INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT

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HOUSE CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 174(FIN)

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE

Offered: 5/19/26
Referred: Today's Calendar

Sponsor(s): SENATORS DUNBAR, Yundt, Wielechowski, Bjorkman, Tobin, Kawasaki, Cronk, Merrick,
Claman, Tilton, Rauscher, Gray-Jackson, Kaufman, Stedman, Stevens

REPRESENTATIVES McCabe, Himschoot, Bynum, Gray, Mears, Galvin, Josephson, Hannan, Mina, Stutes,
Fields
A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to community cats; establishing a statewide spay and neuter assistance 1
fund; establishing the statewide spay and neuter assistance program; relating to the 2
release of feral domestic cats; establishing the Alaska Invasive Species Council in the 3
Department of Fish and Game; relating to management of invasive species; relating to 4
companion animal spay and neuter special request registration plates; relating to 5
municipal control of feral domestic dogs and cats; relating to contributions from 6
permanent fund dividends; and providing for an effective date." 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 8
* Section 1. AS 03.55 is amended by adding new sections to read: 9
Article 1A. Cats. 10
Sec. 03.55.080. Community cats. (a) A person may release a community cat 11
on land from which the cat was originally taken if the cat has been vaccinated for 12
rabies, has had the tip of the cat's left ear removed, and has been spayed or neutered 13
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through a community cat program. The cat must be returned to the location where the 1
cat was found. 2
(b) A person who releases a community cat under this section is exempt from 3
state and municipal requirements applicable to ownership and care of domestic 4
animals, and the release of a community cat under (a) of this section does not 5
constitute abandonment. 6
Sec. 03.55.095. Definitions. In AS 03.55.080 - 03.55.095, 7
(1) "community cat" means an unowned domestic cat living in a wild 8
state that is unsocialized for domestic human environments, or another free-roaming 9
cat that is without visibly discernible owner identification or an identifying microchip 10
or that has had the tip of the cat's left ear removed; 11
(2) "landowner" includes a state, municipal, or private landowner. 12
* Sec. 2. AS 03.55 is amended by adding new sections to read: 13
Article 3. Statewide Spay and Neuter Assistance Fund and Program. 14
Sec. 03.55.200. Statewide spay and neuter assistance fund. (a) The 15
statewide spay and neuter assistance fund is established as a separate account in the 16
general fund. The fund consists of 17
(1) program receipts from the special request companion animal spay 18
and neuter plates issued under AS 28.10.421(d)(28); 19
(2) donations to the fund; 20
(3) federal or private funding that may be available to the state to 21
support spay and neuter services; and 22
(4) interest earned on money in the fund. 23
(b) The department shall administer the fund in accordance with the 24
provisions of AS 03.55.200 - 03.55.240. 25
(c) The legislature may appropriate money from the fund to the department to 26
implement AS 03.55.200 - 03.55.240 and to pay the costs of administering the fund. 27
(d) Nothing in this section creates a dedicated fund. 28
Sec. 03.55.210. Statewide spay and neuter assistance program; eligibility. 29
(a) The statewide spay and neuter assistance program is established in the department. 30
(b) The program shall provide direct reimbursement to a participating 31
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veterinarian, veterinary clinic, animal shelter, or nonprofit organization in the state 1
that provides a spay or neuter surgery or presurgical examination or administers 2
required vaccinations without charge or at a reduced rate to a pet belonging to a 3
household in the state with an annual family or household income equal to or less than 4
130 percent of the most recent poverty guidelines for the state set by the United States 5
Department of Health and Human Services. 6
(c) The department shall adopt regulations to carry out the program, including 7
establishing 8
(1) a process for verifying whether a pet owner qualifies as an eligible 9
household under (b)of this section; 10
(2) a fee reimbursement process and standard reimbursement rate 11
schedule of up to 80 percent of the prevailing rates for the services covered by the 12
program. 13
Sec. 03.55.220. Statewide spay and neuter assistance fund and program 14
awareness and education. The department shall promote public awareness of the 15
fund and the program and educate the public about the dangers of uncontrolled 16
breeding of domestic dogs and cats. The department shall publish a list of providers 17
that participate in the program on the department's Internet website. 18
Sec. 03.55.230. Annual report. The department shall submit an annual report 19
to the legislature on or before the first day of each regular session of the legislature 20
that details, for the preceding year, the number and type of services provided under the 21
program and the program revenue and expenditures. The department shall deliver the 22
report to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives and 23
notify the legislature that the report is available. 24
Sec. 03.55.240. Definitions. In AS 03.55.200 - 03.55.240, 25
(1) "department" means the Department of Environmental 26
Conservation; 27
(2) "fund" means the statewide spay and neuter assistance fund 28
established under AS 03.55.200; 29
(3) "program" means the statewide spay and neuter assistance program 30
established under AS 03.55.210. 31
