Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/11/2001 08:52 AM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE BILL NO. 194 "An Act relating to fees for commercial fishing licenses and permits; and providing for an effective date." REPRESENTATIVE GARY STEVENS, SPONSOR testified in support of HB 194. He noted that the legislation is the result a class action suit against the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (Carlson vs. state). In the past the state has charged a ratio 3 to 1 - nonresidents to residents on commercial fishing licenses. The Court has disallowed the differential. The Court ruled that differentials must be based on the differences between resident and nonresident taxes. The bill would not affect the Carlson case, but would prevent further debt from acquiring. The legislation would reduce the cost to the state of Alaska in the event that it loses the case. The legislation repeals the 3 to 1 ratio. Wording would be added to allow the state to charge the maximum amount allowed by law. The state has argued in Superior Court that there are six categories where nonresidents should be charge more than residents. The Superior Court provided a formula, which outlines what the state can charge. Court allowed only two of the six categories. The suit could cost the state $22 million dollars in claims and more 10.5 percent in interest. If the bill is passed the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFED) would begin to use the Court's criteria. He maintained that passage of the legislation would help resolve problems without creating new ones. It would also demonstrate that the state of Alaska is acting in good faith. Representative Harris summarized that Alaska residents are paying what they should, but that non-residents are paying too much. Representative Stevens responded that the Court has not commented on the amount charged. The Court has maintained that there needs to be a logical reason to charge nonresidents more than residents. Representative Harris concluded that the formula is flawed and the methodology must be changed. TAPE CHANGE, HFC 01 - 81, SIDE B Co-Chair Mulder noted that the maximum charge to fish in Alaska waters is $750 dollars. He questioned if the amount was unreasonable and pointed out that out of state fishers can make as much as $50,000 dollars. He wanted assurances that the legislature could charge the maximum amount. Representative Stevens responded that the legislation would allow the state to charge what the courts would allow in each of the six categories. He pointed out that the bill responds to federal law and that rights cannot be denied to U.S. citizens. The bill doesn't prevent the maximum from being charged. Co-Chair Mulder questioned how the legislation presents the policy of the Legislature regarding the costs to the state that are not incurred by out of state residents. Representative Stevens pointed out that the state is bound by the options provided by the Court. He did not agree with the Court's limitation to the two categories. Co-Chair Mulder suggested that language be added to represent the Legislature's position regarding the fair costs incurred by the state of Alaska in relations to the fisheries. Representative Stevens noted that the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission must continue to follow the 3 to 1 ratio [in its licensing structure] unless the statute is changed. The legislation would allow the state to charge the maximum allowed by the Court, which currently only includes the two categories. He argued that the state could charge more if the additional categories are added. Representative Stevens observed that the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission must follow state statute. The legislation would allow the maximum amount allowable by law. Co-Chair Mulder questioned who establishes policy in the state of Alaska and indicated that the Legislature properly establishes policy. He stressed that the legislative policy should be clearly put in record to the Court. He asked what would be the (monetary) affect on resident licenses. In response to a question by Representative Croft, Representative Stevens pointed to page 4, section 5 as an assurance that the maximum amount could be collected. Representative Croft questioned why the legislation should not included language indicating that the state wants to ignore the federal Constitution's restrictions on discrimination between residents and nonresidents. Representative Stevens responded that there is an accompanying resolution (HCR 13), which would outline the state of Alaska's position. He maintained that the Court would determine the case based on facts with a rational approach. He did not think that all of the categories should be contained in the legislation. Representative Croft summarized that the legislation gives the Commission the authority to charge the maximum allowable amount, once it is determined. Representative Stevens noted that it is the intent of the Commission to charge the maximum amount allowable to out-of-state fisherman. Representative Lancaster pointed out that the legislation does not jeopardize the state's case before the Court. Representative Stevens maintained that the legislation would not indicate fault or guilt and leaves the state of Alaska in a strong position. The legislation would allow charges in any of the six categories. Representative Harris asked if the state had exhausted its legal options. Representative Stevens noted that the Superior Court has ruled. The case is on appeal to the Supreme Court. Representative John Davies referred to page 4, lines 7 - 9: The fee shall be higher and not exceed the maximum. He questioned why the fee should not equal the maximum. Representative Stevens did not have an answer. STEVE WHITE, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF LAW provided information regarding the legislation. The Superior Court decision was decided and appealed with the Alaska Supreme Court. The issues on appeal concern the six budget categories, payment of issues and class action issues regarding the composition of the class. The Alaska Supreme Court would be guided by other decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court and other United State decisions. Mr. White noted that the purpose is to direct a mechanism for charging fees in the future. The formula needs to be placed into statute. The maximum amount under the formula would be charged. The formula itself is not a matter of appeal. The sooner the formula is placed into statue, the sooner the state begins to save in potential refunds. The Alaska Supreme Court first announced the formula in 1991. The class and the