2017-04-15                     House Journal                      Page 1115
HB 231                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 231 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry                                                                  
     Commission; and providing for an effective date."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on                                                          
Fisheries and the Finance Committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Fiscal, Office of the Governor/Dept. of Fish & Game                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated April 14 follows:                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting this bill relating to the Alaska                                                                
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (Commission).                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The Commission is a regulatory and quasi-judicial agency tasked to                                                              
promote the conservation and sustained yield management of Alaska's                                                             
commercial fishery resource by regulating and controlling entry of                                                              
participants and vessels into the commercial fisheries in the public                                                            
interest and without unjust discrimination. This bill proposes                                                                  
amendments to address the changing environment of the Commission                                                                
without affecting the Commission's mission.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Therefore, the bill proposes to adjust the salary range for                                                                     
Commissioners of the Commission from range 27 to range 24 to better                                                             
align them with other comparable positions. Further, the bill would                                                             
amend AS 16.43.080 to remove a requirement that employees of the                                                                
Commission be in the exempt service. To accommodate this change,                                                                
Commission employees would be transferred to the classified service,                                                            
but would still be employed by the Commission.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2017-04-15                     House Journal                      Page 1116
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor"