Gara Bill to Protect Identity Passes House Labor and Commerce

House Bill 226, sponsored [statement] by Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage), requires that any business that collects this personal customer information as part of their business must notify consumers if the security of that information is compromised. California is currently the only state to mandate consumer notification and this bill is modeled after the California law.

Many businesses like ChoicePoint make money by selling consumer information. They gather this information from public records such as motor vehicle records, home purchases, and criminal convictions. Alaskans value their privacy. Companies that profit from trading financial and personal information need to protect that information.

Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Guess (Senate Bill 149) and Ellis (Senate Bill 148).

House Bill 226 now goes to House Judiciary.

Crawford Bill to Promote Hydrogen Energy Passes House Resources

House Bill 9, sponsored [statement] by Representative Harry Crawford (D-Anchorage), establishes a hydrogen energy partnership within the Department of Community and Economic Development. The partnership is tasked with facilitating the development of a hydrogen fuel industry in Alaska.

House Bill 9 now goes to House Finance.

Gara Bill to Protect Public Access for Fishing Passes House Fisheries

House Bill 37, sponsored [statement] by Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage), aims to ensure future public access to Alaska's fishing streams by putting in place a mechanism for voluntary land exchange or purchase between the Sate and private owners along important recreational rivers. HB 37 requires the state to identify private lands along certain high value recreational waters for possible easement or land purchases or trades. The program would be facilitated by the Department of Natural Resources and would be completely voluntary. It would not take land away from citizens who don't want to trade for other public land.

House Bill 37 now goes to the House Resources Committee.

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