01/26/2016 10:00 AM House FISHERIES

              HB 177-KING SALMON TAGS AND DESIGNS                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 177,  "An Act  relating to  king salmon  tags and                                                               
king salmon tag designs."                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:11:40 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WES  KELLER, Alaska State  Legislature, introduced                                                               
HB  177  stating that  friendly  negotiations  are on-going  with                                                               
Alaska Department  of Fish &  Game (ADF&G), regarding  the fiscal                                                               
note, and encouraged the committee's scrutiny.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:13:02 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JIM  POUND,  Staff,  Representative   Wes  Keller,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, said HB 177 is a  means to generate funds for ADF&G.                                                               
King  salmon stamps  will  be  marketed in  a  variety of  venues                                                               
including boat captains.   Additionally, income from  the sale of                                                               
the art and associated merchandize  will provide revenue targeted                                                               
for the department's fish enhancement programs.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON  referred to  page  1,  lines 11  and  12,                                                               
noting  that  the submitted  designs  are  restricted to  Alaskan                                                               
residents.   He asked whether  this stipulation is true  of other                                                               
stamps.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. POUND deferred.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:15:46 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
KEVIN BROOKS,  Deputy Commissioner,  Alaska Department of  Fish &                                                               
Game (ADF&G), offered to provide further information.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON commented that  Alaska hosts visitors, from                                                               
around the  world, including anglers  seeking the  opportunity to                                                               
land a King salmon.  Considering  the scope for the reputation of                                                               
Alaska's King  salmon, he suggested  promoting a  global platform                                                               
for artist solicitations.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. POUND  answered that commissioning  the art is  considered to                                                               
be an opportunity to hire locally.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES opened public testimony.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:18:02 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
STEPHENIE  WHEELER,  Corporate   Communications  Officer,  Alaska                                                               
Railroad (ARRC), reported that the  Alaska Railroad has an annual                                                               
art print program conducted each  November, restricted to Alaskan                                                               
artists, with a  contracting date sometime in  March.  Typically,                                                               
the  contract  is  for approximately  $3,000.    The  corporation                                                               
receives the artwork by the end  of the summer, allowing time for                                                               
the merchandize to be produced for  the holiday season.  The hard                                                               
costs for the  program run about $20,000, which  includes:  3,000                                                               
posters,  800  signed and  numbered  artist  prints, lapel  pins,                                                               
agency  advertising, and  sale  events.   Staff  time of  175-200                                                               
hours is also a factor.  The exercise isn't a significant revenue                                                               
boost,  but it  offsets the  costs, and  is an  extremely popular                                                               
public relations program enjoyed by residents and visitors.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
[The committee treated public testimony as closed.]                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:21:26 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT  moved to  report HB177,  29-LS0774\A, out                                                               
of   committee   with    individual   recommendations   and   the                                                               
accompanying fiscal notes.  Without objection, so moved.