state of Alaska tested the formula. The Court confirmed it with a few adjustments in 1996. The basic formula is set; it says the state can charge a dollar amount more for nonresidents than residents based on what the state spends for commercial fisheries, derived from the amount that only residents pay for direct services. The formula would be put into statue. He reiterated that the Court's decision is based on federal constitutional law. MARY MCDOWELL, COMMISSIONER, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ENTRY COMMISSION responded to questions. She noted that the legislation was worded to not exceed the maximum because the exact amount is unknown until the following year. It would not be administratively feasible to estimate the exact maximum dollar amount. The bill does not drop nonresident fees across the board. Passage of the legislation would not result in a negative fiscal impact in 2001. The current maximum differential in the highest fee category is $500 dollars. Other fee categories are less. The legislation would place the maximum allowance on every fee category. Nonresident fees would go up on the lowest categories. The bill also addresses crewmember licenses, where the state is currently foregoing nonresident revenues. Under Carlson the average differential was $118 dollars. In areas such as crewmember licenses where the 3 to 1 ratio is under the differential there is no refund. The legislation would add more money to the state by raising the crewmember licenses to the maximum amount that it would lose from nonresident permit holders. The legislation changes who has the burden of paying, but the overall total would be approximately the same. If the state of Alaska were to succeed in its argument before the Supreme Court and the legislation were to become law then state revenues would be greater than under the current 3 to 1 ratio. In response to a question by Co-Chair Mulder, Mr. White noted that the courts allowed the direct operating and in direct operating costs in the calculation of fees. Indirect operating costs include the overhead costs of departments that have direct costs. Salaries of fish and game personnel in the Commercial Fisheries Division are included. Indirect costs for the Department of Fish and Game would be a proportion of the overhead that supports those employees. Co-Chair Mulder pointed out that it costs the state of Alaska to build hatcheries, support habitat, provide enforcement, and marine research. Mr. White agreed and noted that these items were included in the state's arguments. Enforcement costs have been included as direct costs. Costs to the University of Alaska have also been included as direct operating costs. Co-Chair Mulder noted that there are also costs to the city of Kodiak for water systems. Mr. White noted that costs to local communities are outside of the analysis. The Court is considering what it costs a person to participate in a state regulated activity and how much the state pays for the activity. In response to comments by Co-Chair Mulder, Mr. White noted that the cost of legislative debates before the Legislature has been captured and allowed by the Court. Co-Chair Mulder questioned why all the costs associated with fisheries management should not be put onto the record in HB 194. Mr. White emphasized that the Court is not going take into consideration state policy. He felt that additional itemization of costs would be redundant, but acknowledged that it would not hurt. He pointed out that he could not cite the substance of the bill [in arguments before the Court]. He maintained that the Court would base its decision on constitutional law. He acknowledged that if the categories were not included [and were subsequently allowed by the Court] that the statutes would have to be amended to add the missed items. Co-Chair Mulder questioned what provision in constitutional law states that differentials are allowed. He stated that the Court has "opened the door" to differentials recognizing the fact that Alaska spends money in support of its commercial fisheries. Mr. White stated that the Court is dealing with a Constitutional clause that was interpreted in a fisheries case in a 1948. The Supreme Court announced the principal that a state can charge a nonresident more if they cause the state more expenditures and based on the services the state is providing, which are paid by residents and not the nonresidents. The state of Alaska has argued that while state residents don't pay taxes they are foregoing opportunities from state oil revenues that belong to them. Oil revenue expenditures are being counted just as if they are taxes. The ruling is derived from the U.S. Constitution based on U.S. Supreme Court decisions. The Alaska Supreme Court is further extending the decisions. Co-Chair Mulder stressed that characterizations of disparity are arbitrary. Mr. White responded that they are not arbitrary, but they are reasonable. There is no precedent in which a state has had to identify its expenditures in this manner. The state will look at expert witnesses in public finance that will identify appropriate costs, which should be included. Ms. McDowell pointed out that under the 3 to 1 ration, the state of Alaska is accruing an additional $1.13 million dollars of potential liability every year. An additional 250 new members are being added to the Carlson class due to turnover. Old members remain in the class. If the 3 to 1 ratio were replaced with all of the fees reflecting all of the budget categories, then the potential liability would ski rocket. There is a $500 dollar maximum spread between residents and nonresidents. If all categories were applied than every permit category would be at the maximum $500 dollar spread, including those that are currently at the $100 dollar differential. If the state did not prevail all of this would have to be refunded with interest. The legislation would keep the revenues from nonresident fees steady or slightly increased while liability is minimized. Representative Hudson acknowledged the concern of Co-Chair Mulder that the legislature makes policy and incurs costs. He referred to page 4, section 5 line 8. He suggested that the language be changed to: The fee for a nonresident entry permit or a nonresident interim-use permit shall be three times higher than the annual base fee or by an amount established by the commission by regulation, that is the maximum allowed by law. Representative Hudson stressed the need to spell clearly the legislative intent, while halting the entry of new applicants into the class action suit. HB 194 was heard and HELD in Committee for further consideration.
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