Alaska Legislation Votes to Help Grow Alaska’s Mariculture Industry
Juneau – Today, the Alaska Legislature passed a bill to change a state loan program to help Alaska’s fledgling mariculture industry. Participants in the industry often have trouble getting financing through private banks. House Bill 76 amends the current program to allow up to 40 percent of the fund to be used for loans to help pay for planning, construction, and operations of shellfish and seaweed hatcheries or enhancement projects.
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Alaska Legislature Votes to Support Dive Fisheries in Southeast Alaska
Juneau – Today, the Alaska Legislature passed legislation to update the protocol used by the Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fisheries Association to charge an assessment to its members to help manage and support the geoduck, sea cucumber, and sea urchin fisheries. House Bill 354, sponsored by Representative Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan), changes the assessment mechanism from a vote by a majority of permit holders to a three-quarters vote of the Board of Directors and a majority vote of permit holders participating in the election.
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Alaska Legislature Seeks to Protect Alaska Native Languages from Extinction
Juneau – Today, the Alaska Legislature passed a resolution calling for action to ensure the survival of Alaska Native Languages. House Concurrent Resolution 19, sponsored by Representative Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan) passed the Alaska House of Representatives last month, and today the Alaska State Senate passed the resolution by a vote of 20-0.
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House Passes Legislation to Support Dive Fisheries in Southeast Alaska
Juneau – Today, the Alaska House of Representatives passed legislation to update the protocol used by the Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fisheries Association to charge an assessment to its members to help manage and support the geoduck, sea cucumber, and sea urchin fisheries. House Bill 354 changes the assessment mechanism from a vote by a majority of permit holders to a three-quarters vote of the Board of Directors and a majority vote of permit holders participating in the election.
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House Passes Bill Fixing Flaw in Laws Governing ATMs
Juneau – Today, the Alaska House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill that allows the owners of automatic teller machines (ATMs) to charge a fee for transactions made by international bank card holders. Currently, independently owned ATMs cannot charge a fee for use by international cardholders because the state law only pertains to ATMs owned by state-sponsored banks or credit unions. House Bill 350, sponsored by Representative Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan), seeks to level the playing field between the varied owners of ATMs in Alaska.
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Rep Ortiz April 5th Newsletter: Let’s Get Coffee!
I will be in Ketchikan this weekend, and on Saturday morning, I will be hosting an open meeting for constituents. All are welcome to join. There will be coffee and great conversation.
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Alaska’s Budget: “Fast Track” Supplemental and the Operating Budgets
I hope every one is enjoying the budding spring weather! Despite the snow in Juneau earlier this week, it is starting to look a little bit like spring. Meanwhile, the legislature is right in the thick of passing an Operating Budget.
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House Calls for a “Linguistic Emergency” Declaration to Protect Alaska Native Languages
Juneau – Today, the Alaska Legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution 19, sponsored by Representative Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan), urging Alaska Governor Bill Walker to declare a “linguistic emergency” to help ensure the survival of Native language in Alaska. House Concurrent Resolution 19 calls on state agencies, the Alaska State Legislature, Alaska Native organizations, and others to work to strengthen policies to prioritize the continued use of Alaska Native languages.
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Rep. Ortiz’s February 28th Newsletter
When I took office in 2014, I had the opportunity to sit on the House Transportation Committee. Because of my current position on the House Finance Committee, I am no longer on the Transportation Committee, but transportation issues are still a top priority for me.
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House Passes Resolution on Proposed Plan for Offshore Lease Sales
Juneau – Today, the Alaska House of Representatives passed House Resolution 6, weighing in on the 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program. The current draft program calls for lease sales in 14 of the 15 planning areas in Alaska (there are a total of 26 planning areas across the country).
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