French, Gara Act To Plug Ethics Loophole
Conflict limit would be $5,000 or 1 percent

Senator Hollis French and Representative Les Gara, both D-Anchorage, filed Senate Bill 127 and House Bill 194 to limit state employees' personal holdings in companies they deal with on official business. The bills, which are identical, plug a loophole in the Executive Ethics Act discovered by Gov. Frank Murkowski's lawyer during his investigation of former Attorney General Gregg Renkes.

"People want a government they can trust," said Senator French. "This bill sets a standard of conduct Alaskans can understand, agree with and depend on."

Murkowski's lawyer, Robert Bundy, said the law is vague on how big a financial stake a public official could have without a conflict of interest. The bills filed by French and Gara set that limit at $5,000 or 1 percent, whichever is less.

"We need to fix this problem now," said Representative Gara, a former assistant attorney general. "Alaskans are entitled to officials who do the public's business, not their own business."

The bill also expands the definition of the term "official action" to include review and advisory functions, among others.

French and Gara have filed SB127 and HB194 in an effort to prompt quick action this session on ethics reform. They have become increasingly concerned by comments from some legislative leaders that they may no longer see ethics reform as a priority this session.

Moses's Bill to Create Short-Term Commercial Fishing
Licenses Passes House Resources

House Bill 26, sponsored [statement] by Representative Carl Moses (D-Unalaska), will allow visitors an affordable way to engage in a sort of extreme tourism adventure by actually participating in the fishery as a crewmember.

The economic health of certain communities in Western Alaska has been jeopardized by unprecedented low salmon returns and / or prices. It is in the best interest of the State of Alaska and these communities to maximize options available for commercial fishermen to earn a living. One option available is to allow the purchase of short-term commercial fishing crewmember licenses.

Currently, tourists can go out with a commercial boat but cannot have any form of active participation without buying a full year crewmember license.

Amended to restrict compensation for crew members with a short term licenses.

House Bill 26 now goes to House Finance.

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