HB 383 Summary

• Transfers agricultural powers and duties from the Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, including promotional work, extension services, pest and disease control, and agricultural product development.

• Reassigns the Commissioner of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development authority over agricultural regulation, seed standards, quarantines, and elk farming licenses previously held by the Commissioner of Natural Resources.

• Establishes a new plant materials center under the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development in cooperation with the University of Alaska's Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

• Creates Article 14A in AS 44.33 assigning the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development responsibility for agricultural information distribution, pest control, seed regulation, and agricultural resource development.

• Removes agriculture from the Department of Natural Resources' administrative duties while retaining DNR's authority over forests, parks, land, water, soil conservation, and minerals.