05/01/2003 03:14 PM House FIN

SENATE BILL NO. 139                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act repealing the termination date of the Alaska                                                                       
     salmon price report program; and providing for an                                                                          
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
IAN FISK, STAFF,  REPRSENTATIVE OGG, spoke in  support of the                                                                   
bill.   He explained that the  current bill would  repeal the                                                                   
sunset date  of a  Department of  Revenue program called  the                                                                   
Alaska Salmon Price Report (ASPR),  which is in AS 43.80.050.                                                                   
Processors  that  sell  over one  million  pounds  in  salmon                                                                   
products a  year are required  to report the  wholesale price                                                                   
received for  the product to  the Department of  Revenue. The                                                                   
Department  publishes the  data three  times a year:  January                                                                   
31, May  31, and September 30.  The ASPR details  monthly and                                                                   
annual  average wholesale  price  sorted  by salmon  species,                                                                   
product  form  and the  eight  regions  where the  salmon  is                                                                   
produced. The  report provides  data helpful to  negotiations                                                                   
between harvesters  and processors.   The ASPR  statute would                                                                   
sunset on July 1, 2003, without  the legislation. The sponsor                                                                   
believes  the ASPR  should  be a  permanent  function of  the                                                                   
Department of Revenue.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Harris  observed that  Representative Austerman  had                                                                   
previously introduced  the legislation.  Mr.  Fisk noted that                                                                   
the  bill was  successful  and received  broad  support.   In                                                                   
response to a question by Co-Chair  Harris, he confirmed that                                                                   
the  proposed  bill  merely  eliminated  the  sunset  of  the                                                                   
program.  He noted that the report  was used to help with the                                                                   
purchase program and had no opposition.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Whitaker referred  to the zero fiscal note and                                                                   
expressed support for the legislation.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Croft  noted  that Chair  had  expressed  the                                                                   
desire to  know the real cost  of boards or commissions.   He                                                                   
observed  that  the program  cost  roughly $50  thousand  and                                                                   
suggested  that it should  be reflected  in the fiscal  note.                                                                   
Mr.  Fisk confirmed  that this  cost  estimate was  accurate.                                                                   
They  pointed out  that funding  would come  from the  salmon                                                                   
fund.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Croft MOVED that  the fiscal note  be changed                                                                   
to reflect  the $50  thousand in  salmon treaty funds.  There                                                                   
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Harris MOVED to report  SB 139 out of Committee with                                                                   
the accompanying revised fiscal note.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stoltze  OBJECTED and stated that  he hoped to                                                                   
someday  pass a bill  to benefit  sports fishing  as well  as                                                                   
commercial fishing.   He WITHDREW his OBJECTION.  There being                                                                   
NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SB  139  was REPORTED  out  of  Committee  with a  "do  pass"                                                                   
recommendation  and  one  new  fiscal impact  note  from  the                                                                   
Department of Revenue.