03/08/2021 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

        SB 29-COOK INLET: NEW ADMIN AREA; PERMIT BUYBACK                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:44:38 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK  announced the  consideration of  SENATE BILL  NO. 29                                                               
"An  Act  relating  to  the   powers  of  the  Alaska  Commercial                                                               
Fisheries Entry Commission; relating  to administrative areas for                                                               
regulation  of   certain  commercial   set  net   entry  permits;                                                               
establishing  a  buy-back  program  for  certain  set  net  entry                                                               
permits; providing  for the  termination of  state set  net tract                                                               
leases  under  the buy-back  program;  closing  certain water  to                                                               
commercial fishing; and providing for an effective date."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
He noted  the committee first  heard SB 29  on March 3,  2021 and                                                               
completed public testimony.  He said the committee  would like to                                                               
hear again from  the sponsor and gauge the will  of the committee                                                               
for the legislation.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  REVAK pointed  out during  public testimony  the committee                                                               
heard from 25 testifiers who supported  the bill. Most if not all                                                               
testifiers were setnetters or family members of setnetters.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
He said  the committee has  received three additional  letters of                                                               
support that were distributed to  committee members. He added the                                                               
committee has not received any  communication in opposition to SB
, which certainly was not  the case during the previous session                                                               
and  is  likely  an  indication  of  the  unfortunate  times  and                                                               
complications that Alaska's fishing industry has faced.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:45:41 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MICCICHE,  speaking as  sponsor of SB  29, said  the bill                                                               
goes on to  the Senate Finance Committee and he  looks forward to                                                               
that discussion.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  MICCICHE summarized  that  SB 29  has  no state  dollars                                                               
associated  with   it.  The  legislation  gives   setnetters  the                                                               
opportunity to either retrain or  reinvest in another fishery. He                                                               
said the east  side of the Cook Inlet fishery  has struggled with                                                               
this issue for  40 years and he  believes SB 29 is  the best path                                                               
forward.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  REVAK  found no  questions  or  comments and  solicited  a                                                               
motion.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:46:43 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MICCICHE moved  to report SB 29,  work order 32-LS0279\A,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR REVAK announced that without  objection, SB 29 was reported                                                               
from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.