HB 209 Summary

• Legislature finds over 6,000 families in Alaska lack safe potable water or sanitation systems, with less than 0.5% of over $100 billion in state oil revenue since 1977 spent on rural water and sewer projects.

• Creates a 10-member Alaska Water and Sewer Advisory Committee in the legislative branch with members from the senate, house, bush caucus communities, federal and state agencies, a civil engineer, a tribal health organization representative, and rural community residents.

• Committee must develop findings and proposed legislation by December 1, 2017, addressing safe water and sewer systems for rural areas, including estimates of affected homes, technology assessments, and coordination strategies for state and federal resources.

• Committee shall investigate previous efforts, research Arctic nation systems, recommend strategies for long-term system maintenance by local personnel, and hold public hearings to gather rural water and sewer needs.

• Sections 1 and 2 are repealed July 1, 2018, making this a temporary measure; the act takes effect immediately.