Legislature(2013 - 2014)
02/24/2014 02:06 PM House RES
Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
HB161 | |
HB79 | |
HB246 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 161-AUCTIONS FOR BIG GAME HARVEST PERMITS 2:07:38 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 161. "An Act relating to auctions or raffles for big game harvest permits and to the selection of nonprofit organizations to conduct auctions and raffles for the Department of Fish and Game." [Before the committee was the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 161, Version 28- LS0530\Y, Bullard, 2/17/14, adopted as the working document on 2/19/14.] CO-CHAIR SADDLER noted the committee previously heard this bill last year and again on February 19, 2014. 2:08:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN GATTIS, Alaska State Legislature, testifying as prime sponsor of HB 161, said she would focus her testimony on concerns previously raised on page 2, lines 17-21 of Version Y. The original version, existing statutes, allowed funds to be used for anything but lobbying for political purposes. This allowed the organization to use funds for any purpose except for political gain. The new language [Section 3, page 3, lines 9- 16] restricts funds to organizations that promote education in outdoor traditions and that conduct conservation and wildlife protection programs and allows them to conduct auctions or raffles approved by the department. This language creates a limited scope of what the nonprofit can do with the proceeds. She clarified that the language previously allowed proceeds to be used for any purpose except for lobbying or political purposes. She indicated that lobbying is disallowed under Version Y since it doesn't fall into one of the allowable expenditure categories. REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS said the expanded game list adds one Dall sheep. She reminded members that substantial testimony suggested taking this valuable hunt away from Alaskan hunters. She pointed out that of the 126 Dall sheep permits to be issued this year, Alaska hunters foregoing one animal for the sake of game management seems like an appreciated sacrifice of the small percentage of the total allowable take. According to the figures supplied by Representative Tarr, only 46 percent of the permits allotted in the past 18 years were actually used. She would like to see this figure increased and thinks a good way to "drum up" interest by sporting groups is to increase their incentive to auction a permit. 2:10:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON noted 46 percent of the tags allotted were utilized. He asked whether the remaining tags were returned for issuance or if those tags were unused. REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS deferred to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G). DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Acting Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), understood the question was what happens to tags that are not distributed to this program. He answered that typically they are either added back to the draw permit pool or are given out "over the counter" as unallocated permits. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON understood the bill would expand the number of permits from 19 to 42 per year. He wanted to ensure that if the permits were used timely that they would be available for the drawing permit program. He asked whether that would occur or if the permits would be issued "over the counter" circumventing the drawing. MR. VINCENT-LANG replied it would be his intent to issue these permits according to HB 161; however, if the permits were not used, that the ADF&G would issue them "over the counter" through the department's registration permit system. He did not think animals would not be harvested that otherwise would be available for harvest. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked whether the department will know sufficiently ahead of time whether unallocated permits will be available for the drawing pool or if the process would circumvent the drawing pool. MR. VINCENT-LANG answered that the department typically will make decisions in the fall prior before the drawings. He anticipated that if the permits were not issued [to organizations] that the permits would be placed in the drawing permit. 2:14:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON asked how many people who apply for the drawing permits actually do not claim the permits. MR. VINCENT-LANG responded he would have to get that information by species and area of the state, but he generally thought that in many instances the permits are not used for a variety of reasons, for example, people could get sick, and travel plans can change. REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON said he did not need the specifics. He asked what happens to those permits that are unused. MR. VINCENT-LANG said that if the department has time, those permits are issued "over the counter" through registration hunts for harvestable surpluses. REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON understood that the permits that are drawn through the regular process will not be treated differently than those that are sold via the raffle or auction process. He clarified he understood that these are treated similarly. MR. VINCENT-LANG answered that that is his understanding. 2:15:37 PM CO-CHAIR FEIGE understood that if the nonprofit has not requested the permit, that it would be placed in the pool with the rest of the permits. These permits would be applied for and drawn. However, in terms of a regular draw permit, he asked whether the department knows if it is not claimed prior to the end of the hunt or if the department must wait to learn it is unused. Second, if a person draws a permit and knows in advance they will not use it, if the person can transfer the permit to someone else. MR. VINCENT-LANG responded that if ADF&G knows that someone is not going to use the permit, there is a wait list the department can use to reissue the permit. Typically, the ADF&G does not know since reporting happens after the season closes. The ADF&G anticipates the success rate in the hunts and typically offers more permits than the number of animals the department anticipates being taken. At the end of the year, if the ADF&G has surpluses, with low production, the department would award them "over the counter" in the area offices. However, he said that is rare for high-profile species such as Dall sheep, but is used more for moose or other species. CO-CHAIR FEIGE requested further clarification on the transferability of permits. MR. VINCENT-LANG replied that the department does not allow transferability of permits. 2:17:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE TARR said that her concern has been addressed, that in terms of the unused permits she wanted to know whether Alaskans have a way to access them. She related that often these areas are pretty desirable areas to hunt species such as moose. She didn't want Alaskan residents to have missed opportunities to hunt. Thus, she supports the bill and will want to track this going forward in terms of the numbers of permits for nonprofit organizations under the bill. CO-CHAIR SADDLER indicated the bill would double the number of permits available for auction and increase the percentage to nongovernmental agencies (NGOs). The bill doesn't have a referral to the finance committee. He asked for further clarification on whether the bill has a fiscal impact. MR. VINCENT-LANG responded that it would be hard to predict, but he does not expect a fiscal impact. He suspected that the overall value of the permits will increase the return to the state. In some respects, he thought it will actually be more, since the activities the nonprofits will conduct will benefit the department and conservation. 2:19:50 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER referred to page 2, Version Y, to the specific language being deleted that has restricted use of the proceeds from being used for political activities for candidates or for lobbying the legislature. He asked whether the department concurs that it is okay to delete this language. MR. VINCENT-LANG answered that he does not believe anyone in the department would ever approve a project that would be used as a contribution to a candidate for political office or any organization supporting or opposing a ballot proposition or to pay for expenses associated with lobbying the legislature or the administration given the language used to replace it that indicates proceeds can only be used to support education in outdoor traditions projects and conservation and wildlife protection programs. He said he did not think anyone would use the proceeds for activities outlined in the deleted language. 2:20:48 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER said it is his intention in voting for this bill to not allow proceeds to be used for contribution to any political office or to support or oppose any ballot propositions. 2:21:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON moved to report the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 161, Version Y, labeled 28-LS0530\Y, Bullard, 2/17/14, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, the CSHB 161(RES) was reported from the House Resources Standing Committee.
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