05/05/2021 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

         SB 79-HUNTING/TRAPPING/FISHING: DISABLED VETS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:43:26 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK  announced the  consideration of  SENATE BILL  NO. 79                                                               
"An  Act  relating  to  sport   fishing,  hunting,  and  trapping                                                               
identification cards."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
He  stated the  bill was  first  heard on  3/15/2021 when  public                                                               
testimony was heard  and closed. He noted  the proposed committee                                                               
substitute (CS).                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:43:41 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR JESSE  KIEHL, speaking as sponsor,  reminded members that                                                               
the  original  bill  qualifies veterans  with  a  service-related                                                               
disability to receive the permanent  ID card that senior citizens                                                               
receive  for hunting,  fishing, and  trapping. Without  the bill,                                                               
these  veterans  only qualify  for  an  annual free  hunting  and                                                               
fishing   license.  The   proposed  CS   reflects  requests   and                                                               
suggestions from the Alaska Department  of Fish and Game (ADF&G).                                                               
First it addresses the technical  issue that the disabled veteran                                                               
license  is annual,  but the  department's practice  has been  to                                                               
issue a  permanent card for hunting  and fishing. The CS  adds it                                                               
to  the statute  so that  the law  matches current  practice. The                                                               
more substantive  change is  to add trapping  to the  free annual                                                               
hunting  and  fishing  license for  active  duty  National  Guard                                                               
members and members of the reserves who are residents                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KIEHL said  he wanted  to  correct a  statement he  made                                                               
during the initial presentation  about the trapping licenses sold                                                               
in  Alaska  each  year.  He  should  have  said  just  under  900                                                               
exclusively trapping licenses are sold  in Alaska each year. That                                                               
is the possible revenue loss under  SB 79. The number of combined                                                               
hunting/fishing/trapping licenses sold in the  state each year is                                                               
vastly larger.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS commented on the title.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KIEHL responded to the comment.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:47:07 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  MICCICHE moved  to adopt  the committee  substitute (CS)                                                               
for SB 79, work order 32-LS0003\W, as the working document.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:47:29 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK found no objection and version W was adopted.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MICCICHE asked  the sponsor if the fiscal  note was still                                                               
zero.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KIEHL answered yes; the  department believes the original                                                               
fiscal note for the bill is still appropriate.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:48:14 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MICCICHE  said he  supported the bill,  but he  wanted to                                                               
make sure the committee is looking at real numbers.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR REVAK asked Ms. Hanke to comment.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:48:47 PM                                                                                                                    
RACHEL HANKE, Legislative Liaison,  Alaska Department of Fish and                                                               
Game,  Juneau, Alaska,  stated the  number of  exclusive trapping                                                               
licenses will  remain the same.  The CS adds trapping  for active                                                               
duty reserve members and that number  is not expected to be large                                                               
so the fiscal impact will be minimal.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:49:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK found no further  questions or comments and asked the                                                               
will of the committee.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:49:56 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MICCICHE  moved to report  the CS  for SB 79,  work order                                                               
32-LS0003\W, from  committee with individual  recommendations and                                                               
attached zero fiscal note(s).                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:50:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  REVAK found  no objection  and CSSB  79(RES) was  reported                                                               
from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.