Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/01/2000 02:21 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE BILL NO. 206 "An Act relating to the migratory game bird conservation tag, to a nonresident combined sport fishing and hunting license, to the nonresident military small game and sport fishing license, to applications for certain licenses, tags, and permits issued by the Department of Fish and Game, and to duplicate crewmember licenses." Co-Chair Therriault observed that the House Finance Committee adopted amendments to HB 206 on 2/29/00, which would change the fiscal note. GERON BRUCE, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME discussed the department's fiscal note. He provided members with a spreadsheet (copy on file). The spreadsheet contains calculations on fishing licenses sold to residents of the Yukon Territory in 1999 and 1997. There was a drop in total license purchases after the fee increase. There were 1,589 licenses sold in 1999 and 2,061 sold in 1997. The department took the number of licenses sold in the highest year and estimated that if Yukon residents could buy King Salmon and sport fishing licenses at the same rate as Alaskans that there would be a reduction in revenues of $25 thousand dollars. The reduction would be in fish and game funds. In response to a question by Representative Grussendorf, Mr. Bruce estimated that the largest use by Yukon fisherman would be in the Haines/Skagway area. In response to a question by Co-Chair Therriault, Mr. Bruce noted that Alaskans cannot fish for free in the Yukon. The non-resident fishing license rates in Canada are low. He explained that the Canadian federal government, not the territorial government, would need to take action to set a reciprocal agreement in place. Co-Chair Therriault questioned if there would be a $25 thousand dollar hole in the department's budget. Mr. Bruce responded that the director of Sport Fish was not concern with the immediate loss. He acknowledged that the Fish and Game Fund has been under pressure and that there would be less revenue into the fund if Canada enacts a reciprocal agreement. Representative Grussendorf stressed that there is a relationship to King Salmon tags and the state's effort to enhance the stock. Co-Chair Therriault noted that there was a technical problem with the adoption of Amendment 1. MIKE TIBBLES, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE THERRIAULT spoke to Amendment 1, passed by the Committee on 2/29/00. He explained that Amendment 1, as drafted, would require the Department of Fish and Game to establish a new license. The intent was that residents of the Yukon would get the existing license at the same price as an Alaskan resident. Mr. Tibbles suggested that the amendment be amended by deleting: "non" before resident, "for the fee charged to residents under (a) of this section for a resident sport fishing licenses," and "for the fee charged to residents under (a) of this section for a resident anadromous king salmon tag." Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to rescind the Committee's action in adopting Amendment 1. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to ADOPT amended Amendment 1: (h) Residents of Yukon Territory, Canada, may receive (1) a resident annual sport fishing license; and (2) a resident anadromous king salmon annual tag. Co-Chair Therriault OBJECTED. He noted that there is no reciprocal action with the Yukon. Representative J. Davies noted that the legislation requires action before taking affect. Co-Chair Therriault thought that the motivation was to match the policy of the Yukon. TAPE CHANGE, HFC 99 - 46, SIDE 2 A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Amendment 1 as amended. IN FAVOR: Davies, Moses, Phillips, Foster, Mulder OPPOSED: Bunde, Grussendorf, Williams, Therriault The MOTION PASSED (5-4). Representative J. Davies MOVED to report CSHB 206 (FIN) out of Committee with the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSHB 206 (FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with two zero fiscal notes, one by the Department of Public Safety and one by the Department of Fish and Game, both dated 2/23/00; and one fiscal impact note by the Department of Administration.
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