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* Sec. 3. AS 16.05.255(a) is amended to read: 1
(a) The Board of Game may adopt regulations it considers advisable in 2
accordance with AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act) for 3
(1) setting apart game reserve areas, refuges, and sanctuaries in the 4
water or on the land of the state over which it has jurisdiction, subject to the approval 5
of the legislature; 6
(2) establishing open and closed seasons and areas for the taking of 7
game; 8
(3) establishing the means and methods employed in the pursuit, 9
capture, taking, and transport of game, including regulations, consistent with resource 10
conservation and development goals, establishing means and methods that may be 11
employed by persons with physical disabilities; 12
(4) setting quotas, bag limits, harvest levels, and sex, age, and size 13
limitations on the taking of game; 14
(5) classifying game as game birds, song birds, big game animals, fur 15
bearing animals, predators, or other categories; 16
(6) methods, means, and harvest levels necessary to control predation 17
and competition among game in the state; 18
(7) watershed and habitat improvement, and management, 19
conservation, protection, use, disposal, propagation, and stocking of game; 20
(8) prohibiting the live capture, possession, transport, or release of 21
native or exotic game or their eggs, unless the action is permitted under an 22
ordinance adopted under AS 29.35.052; 23
(9) establishing the times and dates during which the issuance of game 24
licenses, permits, and registrations and the transfer of permits and registrations 25
between registration areas and game management units or subunits is allowed; 26
(10) regulating sport hunting and subsistence hunting as needed for the 27
conservation, development, and utilization of game; 28
(11) taking game to ensure public safety; 29
(12) regulating the activities of persons licensed to control nuisance 30
wild birds and nuisance wild small mammals; 31
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(13) promoting hunting and trapping and preserving the heritage of 1
hunting and trapping in the state. 2
* Sec. 4. AS 16.05.930 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 3
(h) This chapter does not prohibit the release of a community cat as allowed 4
under AS 03.55.080. 5
(i) This chapter does not prohibit the release of a feral domestic cat that is 6
sterilized and is vaccinated in compliance with state law and any applicable municipal 7
ordinance. 8
* Sec. 5. AS 16.20 is amended by adding new sections to read: 9
Article 6. Management of Invasive Species. 10
Sec. 16.20.800. Alaska Invasive Species Council. (a) The Alaska Invasive 11
Species Council is an advisory council established in the department to facilitate 12
efforts by the department, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of 13
Environmental Conservation, the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, 14
and other natural-resource-related governmental entities operating in the state to 15
manage invasive species in the state by 16
(1) facilitating cooperation between state, federal, tribal, and local 17
agencies and nongovernmental organizations; 18
(2) assisting in coordination of activities to manage invasive species, 19
including those undertaken by local governments and nongovernmental organizations; 20
(3) recommending coordinated interagency strategies and policies 21
related to management of invasive species, including 22
(A) importation, possession, and use of invasive species; 23
(B) classification and listing of non-native species; and 24
(C) management of pathways associated with transfer of 25
invasive species; 26
(4) upon request of a state agency, providing guidance on prioritizing 27
the state agency's responses to occurrences of invasive species and how funds made 28
available under AS 16.20.820 may be best used; 29
(5) recommending expenditures from the invasive species response 30
fund; 31
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(6) providing technical information and assistance to persons engaged 1
in regional and national invasive species management efforts. 2
(b) Except as provided in (c) of this section, the council consists of 3
(1) the following members appointed by the governor to three-year 4
terms: 5
(A) a representative of the University of Alaska who is 6
involved in research relating to, or management of, invasive species; 7
(B) a representative of an Alaska tribal entity who is involved 8
in management of invasive species; 9
(C) a representative of a statewide organization focused on 10
prevention, detection, and management of invasive species; 11
(D) a representative of an organization involved with 12
prevention, detection, and management of marine invasive species in the state; 13
(E) a representative involved in invasive species management 14
through a soil and water conservation district established under AS 41.10.130, 15
a conservation district established by an Alaska Native organization, or an 16
organization concerned with the health of watersheds in the state; 17
(2) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the 18
speaker of the house of representatives; 19
(3) one member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; 20
(4) the commissioner of each of the following departments or the 21
commissioner's designee: 22
(A) the Department of Fish and Game; 23
(B) the Department of Natural Resources; 24
(C) the Department of Environmental Conservation; 25
(D) the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. 26
(c) The council may, as the council finds necessary, invite additional persons 27
to be nonvoting advisory members of the council. The council may invite 28
