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The House Majority approved several measures that will maintain the state's self reliance as it seeks new sources of revenue.
: Stranded Gas Development Act Amendments
Signed into Law! Chapter 4 SLA 03
Sponsored by
An Act amending the standards applicable to determining whether, for purposes of the Alaska Stranded Gas Development Act, a proposed new investment constitutes a qualified project, and repealing the deadline for applications relating to the development of contracts for payments in lieu of taxes and for royalty adjustments that may be submitted for consideration under that Act; and providing for an effective date.
04-09-03 : Governor Murkowski signed House Bill 16 into law on Wednesday. Sponsored by Rep. Hugh "Bud" Fate (R-Fairbanks), HB 16 expands the areas of potential gas exploration and development that fall under the Act. Currently, the statute only qualifies natural gas projects that export the gas in liquefied form. HB 16 would allow gas development and transportation in any form and does not specify a pipeline route. HB 16 also extends the June 30, 2001 deadline to March 31, 2005 to allow the state and producers to begin new contract negotiations.
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| House Bill 16 : Allows negotiations to commence between producers and the state for development of untapped natural gas that requires increased infrastructure for transport to market. |
: Regulation Of Shallow Natural Gas
Signed into Law! Chapter 45 SLA 03
Sponsored by
An Act relating to regulation of shallow natural gas leasing and closely related energy projects; and providing for an effective date.
06-06-03 : Gov. Murkowski signed HB 69 into law. Sponsored by Rep. Vic Kohring (R-Wasilla), HB 69 ensures that the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has the authority and discretion necessary to regulate shallow gas drilling while also providing for human safety and environmental protection.
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| House Bill 69 : Provides more realistic regulation for shallow gas drilling; therefore, that resource industry will not unnecessarily face the same regulations intended for the deep oil wells of the North Slope. |
: Increase Education Funding
Sponsored by
An Act relating to the base student allocation used in the formula for state funding of public education; and providing for an effective date.
| | | House Bill 26 : Attracts more oil and gas development to the state by modifying oil and gas royalty calculations to give the natural resources commissioner more discretion on royalty rates. |
: Deposits To The Permanent Fund
Signed into Law! Chapter 22 SLA 03
Sponsored by
An Act relating to deposits to the Alaska permanent fund from mineral lease rentals, royalties, royalty sale proceeds, net profit shares under AS 38.05.180(f) and (g), federal mineral revenue sharing payments received by the state from mineral leases, and bonuses received by the state from mineral leases, and limiting deposits from those sources to the 25 percent required under art. IX, sec. 15, Constitution of the State of Alaska; and providing for an effective date.
05-17-03 : Gov. Murkowski signed HB 11 into law. Sponsored by Rep. Norman Rokeberg (R-Anchorage), HB 11 changes the statute that directs 50-percent of Alaska's mineral revenues to the Permanent Fund and returns the amount to the constitutionally required 25-percent.
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| House Bill 11 : Returns all oil royalty deposits to the Permanent Fund to 25-percent to provide more money for the General Fund. |
: Transportation Of Commercial Fish
Signed into Law! Chapter 112 SLA 03
Sponsored by
Requested by the
An Act relating to the transportation and sale of certain commercially caught fish by an agent of a commercial fishing permit holder and to the sale of fish; and providing for an effective date.
06-16-03 : Gov. Murkwoski signed HB 118 into law. Sponsored by Rep. Paul Seaton (R-Homer) on recommendation by the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force, HB 118 allows commercial fishermen to hire their own tender or pool their resources on one boat to transport fish to market. Currently, transporting another person's fish is illegal unless you are a licensed processor or act as a contractor for a licensed processor. HB 118 will require the person transporting the fish to have a transporter permit in addition to the currently required fish ticket. This arrangement allows a fisherman to retain ownership of the fish while authorizing an associate or another vessel to transport and sell the fish.
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| House Bill 118 : Gives fishermen more flexibility in transporting fish to market to conserve both fuel and fishing time. |
: Payment of Fishery Business Tax
Signed into Law! Chapter 55 SLA 03
Sponsored by
An Act relating to payment of the fisheries business tax and to security for collection of the fisheries business tax.
