00HOUSE BILL NO. 298                                                                                                      
01 "An Act relating to procedures for changing the rate of the salmon enhancement                                          
02 tax."                                                                                                                   
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 43.76 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                   
05  Sec. 43.76.018.  CHANGE OF SALMON ENHANCEMENT TAX RATE.  (a)                                                          
06 A salmon enhancement tax levied under this chapter may be changed to a one, two,                                        
07 or three percent salmon enhancement tax under AS 43.76.010, 43.76.011, or 43.76.012                                     
08 by the commissioner of revenue upon majority vote at an election held under                                             
09 AS 43.76.015 in the region in which the salmon enhancement tax is levied.                                               
10  (b)  A salmon enhancement tax shall be changed by the commissioner of                                                 
11 revenue under (a) of this section following an election in a region if                                                  
12   (1)  a petition is presented to the commissioner of commerce and                                                     
13 economic development requesting that the rate of the salmon enhancement tax in the                                      
14 region be changed to one, two, or three percent under AS 43.76.010, 43.76.011, or                                       

01 43.76.012 that is signed by at least 25 percent of the number of persons who voted                                      
02 under AS 43.76.015 in the election approving the salmon enhancement tax in the                                          
03 region; the petition required under this paragraph may be prepared or submitted to the                                  
04 commissioner of commerce and economic development by the qualified regional                                             
05 association for the region or by a person who holds a salmon interim-use permit or                                      
06 entry permit for the region;                                                                                            
07   (2)  the commissioner of commerce and economic development                                                           
08 determines that the change in the rate of the salmon enhancement tax will not                                           
09 significantly jeopardize repayment of outstanding loans to the qualified regional                                       
10 association under AS 16.10.510 that are secured by the tax;                                                             
11   (3)  an election is held in accordance with AS 43.76.015(a), (c), and (d);                                           
12 the ballot must state the proposed rate of the salmon enhancement tax and ask the                                       
13 question whether the salmon enhancement tax for the region shall be changed to the                                      
14 proposed rate; the ballot must be worded so that a "yes" vote is for change of the                                      
15 salmon enhancement tax to the proposed rate and a "no" vote is for continuation of the                                  
16 current rate of the salmon enhancement tax;                                                                             
17   (4)  a majority of the eligible interim-use permit and entry permit                                                  
18 holders who vote in the election cast a ballot for the change of the rate of the salmon                                 
19 enhancement tax; and                                                                                                    
20   (5)  the qualified regional association provides notice of the election in                                           
21 accordance with AS 43.76.015 within two months after receiving notice from the                                          
22 commissioner of commerce and economic development that a valid petition under (1)                                       
23 of this subsection has been received.                                                                                   
24  (c)  An election to change the rate of a salmon enhancement tax under this                                            
25 section shall be held within 90 days after the commissioner of commerce and                                             
26 economic development receives a valid petition under (b)(1) of this section unless the                                  
27 commissioner authorizes an extension of the election date in order to provide for an                                    
28 orderly election.                                                                                                       
29  (d)  If approved, the change in the rate of the salmon enhancement tax takes                                          
30 effect on the date set out in the ballot.