04/06/2004 02:04 PM Senate L&C

           HB 341-DIVE FISHERY MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CON BUNDE announced HB 341 to be up for consideration.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. TIM  BARRY, staff to  Representative Bill  Williams, sponsor,                                                               
offered to answer questions.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH asked if  the administration supported this                                                               
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. BARRY  answered that the  administration hadn't  commented on                                                               
the bill one way or the other. It  has a zero fiscal note and the                                                               
Department  of Revenue  will administer  collection of  the fees,                                                               
which it already does. The assessments will change.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  FRENCH  asked  if the  department  still  believed  that                                                               
changing the assessments would result in a zero fiscal note.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BARRY  replied  that currently  the  Dive  Fish  Association                                                               
assesses itself at  one of four rates  - 1%, 3%, 5%  and 7%. This                                                               
bill allows  the association to  assess themselves at 2%,  4% and                                                               
6%.  To   that  extent,  the  department   isn't  doing  anything                                                               
different.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. JULIE  DECKER, Executive Director, Southeast  Alaska Regional                                                               
Dive  Fisheries Association  (SARDFA), said  the association  has                                                               
developed good relationships with  the departments it worked with                                                               
along  with Alan  Austerman. The  concept behind  SARDFA has  had                                                               
nothing but support.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR RALPH  SEEKINS moved to  pass HB 341 from  committee with                                                               
attached  fiscal note  and  individual recommendations.  Senators                                                               
Gary  Stevens, Bettye  Davis, Ralph  Seekins,  Hollis French  and                                                               
Chair  Con Bunde  voted yea;  and HB  341 was  moved to  its next                                                               
committee of referral.