Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 120
04/11/2013 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB156 | |
| SB54 | |
| HB192 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 156 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 54 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 192 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 54-EXTEND HAIR CRAB & SCALLOP LIMITED ENTRY
10:09:37 AM
CHAIR SEATON announced that the next order of business would be
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 54(RES), "An Act extending the
termination date of the authority of the Commercial Fisheries
Entry Commission to maintain a vessel-based limited entry
fisheries system for the weathervane scallop and Bering Sea hair
crab fisheries; and providing for an effective date by amending
the effective date under sec. 28, ch. 137, SLA 2002."
10:09:47 AM
SHARON LONG, Staff, Senator Cathy Geisel, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SB 54, paraphrasing from a prepared
statement, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Senate Bill 54 was introduced by the Senate Resources
Committee at the request of the Alaska Commercial
Fisheries Entry Commission. It is a bill which - if
enacted - simply, will prolong for five years the
decade-old vessel-based limited entry system for two
discrete fisheries, Alaska weathervane scallops and
Bering Sea hair crab. The bill was heard twice and
passed out of the Senate Resources Committee, which
heard testimony both in favor of and in opposition to
it. Those in favor of the bill include CFEC, the
State agency that adjudicated and issued all the
limited entry permits that now exist, and many
fishermen who participate in the fishery and who spoke
of the direct economic harm they would suffer if their
fishery were to "sunset" and cease to exist at the end
of this year. There was less testimony in opposition
to the bill, than in favor.
SB 54 passed the full Senate with 18 votes in favor
and a single vote in opposition. As the Senate
Resources Committee aide I promptly, on the 21st of
March, submitted a request for a hearing before this
panel. We heard, just day before yesterday, of this
opportunity for the bill to be heard. With just four
days left in this session of the 28th Legislature, if
neither this bill nor Representative Herron's
companion bill move out of this committee today, they
will not be able to pass the Legislature this session.
With a looming sunset date at the end of this year -
before next year's session begins - that would mean
the end of these limited entry fisheries.
As SB 54 was introduced at the request of CFEC, I'll
defer any questions you may have, Mr. Chairman, or any
that the Fisheries members may have, to Ben Brown, who
serves on the Entry Commission. He can address the
history of vessel-based limited entry, the
constitutional and statutory legality of the program,
and why it is good and sound public policy for the
House to pass SB 54 without delay.
10:12:09 AM
CHAIR SEATON noted that the limited entry commission has
provided a seven page document in the committee packet for
background information, and pointed out other notable supporting
documents provided to the committee.
CHAIR SEATON announced that SB 54 would be held over.