Coalition Press

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NEWS: Successful Tax Credit Program Extended to Support Education in Alaska

September 5, 2018

Anchorage – Legislation to extend a successful tax credit program was signed into law today during a ceremony on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus. House Bill 233, sponsored by Representative Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage), passed the Alaska Legislature earlier this year with near unanimous support. The bill extends the Alaska Education Tax Credit Program through 2024 and adjusts the rate at which the credits are earned.

NEWS: Legislation Signed to Support Southeast Alaska’s Dive Fisheries

August 29, 2018

Ketchikan – Earlier this week, Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed a bill into law to help the valuable geoduck, sea cucumber, and sea urchin fisheries in Southeast Alaska. House Bill 354 updates the protocol used by the Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fisheries Association to charge an assessment to its members. The old assessment method that required a vote by a majority of all permit holders to authorize an assessment change was difficult to achieve because many permit holders no longer participate because their permits are nontransferable. HB 354 changes the threshold to change assessments to a three-quarters vote of the Board of Directors and a majority vote of permit holders participating in the election.

NEWS: Race to Alaska Becomes Eligible for “Race Classic” Permit

August 28, 2018

Ketchikan – Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed legislation into law on Monday adding the Race to Alaska to the list of events eligible for a “race classic” game of chance permit. House Bill 18 will allow the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce to offer a “race classic” contest based on people guessing the winning time of the 750-mile Race to Alaska, which is a human-powered boat race from Port Townsend, Washington to Ketchikan, Alaska. Similar “classics” are offered by the Chamber’s of Commerce in Juneau, Fairbanks, Kenai, Seward, Petersburg, Delta, and Big Lake.

NEWS: Help for Alaska’s Growing Mariculture Industry Signed Into Law

August 27, 2018

Ketchikan – Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed legislation into law today to help participants in Alaska’s growing mariculture industry get access to capital. Representative Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan) sponsored House Bill 76 after learning that many of the small businesses in Alaska’s mariculture industry were having trouble securing financing for improvement projects through private lending institutions. HB 76 changes the Alaska Mariculture Revolving Loan Fund to allow up to 40 percent of the fund to be used for loans to help pay for shellfish and sea…..

NEWS: Significant Workers’ Compensation Reform Bill Becomes Law

August 24, 2018

Anchorage – Bipartisan legislation to reform Alaska’s workers’ compensation system was signed into law this morning during a ceremony held in conjunction with the annual AFL-CIO Summer Convention. Alaska Governor Bill Walker put forward House Bill 79 to modernize the system and to clearly define for the first time in Alaska’s history who can be categorized as an independent contractor. Representative Andy Josephson (D-Anchorage) carried the bill on the House floor and issued the following statement upon learning that HB 79 has become law.

NEWS: Bill Signed to Modernize Alaska’s Public School Trust Fund Using POMV Model

August 10, 2018

Fairbanks – Today, legislation was signed into law changing the management structure of the $675 million Alaska Public School Trust Fund to a percent of market value (POMV) system. POMV has become the standard global management approach for large endowments and trusts. House Bill 213, sponsored by Representative Justin Parish (D-Juneau), will result in a significant increase in funding available for public education in Alaska.

Governor Signs Legislation Increasing Flexibility for School Districts

August 8, 2018

Today – Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed legislation sponsored by Representative John Lincoln (D-Kotzebue) to give Alaska school districts more time and flexibility to provide the local match required under the School Construction Grant Program. House Bill 135 loosens the existing three-year deadline, which can now be extended by the Commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development to a maximum of seven years; provided there is good cause, the extension doesn’t jeopardize successful completion of the project, and the extension won’t increase state funding of the project cost.

NEWS: Governor Walker Signs Legislation to Support Rural Communities

August 8, 2018

Nondalton – Tuesday, in the community of Nondalton, near Lake Clark, Governor Bill Walker signed House Bill 267, which gives municipalities that levy taxes on guided hunting and sport fishing access to records that businesses submit to state agencies. HB 267 will allow local governments to confirm that hunting and fishing activities subject to taxes within their jurisdictions are being accurately reported.

Contact Info:
Graham Judson Press Secretary
(907) 465-5284
120 4th St, Juneau, AK 99801