Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/08/1997 01:12 PM House RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
CSSB 22(RES) am - BOARD OF GAME QUALIFICATIONS Number 0989 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN announced the next order of business was CS for Senate Bill No. 22(RES) am, "An Act relating to qualifications for appointment to the Board of Game." Before the committee was version 0-LS0195\F, Utermohle, 4/4/97, adopted as a work draft at the previous hearing. Number 1020 JOSEPHINE HARDY, Legislative Secretary to Senator Bert Sharp, came forward to testify. She advised that Senator Sharp, sponsor, wished to leave it to the committee to make necessary changes. Number 1046 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN offered Amendment 1, 0-LS0195\F.2, Utermohle, 4/8/97, which read: Page 1, line 12: Delete "must [SHALL] be" Insert "must have been [SHALL BE]" Page 1, line 13: Delete "state, and a" Insert "state for the four years preceding appointment to the board. A" Page 2, line 1, following "of the board": Insert "[AND]" CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN explained that Amendment 1 requires Alaska residency for four years preceding appointment. Number 1105 REPRESENTATIVE BARNES made a motion to adopt Amendment 1. CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN said he believes it is important for board members to have lived in Alaska long enough to have a feel for, and experience with, game management. The residency requirement had been discussed extensively with Legislative Legal and Research Services personnel, who indicated five years is considered the maximum not subject to constitutional challenge. Therefore, a four-year requirement was chosen. Number 1167 REPRESENTATIVE BARNES stated that qualifications are required of members of different boards. There is also a minimum length of time required to run for office in Alaska. She said when a person goes into Alaska's wilds, there should be some knowledge of what is out there. She does not believe that is acquired overnight. CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN concurred. Number 1251 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said he did not understand the last part of the amendment, addressing page 2. Number 1312 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN called an at-ease at 2:29 p.m. He called the meeting back to order at 2:32 p.m. Number 1320 REPRESENTATIVE BARNES referred to the section of Amendment 1 addressing page 2. She made a motion to amend Amendment 1 by replacing "of the board" with "to the board". Amendment 1 would then read: "Page 2, line 1, following `to the board':" She suggested that beginning on page 1, line 15, and continuing to page 2, it should say: "preceding the appointment to the board and the members of the board shall be appointed without regard to" REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if that was the intent. He suggested to make the amendment correct, the period must be included after "board" as a deletion. Furthermore, the "and" should be lower case, as should the "t" on "the". REPRESENTATIVE BARNES concurred and said that was her motion. There being no objection, Amendment 1 was amended. There being no further objection, Amendment 1, as amended, was adopted. Number 1450 REPRESENTATIVE BARNES made a motion that the bill, as amended, move from the committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. REPRESENTATIVE JOULE and REPRESENTATIVE DYSON objected. Number 1501 REPRESENTATIVE DYSON said the bill attempts to guarantee that board members have relevant experience and commitment, quite narrowly defining it. It implies lack of trust in the Governor's good sense in nominating and in the legislature's good sense in confirming appointees, and it goes contrary to how good government ought to be run. He suggested using good judgment instead of micro-management. REPRESENTATIVE BARNES said qualifications are set in statute for people serving on boards and commissions. She believes the legislature has been remiss in not doing that for fish and game resources. Nor does she believe in automatic approval of the Governor's appointees. She said appointees could serve on the board for probably a year before the legislature confirms them. In that time, they may have done harm. Number 1747 REPRESENTATIVE JOULE questioned how far qualifications should go. A hunting license does not confer knowledge of hunting nor about policy for governing game resources. In that vein, he does not support the bill. Furthermore, he knows at least three good, contributing former board members who may not have been able to serve under this regime. CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN concurred that having a hunting license or being a four-year resident does not necessarily make a good member. However, he believes it is a step in the right direction. Number 1927 REPRESENTATIVE MASEK said while she supports the residency requirement, she has a problem with the requirement of having held a hunting license. There might be intermittent years when a person does not hold a license, for example. CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN stated his belief that board members should have an intensive interest in hunting. Number 2097 CO-CHAIRMAN HUDSON apologized for not having been present at the previous hearing. He noted that five of seven members must have held a hunting or trapping license or an identification for people age 60 or more; one could presumably apply for the latter without any qualifications. While philosophically he can see the residency requirement and the need for advocacy, he is uncertain about supporting such exclusive criteria. Number 2267 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN advised that at the previous hearing, he had suggested changing that to four members out of seven. With 70 percent of the board being either hunter-oriented or having to obtain a license, he concurs that it is too exclusive. REPRESENTATIVE BARNES recalled that the sponsor had indicated 100 percent of Alaska's game management is paid for by hunting licenses. She suggested those wishing to participate should contribute through buying a license. TAPE 97-39, SIDE A Number 0001 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN advised that Representative Green's motion at the previous hearing had been withdrawn; it had not failed. Number 0099 REPRESENTATIVE JOULE said while any governor may have the opportunity to nominate, the legislature can concur or not. He asked: If the system is not broken, why fix it? CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN asked if the objection was maintained. REPRESENTATIVE JOULE said yes. Number 0187 CO-CHAIRMAN OGAN requested a roll call on moving SB 22, version 0- LS0195\F, Utermohle, 4/4/97, as amended, from committee. Voting for it were Representatives Masek, Barnes, Dyson, Williams, Hudson and Ogan; voting against it was Representative Joule; and Representative Green abstained. Representative Nicholia was absent. So HCS CSSB 22(RES) moved from the House Resources Standing Committee.
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