representatives or members of federal entities, local government organizations, tribal 29
governments, institutions of higher learning in the state, and other organizations with 30
expertise relating to invasive species to join the council under this subsection. The 31
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council may prescribe procedures for the participation of persons added to the council 1
under this subsection. 2
(d) The council shall adopt bylaws to govern its operation. The bylaws must 3
provide procedures for 4
(1) decision making; and 5
(2) establishing subcommittees and advisory committees. 6
(e) The council shall elect a chair and vice chair from among the members 7
appointed under (b)(1) of this section. The council shall meet at least quarterly at the 8
call of the chair. A majority of the council constitutes a quorum. Meetings and council 9
votes may be held by audio or video teleconference. 10
(f) Members of the council serve without compensation and are not entitled to 11
per diem and travel expenses. However, a member appointed under (b)(4) of this 12
section is entitled to per diem and travel expenses as a state employee. 13
(g) By January 15 of each odd-numbered year, the council shall prepare and 14
present to the legislature an updated five-year strategic plan that addresses the effects 15
of invasive species on the state's natural resources and economy, states the council's 16
suggested priorities for addressing invasive species, and recommends legislation and 17
funding required to implement the council's priorities. The council shall transmit the 18
strategic plan to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives 19
and notify the legislature that the plan is available. 20
(h) By January 15 of each year, the council shall prepare and present an 21
annual report on invasive species active in the state, the effects of the activity, and any 22
measures taken to manage invasive species. The report must include other issues and 23
concerns related to invasive species that the council determines are of value to 24
policymakers. The council shall submit the report to the governor, the department, the 25
Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the 26
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, and the senate secretary and chief 27
clerk of the house of representatives, and notify the legislature that the report is 28
available. 29
(i) Council members appointed under (b)(1) of this section serve staggered 30
three-year terms and until a successor is appointed. A vacancy on the council shall be 31
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filled in the same manner as the original appointment. If a vacancy occurs, the 1
governor shall appoint a member for the unexpired portion of the term within 60 days 2
after the occurrence of the vacancy. 3
Sec. 16.20.810. Invasive species response fund. The invasive species 4
response fund is established as an account in the general fund. The fund consists of 5
appropriations made to the fund. Money appropriated to the fund does not lapse. The 6
department may use money appropriated to the fund to manage invasive species, 7
without further appropriation. 8
Sec. 16.20.850. Definitions. In AS 16.20.800 - 16.20.850, 9
(1) "council" means the Alaska Invasive Species Council; 10
(2) "department" means the Department of Fish and Game; 11
(3) "invasive species" means a non-native species the introduction of 12
which causes or is likely to cause economic harm, environmental harm, or harm to 13
human health; 14
(4) "manage invasive species" means to take actions to prevent or 15
minimize harmful effects of invasive species on the economy, the environment, public 16
health, infrastructure, and cultural heritage; 17
(5) "non-native species" includes any biological material capable of 18
propagating a species that is not native to the state or an ecosystem in the state. 19
* Sec. 6. AS 28.10.181 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 20
(pp) Special request companion animal spay and neuter plates. Upon 21
application by the owner of a motor vehicle, the department may design and issue 22
registration plates representing the statewide spay and neuter assistance program 23
established under AS 03.55.210. The department may disapprove the issuance of 24
registration plates under this subsection when the requested plates are a duplication of 25
an existing registration. 26
* Sec. 7. AS 28.10.421(d) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 27
(28) special request companion animal spay and neuter plates registered 28
under AS 28.10.181(pp) ......................................................................................... $100 29
plus the fee required for that vehicle under (b), (c), (h), or (i) of this section; the fee 30
required by this paragraph shall be collected only on the first issuance of and the 31
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replacement of the special request plates; the commissioner shall separately account 1
for the fees received under this paragraph that the department deposits into the general 2
fund; notwithstanding (g) of this section, the annual estimated balance in the account 3
that is in excess of the cost of issuing special request plates may be appropriated by 4
the legislature into the statewide spay and neuter assistance fund established in 5
AS 03.55.200. 6
* Sec. 8. AS 29.35 is amended by adding a new section to read: 7
Sec. 29.35.052. Feral domestic dog and cat populations. As a means of 8
controlling the feral domestic dog and cat population in a municipality, a municipality 9
may adopt an ordinance that allows feral domestic dogs and cats to be captured, 10
possessed, and transported for the purpose of spaying or neutering and vaccinating the 11
