BASIS Link – Fact Sheet – Sponsor Statement – Sectional Analysis
(Documents are in Adobe Acrobat format)

• SB 2 – License Plates: National Rifle Assn.
• SB 14 – Object to Providing Health Care Services
  Sponsor Statement
• SB 16 – License Plates: Choose Life
• SB 17 – Synthetic Cannabinoids as Schedule IIA
• SB 30 – Return of Seized Property
  Sponsor Statement
• SB 33 – Disposition of Service Members’ Remains
• SB 50 – Legislative Audit Division Powers
  Sponsor Statement
• SB 68 – Commercial Fishing & Agriculture Bank
  
• SB 89 – Legislative Ethics Act
  
• SB 105 – Official State Firearm
  Sponsor Statement
• SB 106 – K-12 Scholarship Program
  
• SB 112 – Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Tax Credit
  
• SB 123 – Alaska Mining Day
  Sponsor Statement
• SB 140 – Cathinone Bath Salts
  Sponsor Statement
• SB 143 – Bd of Architects, Engineers, Surveyors
  
• SB 144 – State Immunization Program
  Sponsor Statement
• SB 145 – Oil/Gas Production Tax Credits: Nenana
  
• SB 146 – Snow Classic
  Sponsor Statement
• SB 172 – Care Directives/Do Not Resuscitate Orders
  
• SB 181 – Closing Certain Land to Mineral
  Sponsor Statement – Letters of Support
• SCR 3 – Ronald Reagan Landmark
  
• SCR 16 – Celiac Disease Awareness Month
  Sponsor Statement
• SCR 18 – Raoul Wallenberg Remembrance Day
  
• SCR 19 – Proclaiming United States Marshals Day
  
• SJR 2 – Limit Federal Intervention in Stated
  Sponsor Statement
• SJR 4 – Honoring Ronald Reagan
  
• SJR 9 – Const. Am: Education Funding
  

Senate Asks TSA to Drop Proposed Security Regulations on Smaller Aircraft, Rural Airports

JUNEAU – The Alaska Senate today unanimously passed a resolution (SR 6) requesting the Transportation Security Administration to drop consideration of a set of regulations that would have a devastating impact on cargo carriers, small commuter airlines, and general aviation in Alaska.

While the current security regime under TSA, referred to as a Large Aircraft Security Program, or LASP, covers airliners and large cargo carriers, the new rules would impose a similar regime to all airplanes with a gross take-off weight of more than 12,500 lbs. This would include such twin-engine aircraft as a King Air 350. There are approximately 100 aircraft currently in service in Alaska that would be covered by the regulations.

Among other things, the regulations would require pilots and mechanics to undergo criminal background checks; flights would have to receive approval from the TSA before take-off; pilots would have to check passengers against the TSA “no-fly” list; and TSA could require air marshals to be on board a flight. Every airport served by aircraft bigger than 12,500 lbs would be required to install security perimeter fences and have a security screener on site. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities operates about 260 airports across the state.

“The TSA estimates it will cost $190,000 per aircraft for compliance with these new regulations, more than 80 percent of which will be borne by the owner, and an average of $400,000 per airport,” said Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, the prime sponsor of SR 6. “It will simply mean many currently viable businesses will park their airplanes and go out of business.”

“This regulation cannot go into effect without some exception to avoid the devastating impacts it will have on rural Alaska,” said co-sponsor Sen. Donny Olson, D-Golovin. “Just as rural Alaska was changed forever with the arrival of the airplane in the 1920s, so, too, will it be changed forever if air service goes away under this TSA rule.”

The regulations have a deadline for comment on Friday, February 27.

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Therriault Resolution Opposes UN Designation
of Arctic Ocean as World Heritage Site

“Sea Park” Designation Would Preclude Resource Development, Shipping

JUNEAU – Responding to a recent proposal by a group of North American scientists to have the United Nations designate the Arctic Ocean as a multi-location World Heritage Site, Sen. Gene Therriault has introduced a resolution (SJR 7) expressing Alaska’s opposition, which will be sent to President Barack Obama and the Alaska congressional delegation.

“These scientists have asked for World Heritage designation specifically to eliminate any increased trans-oceanic shipping, resource extraction and other development around the Arctic Ocean,” Therriault said. “Such a designation would erode the sovereignty of the nations that border the Arctic Ocean, preventing them from exploring for and developing any natural resources they might find.”

Therriault noted there are significant amounts of oil, gas, and minerals estimated to be under the waters of the Arctic Ocean, which could be brought to development as technology advances, if the ocean becomes ice-free.

“This resolution does not involve itself with the controversy over what may be the cause of global warming,” Therriault said. “We wanted to focus on the high importance of access to natural resources in the far north. In addition, any move toward UN control over what is sovereign territory of the United States is a threat to not only Alaska’s economy, but our nation’s as well.”

SJR 7 was referred to the Energy and Resources committees.

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Bill to Exempt Some Municipal Boards from Open Meetings Act Moves from Committee

JUNEAU – The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee (CR&A) has taken action towards exempting municipal boards, commissions and committees from certain provisions of the Alaska Open Meetings Act.  Under its original form, SB 48, sponsored by Senator Gene Therriault (R-North Pole), exempted road service boards from the open meetings requirement to allow members the ability to expeditiously respond to unpredictable weather conditions.  The CR&A committee adopted a new version of the bill expanding  the exemption to include all municipal boards, commissions, and committees meeting solely to administer and manage existing policy.  A public meeting must still be noticed and held if the agenda includes policy matters such as contract negotiations or setting service area tax rates.

“The committee substitute makes a distinction in the Open Meetings Act between the meetings of boards or committees that are strictly administrative, as opposed to ones which discuss and set public policy,” Therriault said.  “If we have a road washout due to flooding, road commission members need the ability to decide how to deal with the problem without being in violation of the open meetings act.”

SB 48 also clarifies an abnormality in state law regarding the definition of a “meeting.”  Currently, meeting requirements for advisory bodies are more stringent than those for policy setting bodies.  SB 48 places the same open meetings requirements on advisory bodies as are on government agencies authorized to establish public policy.

SB 48 has been referred to the Senate Transportation Committee.

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Bunde Introduces Bill to Turn Down Salary Increases for Legislators, Top Administration Staff

JUNEAU – Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, has introduced legislation (SB 106) to disapprove the recommendation of the Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission, which would increase the salaries of legislators and top state officials. If the recommendations are not disapproved through legislation and signed by the Governor by March 30, 2009, the raises will automatically take effect.

“I firmly reject the notion that higher legislative salaries will provide for more ethical and honest legislators,” Bunde said. “However, good arguments can be made for or against increasing legislative salaries. This bill is a vehicle that will allow those discussions to occur and the legislature the opportunity to vote on the recommendations.”

The compensation commission, created under HB 417 last year, released its findings and recommendations last fall. Under those recommendations, the Governor’s annual salary would remain at $125,000; the Lt. Governor’s salary would remain at $100,000; commissioners’ salaries would be set at $135,000; and legislators’ salaries would rise to a uniform $50,400, while long-term per diem for legislators would be stopped.

Bunde said the commission’s report is an “all-or-nothing” decision for the Legislature, but that the salaries should not take effect without a thorough public discussion, which his bill would facilitate when it is heard in committee.

SB 106 was referred to the Labor & Commerce, Judiciary, and Finance committees.

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