Legislature(2011 - 2012)HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/05/2011 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB197 | |
| HCR9 | |
| HB173 | |
| HB30 || HB31 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 31 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 197 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 173 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HCR 9 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 173
"An Act amending the termination date of the licensing
of sport fishing operators and sport fishing guides;
and providing for an effective date."
REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON, SPONSOR, introduced the
legislation. He explained that the bill had been crafted by
the House Special Committee on Fisheries and would extend
for one year the sport fishing guide and operator licensing
log book program. The program provided economic data on the
sport fish industry sector and harvest data for resource
managers. He stated that HB 173 was supported by the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).
Co-Chair Thomas noted that similar legislation amending the
termination date of the licensing program had been
introduced every year over the past several years. He
wondered if the extension should be for more than one year.
Representative Thompson responded that the other body was
working to craft a more comprehensive bill that would
extend the program for four to six years.
Co-Chair Stoltze clarified that the passage of HB 173 was
not an endorsement of legislation crafted by the other
body.
Co-Chair Stoltze OPENED public testimony.
KEN LARSON, PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND CHARTER BOAT ASSOCIATION,
FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified that the guide
licensing bill had been worked on since 2004. He said that
historically 85 percent of the licensees had opposed the
legislation. He wondered why a more expensive and
unnecessary oversight program was again being considered by
the other body under SB 24. He stated that the existing
program worked well by all accounts. He encouraged and
extension of the sunset date under HB 173. He stressed that
the current program should be made permanent, and that SB
24 should be abandoned.
2:21:42 PM
MELVIN GROVE, PRESIDENT, PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND CHARTER BOAT
ASSOCIATION, MAT-SU (via teleconference), spoke in
opposition to the bill. He understood that the extension
under HB 173 was meant to help with the eventual passage of
SB 24. He did not believe a one year extension offered
enough time for all parties involved to craft comprehensive
legislation on the subject. He believed that the bill would
cost too much. He felt that the current log book program
was too expensive and did nothing but create state jobs in
data processing.
Co-Chair Stoltze pointed out that passage of HB 173 would
not stop the advancement of SB 24. He thought that a sunset
extension of one year would inspire more productive debate
on the issue than a permanent extension.
Co-Chair Stoltze CLOSED public testimony.
Representative Edgmon requested that the department provide
justification for the one year extension.
BEN MULLIGAN, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND
GAME, explained that the one year extension would allow for
additional work on the program over the interim.
CHARLIE SWANTON, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF SPORT FISH,
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, added that the program
provided a minimum professional standard and the ability
for the department to collect vital statistics with regard
to the recreational charter boat industry within the state.
2:27:15 PM
Mr. Swanton continued that the department's primary focus
had been with the guide log book program. Both fresh and
saltwater guides were issued a log book in order to record
the harvest and catch statistics for the anglers taken out
who had been charged a fee. The information was brought
back to the department. He explained that the department
had in the past taken a key-punch approach to the data. On
average the department logged 111 thousand trips (saltwater
and freshwater combined) and that there could be 112
thousand sheets containing data for four to six anglers
each. The department had instituted a scanning approach
that would scan each sheet and plug all the data into a
database. The automated system was still being perfected.
Representative Edgmon observed the issue was politically
charged. He voiced support for extending the program longer
than one year for the purpose of further discussion.
Representative Gara questioned the usefulness of log book
data that only counted the number of fish caught by guided
fishermen and not those without guides.
2:30:09 PM
Mr. Swanton replied that the log book was only one of three
data collection tools used throughout the state. He stated
that creel surveys were conducted but that the primary data
collection tool used by the department was the statewide
harvest survey, which had been used since 1977. All
licensed anglers were entered into a pool from which 40,000
licensees were selected to receive a survey. Different data
collection tools were used in different areas for deeper
comprehension.
Representative Gara asked if the creel survey was the one
that was sent out in the mail. Mr. Swanton replied that the
survey received in the mail was the statewide harvest
survey. The creel surveys involve technicians checking
various ports and recording the harvest, which provided
more timely information to biologists.
Representative Gara asked whether the log was applied to
both fresh and saltwater. Mr. Swanton replied that the log
book program recorded both fresh and saltwater.
Representative Gara questioned the accuracy of the survey.
He reported that he was rarely surveyed when fishing. He
thought that the log book might work for commercial
fishermen, but expressed concern with the accuracy of the
non-commercial numbers.
Mr. Swanton replied that the department had had all of the
survey instruments tested against one another with
independent estimates, and all had been found to be of high
statistical precision and scientific value. The statewide
harvest survey was now being looked at by other states as a
primary means by which to collect recreational harvest
data. He agreed that the survey was not a complete census,
but asserted that it was legitimate scientific data.
Representative Costello inquired whether it was possible
that the department could develop an iPhone application or
web-based system that guides could upload their information
to electronically.
Mr. Swanton stated that anything was possible, but that the
department needed to study which applications were
practical. He said that smaller states had applied similar
technology, but did not think Alaska was ready to move in
that direction.
Co-Chair Stoltze asked if optional electronic filing would
be a problem for the department. He pointed out that other
departments encouraged online activity.
Mr. Swanton felt that online filing should be a goal for
the department but he did not see it happening in the
immediate future.
2:35:38 PM
Vice-chair Fairclough requested clarification on the
updated fiscal note. Mr. Mulligan replied that the fiscal
note dated March 29, 2011 was the updated fiscal note. The
note had been updated to better reflect the sunset date.
The note illustrated a full year in FY 12, and the first
half of FY 13.
Vice-chair Fairclough MOVED to report HB 173 out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note: FN 2 ADF&G. There being NO
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
HB 173 was REPORTED out of Committee with individual
recommendations and the previously published fiscal note:
FN 2 ADF&G
2:37:07 PM
AT EASE
2:40:49 PM
RECONVENED