03/14/2008 01:00 PM House RESOURCES

SB 253-BOARD OF GAME                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                              
1:33:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR GATTO  announced that  the next  order of business  would                                                              
be SENATE  BILL NO. 253,  "An Act relating  to the  appointment of                                                              
members  of the  Board of  Game;  and providing  for an  effective                                                              
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:34:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JODY  SIMPSON, Staff  to  Senator  Charlie Huggins,  Alaska  State                                                              
Legislature, speaking  on behalf of the sponsor,  Senator Huggins,                                                              
stated  that SB  253  would change  the  expiration  date for  the                                                              
terms of future  Board of Game members  from March 1 to  [July 1].                                                              
If  adopted, the  statute  change would:    prevent problems  that                                                              
arise from  the short  time frame  for newly-appointed  members to                                                              
prepare for  the large regulatory  board meetings that  occur near                                                              
the  beginning of  March every  year; reduce  confusion among  the                                                              
public over which  board member to contact on  issues; clarify the                                                              
time by  which appointments  should be made;  and bring  the terms                                                              
in line  with those that  are currently  in place for  the state's                                                              
Board  of  Fisheries.    She said  the  change  would  also  avoid                                                              
problems  with having  two or  three  of the  seven board  members                                                              
serving  in  unconfirmed  status  during the  March  meeting  each                                                              
year.   New members  are aware their  March meeting  voting record                                                              
will be  examined during  their legislative confirmation  hearings                                                              
and there can  be undue scrutiny  on a single vote instead  of the                                                              
nominees'  overall  qualifications.    She  noted  that  committee                                                              
packets should include  a letter from Board of  Game president Mr.                                                              
Cliff Judkins requesting  this change, and also a  letter from Mr.                                                              
Jim Marcotte, Executive  Director, Boards Support  Section, Alaska                                                              
Department  of Fish  & Game,  which outlines  the implications  of                                                              
the changes.   This  proposed adjustment  in term expiration  date                                                              
recognizes  the   importance  of  the   Board  of  Game   and  the                                                              
complexity of the issues that come before it, she said.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:36:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR GATTO opened public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
KRISTY  TIBBLES,   Executive  Director,  Board  of   Game,  Boards                                                              
Support  Section,  Alaska  Department  of  Fish  &  Game  (ADF&G),                                                              
related  the  support  of  the   Board  of  Game  and  the  Alaska                                                              
Department  of  Fish  &  Game  for  SB  253.    She  affirmed  the                                                              
information  provided   by  Ms.  Simpson.    One   of  the  bigger                                                              
challenges faced  by the Board of  Game is that board  members are                                                              
often appointed  shortly before the large regulatory  meeting that                                                              
occurs the  end of February or  the beginning of March.   Changing                                                              
the appointment  date would greatly benefit the  nominees' ability                                                              
to  prepare  for these  meetings.    She  urged the  committee  to                                                              
support SB 253.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR GATTO closed public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WILSON moved  to report  SB 253  out of  committee                                                              
with individual  recommendations and the accompanying  zero fiscal                                                              
note.   There being  no objection,  SB 253  was reported  from the                                                              
House Resources Standing Committee.