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finding the newsletter link.
Please add your name, phone number, and full address to
any correspondence with our office.
DISTRICT 35 TRAVEL SCHEDULE
I will be back in Homer February 20-24th to attend a variety of local meetings. Please let me
know if you have an event or meeting scheduled during that time period that you would like me
to attend or speak at.
NEW "SENIOR EDITION" NEWSLETTER
It came to my attention that some of the seniors in District 35 were having a difficult time
accessing my legislative newsletter. In response, I decided to produce a large font, hardcopy
edition of the newsletter. I am mailing these "Senior Edition" newsletters to local senior and
community centers. If you have ideas on where you'd like to pick up your "Senior Newsletter,"
please call or email my office.
STAFF CONTACTS
My office staff has not changed from last year and is headed by Chris Knight. Chris handles
the State Affairs Committee and budget issues, please contact him if you would like to discuss
legislation I have introduced. Cameron Yourkowski is my Fisheries Committee Aide and also
follows the Education Committee and handles resource questions. Lauren Radcliffe is my
constituent liaison; if you have a question about my newsletter, HESS Committee issues, or
would like to schedule an appointment, please get in touch with Lauren. (see email addresses at
bottom of newsletter).
HOUSE BILL 51- GENERIC LABELING OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Last year we introduced to combat the confusion and problems associated with having
multiple names for the same prescription drug. HB 51 requires pharmacies in Alaska to include
the generic drug name on containers in which a brand name prescription drug is dispensed.
Under this bill, if a person receives a prescription for "Drug X," the generic equivalent would
have to be listed on the label as well. This requirement would allow consumers to identify
duplicate medications and prevent them from double dosing. The bill passed the House and
proceeded through its Senate Committee assignments, getting as far as the Senate Rules
Committee where it waits to be scheduled for a vote on the Senate Floor. Over the summer,
the pharmacists association recognized the importance of the bill and began the lengthy process
of enacting the contents of HB 51 into state regulations. The new regulations were finally
approved on January 14, 2004. I would like to give a big thanks to the District 35 residents
who worked with my office on this issue, your personal experiences led to the introduction of
HB 51 as well as our success in getting the intent of HB 51 adopted in regulations.
NEW SHALLOW NATURAL GAS/COAL BED METHANE BILL
This past Friday, Representatives Harris, Stoltze, Gatto, and myself introduced to
address many of the concerns surrounding last year's and other shallow natural gas
issues. The bill addresses the following main issues: better protection for water quality and
surface owner's property rights, allowing consideration of public comments and providing for
better public notice, closing regulatory loopholes allowing operators to access natural gas below
3,000 feet, and repealing the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources authority
to override local ordinances. HB 395 received four committees of referral: Oil and Gas,
Resources, Judiciary, and Finance. If you would like to read the bill, you can do so by clicking
on this link: . To read the press
release on this bill, please go to:
JOINT LEGISLATIVE SALMON INDUSTRY TASK FORCE
On Monday, January 19th, the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force forwarded to the legislature. Recommendations include changes to the Alaska Seafood
Marketing Institute, regional marketing, hatchery funding, direct marketing, and limited joint
ventures. See details at:
HOUSE FISHERIES COMMITTEE
The House Fisheries Committee is off to a slow start this session as we are still waiting for
formal drafts of this year's Salmon Task Force legislation. The committee did meet once to
hear an overview from the Division of Commercial Fisheries. Division of Commercial Fisheries
Director, Doug Mecum, focused his presentation on over escapement and underutilization
issues with respect to pink salmon around the state.
HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
The House HESS Committee met once this week to discuss , which deals with
the University of Alaska's contracts with its researchers and ownership rights of the products
they develop. We moved the bill from committee quickly. Proceeds from new ideas generated
at the University will help it become a more self sufficient entity. We also heard a presentation
from the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education. Members of the Council
were in Juneau this week and include Seward resident Arthur Walters. Senator Gary Stevens
and I had a chance to meet with Arthur to discuss the Council's priorities, including the
establishment of a screening program to test infant's hearing. You may recall reading about HB
108 in one of my newsletters from last year; establishes a screening program to test
infant's hearing, like the one recommended by the Governor's Council on Disabilities and
Special Education. We heard HB 108 in HESS last May and I voted for it because I think it
would be a very cost effective tool. HB 108 is currently in House Finance and I will work to
get it passed out of that committee with hopes that it will become law this year.
SAFE HAVEN LEGISLATION UPDATE
In last week's newsletter, I mentioned my plans to introduce "Safe Haven" legislation, which
would protect infants from unsafe abandonment. Unfortunately, introduction of this legislation
will have to wait until next session due to unforeseen legal complications. Chances of getting
this bill through the whole committee process and signed into law before the end of session this
May would have been slim. I think we will be more successful in working out the bill's details
over the summer and moving forward with the legislation next January.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
A joint House and Senate HESS committee meeting considered the subject of charter schools
and alternative authorizing agencies (other than the local school districts). Although the
discussion was useful, I do not support an alternative agency procedure because it would take
further funds away from our school system. I am one of three members of a recently
established Education Subcommittee that will investigate the numerous school funding bills to
see if we can form one consolidated bill that the whole committee can recommend to the regular
Education Committee. We all know the problem (lack of funds), finding a solution that will
work and can gain support for passage is the subcommittee's goal.
WASTEWATER PERMITTING
Another issue is the state's assumption of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
[water quality] process. The legislature received a report from the Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) this month, which recommends that DEC should assume
primacy over granting and administering all wastewater discharge permits; these functions are
currently performed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. We have not seen
a bill yet from the Governor addressing this change of responsibilities. If you are interested in
this topic you can find the DEC report on their website at:
BILL ACCESS SYSTEM
All bills can be found on the State's BASIS system. You can see what committee a bill is in, when it will be heard, how committee members voted, and much more. You can access the system from the website below:
LIVE ON THE WEB
Remember that you can hear most committee hearings or tune into just about any legislative session, present or past, by going to Gavel to Gavel, which transmits TV and public radio broadcasts of the state legislature as they occur. Gavel to Gavel also has an online archive of past meetings. Click on the link below to connect to Gavel to Gavel:
Link to Governor's State of the State Speech:
If you need to contact the staff please click on one of the links below:
Lauren Radcliffe,
Cameron Yourkowski,
Chris Knight,
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