Senate State Affairs Committee Moves Resolution Opposing Federal Gun Licensing, Tracking Bill

HR 45 is de facto Gun Registration Bill

JUNEAU – The Senate State Affairs committee today passed SJR 6, a resolution expressing the Alaska Legislature’s opposition to a bill introduced in Congress that would require federal licenses for firearm users in the U.S. The resolution was sponsored by Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, who said the congressional bill, HR 45, is in essence a gun registration bill that assaults the 2nd Amendment rights of Americans.

“This bill in Congress would require anyone who possesses a firearm to have a federal license to do so, and makes it a felony to fail to report transfers, loss or theft of a firearm,” Therriault said. “As we have seen so often around the world – in Germany, in England, and most recently in Australia – restricting or taking away firearms from law abiding private citizens does not reduce crime, but is followed by more crime.”

Therriault said he appreciates the quick action by the Senate State Affairs committee and the support of its chairwoman, Sen. Linda Menard, R-Wasilla.

The text of SJR 6 calls on members of Congress, and especially Alaska’s Congressional Delegation, to reject HR 45 and support firearm education programs, instead. SJR 6 has as further referral to the Senate Judiciary committee.

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Senate H&SS Committee Approves SB 52 – Adding Salvia Divinorum to List of Controlled Substances

Powerful Hallucinogenic Becoming More Popular Among Youth

JUNEAU – The Health and Social Services committee on Monday passed SB 52, a bill that would add Salvia Divinorum to the state’s list of controlled substances. Marketed as an “herbal high,” Salvia is gaining in popularity among young people, and is compared to mescaline in its hallucinogenic effects.

“The problem with continuing to allow uncontrolled access to Salvia is that the long term effects appear to be the same as other hallucinogens, such as LSD and mescaline, and that is often depression and schizophrenia,” said Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, the bill’s prime sponsor.

Therriault noted that Salvia Divinorum is a very potent naturally-occurring vision inducer. Doses of 250 micrograms (equal to 250 millionths of a gram) can have a threshold effect on the user, while a dose of one milligram will have extreme effects. As of 2006, about 1.8 million individuals 12 years of age or older have used Salvia, and approximately 750,000 used it in the past year, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a publication of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).

“I appreciate the interest the H&SS committee has shown in this issue, and especially the willingness of the committee chair, Sen. Bettye Davis, to hear the bill and move it on to the next committee,” said Therriault.

HB 52 was next referred to the Judiciary committee.

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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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