The House Finance Committee has approved a $6 million special appropriation to the Alaska Travel Industry Association to boost tourism marketing. House Bill 359 is now in the House Rules Committee, awaiting placement on the calendar for floor action in the state House.
Sponsored by the Finance Committee, the bill would help market Alaska in the wake of a decline in travel and tourism following the September terrorist attacks in New York City.
Property rights clarified
Sen. Loren Leman, R-Anchorage, has introduced SB263, clarifying legal rights of property-owners to make improvements on property obtained from Alaska Native corporations. Transfer of some lands has raised certain title uncertainties, which can be resolved by state law, Leman said.
"This legislation will help Native corporation shareholders who received property from their village corporations and were deeded only surface rights, while the regional corporations retain subsurface rights," Leman said.
Some property owners have been prevented from making improvements, he said. The bill is in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.
State mechanical inspections
A bill that allows the state Department of Labor to collect fees to support its mechanical inspection programs has passed out of the House Labor and Commerce Committee and is now in the Finance Committee. Sponsored by the Labor and Commerce Committee, HB262 will help eliminate a backlog of elevator and boiler inspections in the state, the labor department said.
Bill will prioritize budgets
Rep. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River, has sponsored a bill requiring state agencies to submit their budgets in a form that ranks the department's priorities. The bill, HB349, was passed out of the House Finance Committee and is now in the Rules committee, awaiting floor action in the House.
"Budget decisions are always difficult and legislators struggle to get the information necessary to set dollar amounts that should be available for each department," Dyson said. "The Knowles administration has steadfastly resisted legislative efforts to obtain input about where budget reductions can be made or what governmental activities are optional."
State laws on trusts
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee passed out HB 157, updating state statutes relating to trusts. The bill clarifies who may provide fiduciary services in Alaska, expands who may be a trust company, establishes what a trust company's powers are and establishes provisions for permissible activities including interstate or intrastate business expansion.
The bill is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Rep. Lisa Murkowski, R-Anchorage, is prime sponsor of the bill.
Hot springs exemption
The House Resources Committee has approved HB263, relating to the regulation of natural hot springs. The bill exempts hot springs resorts, spas and other facilities from having to treat their naturally recycling waters with chlorine or other chemicals as long as coliform counts in the water remain low.
Rep. Hugh Fate, R-Fairbanks, said the bill is intended to protect the natural character of hot springs. The bill is now in the House Rules Committee, awaiting floor action in the House.
