The committee substitute, to be adopted by the Resources Committee requires the legislature to approve co-management agreements concerning Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Once passed, House Bill 24 would require that intergovernmental agreements with the National Park Service regarding management of the navigable waters within or adjoining Glacier Bay to be approved by law before they become effective. The form of approval would be a regular bill, requiring committee referrals, public hearings and the signature of the governor.

HB 24 includes transitional language that allows the legislature to review any current intergovernmental agreements and if an existing agreement is not approved before July 1, 2004, that agreement or relevant portion is voided.

The intent is to prevent government officials from ceding the state's management jurisdiction over fish and game resources by means of a contract without a full airing of the public policy implications through the legislature.

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