The Republican-led Majority is committed to providing the physical and governmental framework needed for a healthy economy. We believe Alaska’s private sector works best when government provides basic services, infrastructure, and regulatory guidance, while minimizing burdensome restrictions.

Promoting Development of Economic Resources

• HJR 11 and SJR 39 urge Congress to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to responsible exploration, development, and production of its oil and gas resources and to refrain from any further designations of wilderness areas within ANWR.
• SJR 38 shows support from the Alaska Legislature for a feasibility study to be conducted on the extension of the North American rail system through Canada to Alaska.
• SB 235 would authorize the Alaska Railroad Corporation to enter into several land exchange agreements needed for a track upgrade and realignment project, incresing safety and decreasing the travel time between Anchorage and Wasilla.
• HB 429 extends the termination date for the vessel permit moratoria for the Bering Sea Korean hair crab fishery and the weathervane scallop fishery.
• SB 7 would allow the University of Alaska to select 250,000 acres of state land to provide UA with a larger and more productive land base.
• HB 320 authorizes the Alaska Railroad to accept the Whittier DeLong Dock and associated lands from the federal government. HB 320 also authorizes the ARR to convey those associated lands to the City of Whittier.

Building Efficiencies in Government

• SB 33 establishes the Commission on Privatization and Delivery of Government Services. The Commission will examine the possibility of privatizing state government functions as a means of saving the state money and providing higher quality services.
• SB 107 eliminates the Alaska Tourism Marketing Council. Under this bill all tourism marketing now done by the Council and the Alaska Division of Tourism, will be consolidated and performed under a contract with a single qualified trade association.
• HB 83 amends the Alaska Securities Act to bring it into compliance with the National Securities Markets Act. Failure to bring the Alaska Securities Act into compliance by October 1999 could result in the loss to Alaska of $4-5 million dollars annually.
• HB 446 allows for the sale of of the Four Dam Pool to establish an endowment to fund Power Cost Equalization - bringing affordable electricity to rural Alaska.

Providing Responsible Regulatory Guidance

• HB 13, known as the “Good Funds Bill,” requires settlement agents to have sufficient funds on hand before transferring escrow and related documents.
• HB 201 requires that overtime be paid for work in excess of eight hours per day or forty hours per week.
• HB 204 removes some of the obstacles to elk farming in Alaska by transferring the oversight responsibilities for domestic elk breeding and farming from ADF&G to the Division of Agriculture.
• HB 290 addresses regulatory aspects of the development of North Slope natural gas reserves.