal violations; and
WHEREAS the Department of Corrections could create a program for alcohol and other drug abusing offenders incorporating the primary elements of the Anchorage wellness court program--monitoring, treatment, and medication--regardless of whether the offenders were enrolled in a therapeutic court; and
WHEREAS HAP/EM is available in Anchorage, Palmer, Wasilla, Juneau, and Ketchikan, but is not used to capacity;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the Governor to direct the Department of Corrections, the Department of Law, and the Alaska Court System, and urges attorneys who prosecute and defend alcohol and other drug abusing offenders and Alaska judges, to work together to
(1) expand the use of the house arrest program/electronic monitoring (HAP/EM) as a condition of bail, in the manner pioneered by the Department of Corrections and the Anchorage district court wellness court program;
(2) expand the use of HAP/EM as a means of serving terms of imprisonment or temporary commitment for offenders who are in or have completed a therapeutic court program;
(3) develop programs specifically for alcohol and other drug abusing offenders, modeled on the combination of sobriety monitoring, treatment, and anti-craving medication that is employed in the Anchorage district court's wellness court program;
(4) publicize the availability of these programs through seminars and educational outreach.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Jim Duncan, Commissioner, Department of Administration; the Honorable Jay Livey, Commissioner, Department of Health and Social Services; the Honorable Margaret Pugh, Commissioner, Department of Corrections; the Honorable Bruce M. Botelho, Alaska Attorney General; Stephanie J. Cole, Administrative Director, Alaska Court System; and to Mauri Long, President of the Alaska Bar Association.
LR056
Resolve: LR056
Source Root: SCR031
Year: 2002
Source Bill: SCR 31
Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 297, regarding aggravating factors at sentencing.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
That under Rule 54, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, the provisions of Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, regarding changes to the title of a bill, are suspended in consideration of House Bill No. 297, regarding aggravating factors at sentencing.
LR057
Resolve: LR057
Source Root: SCR032
Year: 2002
Source Bill: SCR 32
Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 390, relating to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and the salmon marketing tax.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
That under Rule 54, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, the provisions of Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, regarding changes to the title of a bill, are suspended in consideration of House Bill No. 390, relating to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and the salmon marketing tax.
LR058
Resolve: LR058
Source Root: HCR027
Year: 2002
Source Bill: HCR 27 am
Relating to urging the Local Boundary Commission to adopt standards and procedures to enable the commission to return a petition for a local boundary change to the petitioner when the commission determines the petition is substantively deficient, in need of substantial amendment or supplementation, or the procedure used in preparing the petition was deficient.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS it is in the best interests of the state, petitioners, and affected local governments and citizens to resolve proposed local boundary changes expeditiously and in accord with art. X, sec. 12, Constitution of the State of Alaska, and implementing statutes and regulations; and
WHEREAS, from time to time, petitions for boundary changes filed with the Local Boundary Commission may be substantively deficient or in need of substantial amendment or supplementation to conform with constitutional, statutory, and regulatory provisions; and
WHEREAS lengthy consideration of deficient petitions by the Local Boundary Commission may result in unnecessary expenditures of money, time, and other resources on the part of the state, local governments, and citizens of the state, and may also result in needless public discord and strife; and
WHEREAS the Local Boundary Commission has discretion under art. X, sec. 12, Constitution of the State of Alaska, to consider any proposed local government boundary change and also has a duty under AS 44.33.812 to establish standards and procedures for matters that come before the commission; and
WHEREAS the Local Boundary Commission has not established standards and procedures by which the commission may return petitions if the procedures used in preparing them were deficient or petitions that are substantively deficient or in need of substantial amendment or supplementation to petitioners for amendment or reconsideration by the petitioners;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Local Boundary Commission to adopt standards and procedures that will enable the commission to return a petition to the petitioner in a summary fashion if the commission determines the petition is substantively deficient or in need of substantial amendment or supplementation to conform with applicable constitutional, statutory, or regulatory provisions, or the procedure used in preparing the petition was deficient.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to each member of the Local Boundary Commission.
