Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin signed a bill on June 4th that saw the Legislature tweak -- but not significantly weaken -- the cruise ship initiative approved last August by the state's voters.

The initiative, strongly opposed by the cruise lines whose ships carry almost one million passengers on Alaska holidays each summer, was a major focus of attention during the just concluded legislative session.

But in the end, the only substantive change signed into law today was a slight softening of the initiative's requirement that cruise ships disclose how much they receive from tour operators or businesses for the shore excursions or shops promoted by the cruise line.

The bill signed into law by Gov. Palin provides that instead of disclosing specific commissions, a cruise line must disclose when it is receiving more than a 20 percent markup on tours or a 10 percent commission from local shops.

But the initiative's provision putting state observers onboard ships to ensure that environmental regulations are followed was not changed, and the state already has begun implementing the Ocean Rangers program.

Gov. Palin said the Alaska Department of Law also is reviewing how to implement the initiative's $46 per passenger head tax, and a tax to take one third of all onboard gambling proceeds.