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Some state lawmakers want Alaska's jewelers to only sell gold that's been mined in Alaska.

A bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, would make it a misdemeanor to sell gold in Alaska that hasn't been mined in the state. The legislation is a response to a recent announcement by five major jewelers who said they would boycott any gold from Pebble Mine, according to Tom Wright, a Chenault staff member.

Five jewelers, including Tiffany & Co., Helzberg Diamonds and Fortunoff, recently said they oppose the Pebble Mine, the proposed Southwest Alaska gold and copper mine. The proposed project has raised concerns among Bristol Bay area subsistence, sport and commercial fishermen, who say it could harm one of the world's largest sockeye harvest.

Wright told the House Labor and Commerce Committee that the bill was a statement against the jewelry companies' announced boycott, which he said was premature in light of the fact that the owners of the mine have not yet filed for state mining permits.

"We have a process in this state, and it's important that we follow that process," Wright said. "We have five companies reacting before we've even gotten to that first step."

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Kodiak, said the bill was "ridiculous" and unfairly targeted the state's jewelers who had little to do with the proposed Pebble Mine.

"I mean, why be pikers about it? Why not make it a felony while we're at it, too?" LeDoux said, adding the bill was an unwelcome distraction during the shortened 90-day session.

"I almost walked out," she said of the hearing.

LeDoux also pointed out that the Legislature's legal services said that the bill appeared to violate both federal and state law.

Local jeweler Rex Thompson, owner of Fire & Ice Gold and Platinum, said the bill was "kinda silly." He said currently there's no way to track where the refined gold used in jewelry comes from and doing so would be expensive and time-consuming. He said that gold used in most jewelry comes from a variety of sources, including some that could date back thousands of years.

"It just keeps going around and around and around," Thompson said.

When asked where the gold in some of his jewelry comes from, Thompson said "I can be as specific as planet Earth."

Thompson, who said he's also opposed to a proposed Pebble Mine, added that he'd be "pretty pissed off" if the bill actually passed.

The committee took no further action on the bill, but its vice chairman, Rep. Mark Neuman, R-Wasilla, said he enjoyed the discussion the bill provoked. He added that while the bill may be flawed, it was still something to be considered seriously.

"This is not a pretend bill," Neuman said. "This is one before the Alaska Legislature."

• Contact reporter Alan Suderman at 523-2268 or alan.suderman@juneauempire.com.