Anchorage -- The Commission on Privatization and Delivery of Government Services, established by the Legislature to examine the possibilities of turning some state functions over to private industry, Wednesday received recommendations from 5 of its 20 subcommittees.

Among the Subcommittee recommendations reported today are:

• Investigate privatization of the power plant, telephone system and other utilities at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks;
• Urged the Dept. of Fish and Game to adopt electronic fish tickets to monitor catch volumes and tax collections; use private contractors to safeguard wildlife viewing areas; and, use volunteer stream guards manned with cell phones to assist fisheries enforcement on popular fishing streams;
• The subcommittee on the Department of Public Safety told the Commission that the Civil Air Patrol can avail itself of up to another $500,000 from the federal government for anti narcotics operations. But, the CAP must be called upon by the Department before they become eligible for the money;
• The Education subcommittee called for legislation doubling the number of charter schools, lengthening charter school contracts and establishing accounting guidelines. They voted for less administrative paperwork and to include gun safety education in the school programs. They favored a school voucher program for public and private schools. A minority report was filed by members of the teachers union objecting to the voucher proposal and others.
• An Independent Oversight Board for the Division of Family and Youth Services was one recommendation made by the subcommittee on Health and Social Services. They also favored contracting out to local hospitals some of the services now performed by Anchorage Psychiatric Institute, and, called for an audit of the Medicaid Rate Advisory Commission.

"The Commission will be accepting reports from the remaining 4 subcommittees in the very near future," said Commission Co-Chair Representative John Cowdery (R-Anchorage). "We look forward to the process of hearing from interested and affected parties and receiving public input, and then finally voting on the subcommittee recommendations."

The Commission will submit a written report to the governor and the legislature by January 1, 2000.

The complete subcommittee recommendations will be available to the public from Local Legislative Information Offices and on the commission's web site, "www.privatizealaska.org."