U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Office of Government Affairs
Alaska
Area Coordinator:
COMO Gail Ramsey, N-LLP
State Liaison:
Jack Cadigan
Department of Natural Resources - Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation - Office of Boating Safety
Coast Guard Auxiliary District: 17
Coast Guard District: 17
Second Quarter Report, 2009:
On 20 MAY 2009 Governor Palin signed the Boating Safety law.
Alaska has no "permanent" Boating Safety law. When I, the current Alaska state LLO, was DirAux here in CG District 17, as a LCDR in 76-79, I got the first attempt (never got through committees) at a State Law to take over boat registration, etc. Finally, Bill Hudson (CDR, USCG, Ret.) who served several terms in the State House, got a safety bill through mirroring the other 49 states (back around 2001).
The statute had a "sunset" date of 5 years. This was renewed back around 2005, including the requirement for children of age 12 and under to wear PFD's at all times (except inside boat cabins) when out on the water in un-inspected boats. Because of much opposition by the "Outdoor Council" (to the portion not requiring kayak registrations) it was a tough battle (I testified before all the various committees, wrote e-mails, etc., lobbying for passage). The statute made it through a few days prior to the end of session, ONLY because it had a "sunset" date. (somewhat similar to the Fed. "Death Tax.") So, the state law is essentially identical to federal, and covers all waters, including all navigable waterways, of this state.
The bill (HB 151) as originally written simply removed the "sunset" provision from existing law. Because the legislature for the past two years has been under a citizens initiative to complete regular annual session in 90 days, this was not a "high priority" bill. By amending the bill to simply a 2 year extension, it skipped the normal required public hearings and was unanimously passed on the floors of the House and Senate. The idea/plan is to get the "sunset" removed next session.