04/02/2008 08:30 AM House FISHERIES

SB 304-CFEC AS INFORMATION RESOURCE                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:41:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SEATON announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
SENATE  BILL NO.  304,  "An Act  authorizing  an Alaska  regional                                                               
development organization  to use the Alaska  Commercial Fisheries                                                               
Entry Commission as an informational resource."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SEATON stated  his intent to have SB  304 introduced today,                                                               
and  hold it  in committee  for  testimony, and  discussion at  a                                                               
future hearing.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:43:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVE  GRAY,   Staff,  to  Senator  Donald   Olson,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, explained  how commercial  fishing is  a substantial                                                               
economic engine for  each region of the state.   This legislation                                                               
allows  the  Alaska  Regional  Development  Organization  (ARDOR)                                                               
groups  to obtain  Commercial Fisheries  Entry Commission  (CFEC)                                                               
information free  of charge.   He reported  that the  senator has                                                               
received many  requests to  have this  service made  available to                                                               
assist ARDOR  programs in attaining  the goals  established under                                                               
AS 44.33.895; to wit:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
      Sec. 44.33.895.  Alaska regional economic assistance                                                                      
     program. [See delayed repeal note]                                                                                         
          (a) The department shall                                                                                              
         (3) gather information about regional economic                                                                         
    issues,   international   trade,   and   tourism   from                                                                     
     organizations;                                                                                                             
          (4) serve as liaison between organizations and                                                                        
     other state  agencies and  encourage other  agencies to                                                                    
     make resources  available to  help accomplish  goals of                                                                    
     the organizations;                                                                                                         
          (5) assist each organization to                                                                                       
          (A) provide services designed to encourage                                                                            
     economic   development   to   local   communities   and                                                                    
     businesses;                                                                                                                
          (B) collect and distribute economic information                                                                       
     relevant to the region;                                                                                                    
          (C) participate in state marketing campaigns and                                                                      
     join  state trade  missions that  are  relevant to  the                                                                    
     region; and                                                                                                                
          (D) develop and implement strategies to attract                                                                       
     new     industry,     expand    international     trade                                                                    
     opportunities,   and  encourage   tourism  within   the                                                                    
     region.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:47:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX questioned:                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     There are  a number  of us in  this building  that have                                                                    
     heard  that this  bill ...  is simply  a vehicle  bill,                                                                    
     designed to add  ... the scallops and the  hair crab; a                                                                    
     bill  [HB 16]  which  hasn't progressed.   What's  your                                                                    
     comment on this.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GRAY  responded  the  title is  fairly  tight,  and  remains                                                               
specific to the ARDOR group's receipt of CFEC information.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LEDOUX  asked  if  the sponsor  would  commit  to                                                               
opposing  the bill,  should  efforts be  made  to add  additional                                                               
topics.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRAY said it would be  presumptive, on his part, to make that                                                               
commitment  on  behalf  of  Senator Olson.    However,  the  core                                                               
substance represents  the intent of  the bill, which  the senator                                                               
would  like to  see move  forward.   To a  follow-up question  he                                                               
indicated that  the senator  may be  available for  questions, at                                                               
the next hearing.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:49:27 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SEATON  requested   the  current  statutory/constitutional                                                               
limitation  language, that  restricts  CFEC  from providing  this                                                               
information, be made available to the committee.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
[SB 304 was held over.]