Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
04/26/2021 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB110 | |
| SB125 | |
| SB113 | |
| SB59 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 110 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 113 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 125 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 59 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 79 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 80 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 59-SALTWATER SPORTFISHING OPERATORS/GUIDES
5:00:03 PM
CHAIR REVAK announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 59
"An Act relating to salt water sport fishing operators and salt
water sport fishing guides; and providing for an effective
date."
5:00:17 PM
At ease
5:00:51 PM
CHAIR REVAK reconvened the meeting and asked for a motion to
adopt the committee substitute (CS). He related that the CS
makes no substantive changes; rather, it conforms the governor's
bill to Legislative Legal Services drafting conventions.
5:01:09 PM
SENATOR BISHOP moved to adopt the work draft CS for SB 59, work
order 32-GS1608\B, as the working document.
5:01:26 PM
CHAIR REVAK found no objection and version B was adopted.
5:01:43 PM
DOUGLAS VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish
and Game, Anchorage, Alaska, reminded the members that this
committee heard the bill last year but did not act on it because
the legislature adjourned early due to COVID-19. He explained
that the bill reinstates the salt water licensing and reporting
requirements, but does not reinstate the fresh water licensing
and reporting requirements.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained that the legislature first
adopted the sport fishing guide and operator licenses in 2003-
2004 and these remained in effect until the sunset on December
31, 2014. Both fresh and salt water guides initially urged
passage of the legislation as a means of professionalizing the
industry. Just the salt water licensing and reporting
requirements were reinstated during the 2015-2016 legislative
session with a sunset of 2018. He said the bridge funding the
legislature provided after the 2018 sunset is gone and there is
no legislation in place to collect the fees to pay for the
marine log book program. Nevertheless, the department has
continued the log book program under the registration program
that was adopted through the Alaska Board of Fisheries.
5:04:21 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG stated the log book data is critical
to fulfill Pacific Salmon Treaty obligations and to inform
decisions by the International Halibut Commission, the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the Board of Fisheries.
The fees that are collected will be used to manage charter
fisheries in Alaska that contribute more than $1.5 million to
the state's economy. He concluded that the department sees SB 59
as a necessary tool to fund and manage salt water fisheries.
5:05:40 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked how the log book program was funded
initially.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained that the program initially
was funded through the legislation that licensed fresh water and
salt water guides. When the program was reintroduced for just
salt water, the guide and operator licensing fees paid for the
log book program. When that was sunset in 2018, the legislature
provided some bridge funding for the program. That funding ran
out and the department is now using department funds to continue
the log book program.
5:06:30 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked if there was any possibility that this
applies to bare boat charters.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG answered not at this time.
CHAIR REVAK asked Ms. Hanke to walk through the sectional
analysis.
5:06:56 PM
RACHEL HANKE, Legislative Liaison, Alaska Department of
Fish and Game, Anchorage, Alaska, presented the sectional
analysis for SB 59 [Original punctuation provided]:
Section 1:
Establishes license fees for saltwater guides and
operators.
• Guide license-$200
• Operator license-$400
• Operator and guide combined license-$400
Section 2:
AS 16.40.262-provides stipulations for the salt water
operator license and defines the license type.
Section 3:
AS 16.40.272-provides stipulations for the salt water
guides and combined license and defines both license
types.
Section 4: AS 16.40.282-establishes reporting
requirements for salt water guides and operators.
Section 5:
AS 16.40.292-establishes penalties for violations the
chapter.
Section 6:
AS 16.40.301-defines "saltwater sport fishing guide"
and "salt water sport fishing guide services."
Section 7:
Adds salt water sportfishing operator and guide
license to AS 25.27.244(s)(2) which defines "license."
Section 8:
Effective date of January 1, 2022
5:08:54 PM
CHAIR REVAK announced he would hold SB 59 in committee for
further consideration.