2000-02-02                     House Journal                      Page 2070
HB 333                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 333 by the House Rules Committee by request of                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act relating to the accounting for and appropriations of the              
dive fishery management assessment; and providing for an                       
effective date."                                                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee            
on Fisheries and the Resources and Finance Committees.                         
                                                                               
The following fiscal note applies:                                             
                                                                               
Fiscal note, Dept. of Fish & Game, 2/2/00                                      
                                                                               
                                                                               

2000-02-02                     House Journal                      Page 2071
HB 333                                                                       
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 1, 2000, appears              
below:                                                                         
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                          
                                                                               
I signed into law in 1997 a bill allowing fishermen to establish               
regional dive fishery associations with the ability to assess themselves       
to support management and development of their fisheries.  By 1999,            
one association had organized and begun paying its self-assessed tax           
to the state.  This bill I transmit today fulfills the bargain made with       
dive fishermen in the 1997 law -- that the state ensure the association's      
self-assessments are used to support the dive fisheries.                       
                                                                               
                                                                               
This bill requires dive fishery assessments be accounted for separately        
and classified as non-general fund revenues.  The assessment is levied         
on the value of fishery resources taken by dive gear within specified          
areas.  Current law states the assessment receipts may be appropriated         
to the Department of Fish and Game and qualified development                   
associations to fund research, stock assessment and management                 
activities.  By accounting for these funds separately and allowing them        
to be appropriated back to the program, the state will honor the               
commitment made by the dive fishermen who voted to tax themselves              
to pay for more research and management in their fishery.                      
                                                                               
                                                                               
This is an excellent example of the fishing industry being willing to          
contribute to paying the cost of commercial fisheries management and           
research and worthy of your support.                                           
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"