animal before release. 12
* Sec. 9. AS 37.05.146(c) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 13
(87) statewide spay and neuter assistance fund (AS 03.55.200). 14
* Sec. 10. AS 43.23.130(a) is amended to read: 15
(a) Notwithstanding AS 43.23.200, the Department of Revenue shall prepare 16
the electronic Alaska permanent fund dividend application to allow an applicant who 17
files electronically to direct that money be subtracted from the dividend payment and 18
contributed to the crime victim compensation fund (AS 18.67.162), the peace officer 19
and firefighter survivors' fund, the statewide spay and neuter assistance fund 20
(AS 03.55.200), or one or more of the educational organizations, community 21
foundations, or charitable organizations that appear on the contribution list contained 22
in the application. A contribution to the crime victim compensation fund, the peace 23
officer and firefighter survivors' fund, the statewide spay and neuter assistance 24
fund, or [TO] an organization may be $25, $50, $75, $100, or more, in increments of 25
$50, up to the total amount of the permanent fund dividend that the applicant is 26
entitled to receive. If the total amount of contributions elected by an applicant exceeds 27
the amount of the permanent fund dividend that the applicant is entitled to receive, 28
contributions shall be deducted from the dividend in the order of priority elected by 29
the applicant on the application until the entire amount of the dividend that the 30
applicant is entitled to receive is allocated for contribution. The electronic dividend 31
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application form must include notice that seven percent of the money contributed will 1
be used for administrative costs incurred in implementing this section, and money 2
from the dividend fund will not be used for that purpose. 3
* Sec. 11. AS 43.23.130(b) is amended to read: 4
(b) The department shall list each educational organization, community 5
foundation, or charitable organization eligible under (c) and (d) of this section, each 6
university campus that applies under (l) of this section, the crime victim compensation 7
fund, [AND] the peace officer and firefighter survivors' fund, and the statewide spay 8
and neuter assistance fund on the contribution list. The department shall maintain an 9
electronic database for the contribution list that is accessible to the public and that 10
permits searches by organization or fund name, geographic location, and type. The 11
department shall provide a statement of the contributions made by an individual that is 12
suitable for federal income tax purposes to each individual who elects to contribute 13
under (a) of this section. 14
* Sec. 12. AS 43.23.130(m) is amended to read: 15
(m) In addition to the application fee in (f) of this section, the department shall 16
withhold a coordination fee from each organization, foundation, or university campus 17
that receives contributions under this section in the immediately preceding dividend 18
year. The coordination fee for an organization, foundation, or university campus that 19
receives contributions under this section shall be seven percent of the amount of 20
contributions reported by the department under (j) of this section for the organization, 21
foundation, or university campus for the immediately preceding dividend year. The 22
coordination fee shall be separately accounted for under AS 37.05.142 and shall be 23
accounted for separately from the application fee collected under (f) of this section. 24
The annual estimated balance in the account maintained under AS 37.05.142 for 25
coordination fees collected under this subsection may be appropriated for costs of 26
administering this section. The department may not withhold a coordination fee for 27
contributions to the crime victim compensation fund, [OR] the peace officer and 28
firefighter survivors' fund, or the statewide spay and neuter assistance fund. 29
* Sec. 13. AS 16.20.800, 16.20.810, and 16.20.850 are repealed July 1, 2035. 30
* Sec. 14. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 31
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read: 1
REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. The Department of Environmental Conservation shall 2
submit the first annual report required by AS 03.55.230, enacted by sec. 2 of this Act, on or 3
before January 18, 2028. 4
* Sec. 15. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 5
read: 6
APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS AND CHAIR AND TIMING AND NUMBER OF 7
MEETINGS REQUIRED IN INITIAL YEAR. (a) Notwithstanding AS 16.20.810(i), added 8
by sec. 5 of this Act, the governor shall appoint the initial members of the Alaska Invasive 9
Species Council required under AS 16.20.800(b)(1) within 60 days after the effective date of 10
sec. 5 of this Act. The governor shall appoint the members to staggered terms as follows: 11
(1) two members shall be appointed to three-year terms; 12
(2) two members shall be appointed to two-year terms; and 13
(3) one member shall be appointed to a one-year term. 14
(b) Notwithstanding AS 16.20.800(e), added by sec. 5 of this Act, the Alaska Invasive 15
Species Council shall 16
(1) hold its first meeting within 90 days after the appointment of members 17
under (a) of this section; and 18
(2) meet at least four times in the 12 months following the appointment of 19
members under (a) of this section. 20
* Sec. 16. Sections 5, 13, and 15 of this Act take effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 21
* Sec. 17. Sections 2, 3, 6 - 12, and 14 of this Act and AS 16.05.930(i), added by sec. 4 of 22
this Act, take effect July 1, 2028. 23