03/31/2010 01:00 PM House RESOURCES

         HB 365-FISH PROCESSOR FEES, LICENSES, RECORDS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:20:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR JOHNSON  announced that  the next  order of  business is                                                               
HOUSE  BILL  NO.  365,  "An   Act  relating  to  sharing  records                                                               
regarding fish purchased by fish  processors with certain federal                                                               
agencies,  to requirements  to obtain  and  maintain a  fisheries                                                               
business license,  and to  payment of  industry fees  required of                                                               
fish processors; and providing for an effective date."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:21:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GENEVIEVE  WOJTUSIK,  Staff,   Representative  Charisse  Millett,                                                               
Alaska  State  Legislature,  introduced   HB  365  on  behalf  of                                                               
Representative Millett, sponsor.   She said the  bill pertains to                                                               
the  fishing  capacity  reduction programs,  known  as  buybacks.                                                               
Buybacks  reduce  the  number  of permits  within  a  fishery  by                                                               
permanently retiring  limited entry permits.   The concept  is to                                                               
provide  for long-term  stability  within a  fishery and  prevent                                                               
over-capitalization,  which  occurs  when   too  many  boats  are                                                               
fishing for small  numbers of fish, or when  economic factors are                                                               
such  that no  fisherman can  make a  reasonable income  from the                                                               
fishery.  Most  of the legal framework for the  buybacks exist in                                                               
Alaska statute and  HB 365 would add the  last few administrative                                                               
pieces that enable fisheries to pursue  such an option if they so                                                               
choose.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR JOHNSON  said HB  365 is  priority legislation  for some                                                               
people, and  the intent is  to put the  bill forward today  so it                                                               
can be acted upon quickly in the future.  He held over the bill.