06-10-03 : Governor Murkowski signed HB 104 in law. Sponsored by Sen. Gary Stevens by recommendation of the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force, HB 104 allows fish processing applicants to avoid posting a bond for twice the estimated fisheries business tax if they: remit all tax obligation on a monthly basis by paying the taxes due on or before the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which the tax liability is incurred, and file a bond in the amount of $50,000; or provide the Department of Revenue with proof that the applicant is the owner of real property in the state at a value of at least $100,000.
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: Commercial Fishing Loans
Signed into Law! Chapter 56 SLA 03
Sponsored by
An Act relating to loans to satisfy past due federal tax obligations of commercial fishermen and to the commercial fishing loan program.
06-10-03 : Governor Murkowski signed HB 105 into law. Sponsored by Sen. Gary Stevens, HB 105 allows fishermen to obtain secured loans for Internal Revenue Service debt retirement.
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| House Bills 104 and 105 : Ease the burden of Fishery Business Taxes and commercial fishing loans. |
: Tax Credit For Salmon Development
Signed into Law! Chapter 57 SLA 03
Sponsored by
An Act relating to a salmon product development tax credit under the Alaska fisheries business tax and the Alaska fisheries resource landing tax; and providing for an effective date.
06-10-03 : Governor Murkowski signed HB 90 in law. Sponsored by Sen. Gary Stevens by recommendation of the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force, HB 90 provides a tax credit for salmon product development.
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| House Bill 90 : Provides a tax credit to businesses that invest in ways to better utilize salmon. |
: Coastal Management Programs
Signed into Law! Chapter 24 SLA 03
Sponsored by the
Requested by
An Act relating to the Alaska coastal management program and to policies and procedures for consistency reviews and the rendering of consistency determinations under that program; relating to the functions of coastal resource service areas; creating an Alaska Coastal Program Evaluation Council; eliminating the Alaska Coastal Policy Council; annulling certain regulations relating to the Alaska coastal management program; relating to actions based on private nuisance; relating to zoning within a third class borough covered by the Alaska coastal management program; and providing for effective dates.
05-21-03 : Gov. Murkowski signed HB 191 into law. Sponsored by the House Rules Committee by recommendation of the governor, HB 191 seeks to streamline the Alaska Coastal Management Program by relying on existing state statutes and regulations as the enforceable policies of the ACMP. HB 191 first allows municipalities to retain their existing land use authorities to regulate private activity within their jurisdiction. Second, the bill authorizes the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), as the implementing agency, to adopt local ordinances as enforceable policies to be applied in consistency reviews of federal projects and Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) development. The DNR would consult with the local government when interpreting and applying the local ordinance as part of a consistency review. Third, the bill would specifically adopt certain existing coastal district policies for federal OCS development as state enforceable policies.
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| House Bill 191 : Streamlines coastal management by giving the state more authority in environmental law regulation, making government work more efficiently. |
: Regional Development Org Tax Credit
Passed House!
Sponsored by
An Act creating a tax credit under the Alaska Net Income Tax Act for contributions to regional development organizations; and providing for an effective date.
05-08-03 : House Bill 194 moved out of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on Thursday. Sponsored by Rep. Tom Anderson (R-Anchorage), HB 194 creates a tax credit for contributions made by businesses to Alaskan regional development organizations. This legislation limits the tax credit to the first $10,000 contributed by a business to a regional development organization. The tax credit allowed under HB 194, when combined with credits allowed under various other tax credit provisions in statute, may not exceed the previously established limit of $150,000. This tax credit will sunset in 2005.
HB 194 moves to the .
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| House Bill 194 : Enables any corporation that donates funds to an Alaska regional development organization (ARDOR) to receive a tax credit for up to $10,000. ARDORs are state organizations that help communities find more economic opportunities from private investment. |
: Cigarette Sale/Distribution
Signed into Law! Chapter 109 SLA 2003
Sponsored by the
An Act relating to issuance and revocation of licenses for the importation, sale, distribution, or manufacture of cigarettes and tobacco products; relating to a tax refund or credit for unsaleable, returned, or destroyed tobacco products; relating to restrictions on shipping or transporting cigarettes; relating to records concerning the sale of cigarettes; amending and adding definitions relating to cigarette taxes; relating to the payment of cigarette taxes; relating to penalties applicable to cigarette taxes; relating to the definition of the wholesale price of tobacco products; relating to payment of cigarette taxes through the use of cigarette tax stamps; relating to provisions making certain cigarettes contraband and subject to seizure and forfeiture; relating to certain crimes, penalties, and interest concerning tobacco taxes and sales; and providing for an effective date.
