"An Act establishing an Alaska Commemorative Coin Commission to develop the design concepts and to make recommendations regarding the final design of the Alaska quarter under the 50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act; and providing for an effective date."

House Bill 467 follows the federal authorizing legislation, the "50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act", and establishes the 11-member Alaska Commemorative Coin Commission. Over a ten-year period from 1999 through 2008, the United States has and will annually issue five quarter dollar coins with state designs displayed on the reverse side of the coins. Each state has an opportunity to develop and submit designs representative of the state. A quarter honoring the State of Alaska is scheduled to be issued in 2008.

The Alaska Commemorative Coin Commission will consist of 11 members, of which 10 will be public members appointed by the governor. The governor or designee will occupy the 11th seat.

The Office of the Governor will initiate a public process to solicit narrative design concepts for the Alaska quarter. The commission shall review and consider all of the narrative design concepts it receives and will submit to the United States Mint not less than three, and not more than five, design concepts for the Alaska quarter. When the United States Mint provides the State of Alaska with its final designs, the commission will review the designs and make final recommendations to the governor.

The calendar year in which the Alaska quarter is to be issued will coincide with events leading to celebration of the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood.

I urge your support of this important piece of legislation.

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