02/03/1994 01:34 PM House FIN

  HOUSE BILL NO. 230                                                           
                                                                               
       "An  Act  relating  to   fees  for  commercial  fishing                 
       licenses and permits."                                                  
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE  CARL  MOSES explained  that  CSHB 230  (RES)                 
  would provide a  more equitable  distribution of  commercial                 
  fishing vessel  licensing fees.   He  emphasized that  under                 
  current  law a 14  foot skiff is  charged the same  as a 250                 
  foot  vessel.   He  observed  that the  United  Fishermen of                 
  Alaska support  CSHB 230  (RES).   He pointed  out that  the                 
  effective date needs to be changed from 1994 to 1995.                        
                                                                               
  Representative  Hanley  noted  that  language  regarding   a                 
  reduction in fee costs  for a two year licence  purchase was                 
  deleted.                                                                     
                                                                               
  In  response  to  a  question  by  Representative   Parnell,                 
  Representative Moses noted that vessel license fees would be                 
  at the following schedule:                                                   
                                                                               
       *    0-25 feet ....................$20                                  
       *    25-50 feet....................$50                                  
       *    50-75 feet....................$100                                 
       *    75-150 feet...................$250                                 
       *    150-250 feet..................$500                                 
       *    over 251 feet.................$750.                                
                                                                               
  JERRY MCCUNE, PRESIDENT, UNITED FISHERMEN OF ALASKA spoke in                 
  support of CSHB  230 (RES).   He asserted  that the  fishing                 
  industry is paying  its way.   He observed that the  current                 
                                                                               
                                2                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  vessel fees have not been changed since 1978.                                
                                                                               
  Co-Chair  Larson  noted that  according  to research  by the                 
  House  Research   Agency,  the  State   of  Alaska  receives                 
  approximately a 75 percent return  of its fisheries resource                 
  investments.                                                                 
                                                                               
  Representative Navarre noted that if the shared fish tax was                 
  included  in  the  calculation, the  return  on  the State's                 
  investment would be closer to 132 percent.                                   
                                                                               
  FRANK  HOMAN,  COMMISSIONER,   COMMERCIAL  FISHERIES   ENTRY                 
  COMMISSION explained that vessels could  be licensed for two                 
  years at twice the yearly cost.                                              
                                                                               
  Representative Therriault MOVED to ADOPT the  language "one-                 
  year or two-year" on page 1, line 8, after "a".                              
                                                                               
  Representative Parnell  asked if  regulations could  address                 
  the issue of one or two year fees.                                           
                                                                               
  Representative Navarre MOVED to AMEND  Amendment 1 to delete                 
  "year" after "one".   The amendment  would read "one or  two                 
  year".  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                         
                                                                               
  Co-Chair Larson MOVED to delete "1994" and insert  "1995" on                 
  page  2,  line 13.   There  being  NO OBJECTION,  it  was so                 
  ordered.                                                                     
                                                                               
  Representative  Martin  noted  that there  would  not  be an                 
  incentive to  license vessels for two years  if the previous                 
  discount is not offered.                                                     
                                                                               
  Mr.  Homan  observed that  few  licenses had  been purchased                 
  under the two year  discount.  He noted that  the Commission                 
  did not anticipate that many vessels would be licensed under                 
  the two year option in the future.                                           
                                                                               
  Representative Navarre MOVED to report CSHB 230 (FIN) out of                 
  Committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  with  the                 
  accompanying fiscal notes.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was                 
  so ordered.                                                                  
                                                                               
  CSHB 230  (FIN) was  reported out  of Committee  with a  "do                 
  pass"  recommendation and with  a fiscal impact  note by the                 
  Department of Fish and Game.