06-16-03 Gov. Murkowski signed SB 168 into law. Sponsored the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, SB 168 would more adequately regulate the collection of taxes on cigarettes. There is an unknown quantity of untaxed cigarettes imported into the state of Alaska every year and existing laws make it difficult to track their numbers. All cigarette purchasers should be paying tax equally, whether purchasing over the counter or over the Internet.
| | | Senate Bill 168 : More adequately regulates the collection of taxes on cigarettes by affixing a stamp on legally acquired cigarettes. This is could result in $3-20 million in revenue that is currently being lost. |
: Knik Arm Bridge And Toll Authority
Signed into Law! Chapter 77 SLA 03
Sponsored by the
Requested by
An Act establishing the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority and relating to that authority; and providing for an effective date.
| | | Senate Bill 213 : Creates a Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority responsible for planning, designing and constructing a bridge from Anchorage to Pt. Mackenzie across Knik Arm, which can issue bonds and collect tolls to finance the bridge. |
: Seafood And Food Safety Laboratory
Signed into Law! Chapter 79 SLA 03
Sponsored by the
Requested by
An Act giving notice of and approving the entry into and the issuance of certificates of participation for a lease-purchase agreement for a seafood and food safety laboratory facility; relating to the use of certain investment income for certain construction costs; and providing for an effective date.
| | | Senate Bill 215 : Authorizes the state to issue $14 million in certificates of participation to construct a new Department of Environmental Conservation food safety and inspection laboratory, which would focus on ensuring the quality and safety of the state's agricultural and seafood products. |
Law enforcement has more options after the Majority took steps this session to make law violations easier to investigate and prosecute.
: Expand DNA Database
Signed into Law! Chapter 88 SLA 03
Sponsored by ,
An Act relating to the DNA identification registration system; and providing for an effective date.
06-13-03 : Governor Murkowski signed HB 49 into law. Sponsored by Rep. Tom Anderson (R-Anchorage) and Rep. Mike Hawker (R-Anchorage), HB 49 requires all convicted felons and sexual offenders, including those in custody, to submit DNA samples to the Alaska State Database. Juveniles adjudicated and in custody on the same offenses must also submit samples to the database.
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| House Bill 49 : Expands the statewide DNA database to all current sex offenders and felons who are in jail and on parole. |
: Sex Crime And Pornography Forfeitures
Signed into Law! Chapter 41 SLA 03
Sponsored by
An Act relating to the forfeiture of property used to possess or distribute child pornography, to commit indecent viewing or photography, to commit a sex offense, or to solicit the commission of, attempt to commit, or conspire to commit possession or distribution of child pornography, indecent viewing or photography, or a sexual offense.
06-05-03 : Gov. Murkowski signed HB 52 into law. Sponsored by Rep. Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage), HB 52 will give courts additional punitive sentencing options against sexual predators and award forfeited computer technology to law enforcement agencies for ongoing monitoring operations. HB 52 also makes providing billing services for a child pornography website a felony.
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| House Bill 52 : Allows law enforcement to seize any equipment used in sexual offenses against children, which will help enforce the law against future violators. |
: Harassment By Electronic Communication
Signed into Law! Chapter 13 SLA 03
Sponsored by
An Act relating to harassment.
05-01-03 : Governor Frank Murkowski signed House Bill 12 into law on Thursday. Sponsored by Representative Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage), House Bill 12 adds obscene email and email that threatens physical injury or sexual contact to the legal definition of harassment.
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| House Bill 12 : Includes email as a form of harassment so that the law can pursue threats made electronically. |
: Commercial Electronic Mail
Signed into Law! Chapter 14 SLA 03
Sponsored by
An Act making certain activities related to commercial electronic mail unlawful as unfair methods of competition or unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Act enumerating unfair trade practices and consumer protections.
05-01-03 : Governor Frank Murkowski signed House Bill 82 into law on Thursday. Sponsored by Rep. Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage), House Bill 82 requires anyone sending unsolicited commercial email with sexually explicit content to include the letters "ADV: ADLT" in the subject line.
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| House Bill 82 : Requires that any unsolicited pornographic email to contain "ADV: ADLT" in the subject line. |
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