04/12/2023 01:00 PM House RESOURCES

        HB 120-HUNT/FISH LICENSE FOR NONRESIDENT STUDENT                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY announced  that the first order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 120, "An  Act relating to hunting,  trapping, and                                                               
fishing licenses for  certain nonresident postsecondary students;                                                               
and providing for an effective date."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:04:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FRANK TOMASZEWSKI,  Alaska State  Legislature, as                                                               
prime sponsor,  presented HB  120.  He  stated that  the proposed                                                               
legislation  would create  a new  hunting, fishing,  and trapping                                                               
license for  nonresident students enrolled  full or part  time at                                                               
an Alaskan university.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MICHAELA  ANDERSON,  Staff,  Representative  Tomaszewski,  Alaska                                                               
State Legislature,  gave a  sectional analysis  of HB  120, which                                                               
read as follows [hard copy included in the committee packet].                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Section  1:  Amends  the section  to  include  the  new                                                                  
     nonresident postsecondary student license.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section  2:    Adds   a  new  subsection  allowing  for                                                                  
     nonresident  students  who  are enrolled  half-time  or                                                                    
     part-time  in  postsecondary  education to  purchase  a                                                                    
     special nonresident  postsecondary student  license for                                                                    
     sport fishing,  hunting, or trapping  at the  same cost                                                                    
     as a resident license.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Section  3:   Provides uncodified  law that  allows the                                                                  
     Department  of Fish  and Game  to adopt  regulations to                                                                    
     implement to the new license.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Section 4: Provides for an effective date.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Section 5: Provides for an effective date.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS. ANDERSON, reviewing  the contents of HB 120,  gave an example                                                               
showing that if  the legislation passes, students  will save $200                                                               
when  purchasing a  nonresident  hunting,  trapping, and  fishing                                                               
license.   She  also detailed  that the  proposed bill  would not                                                               
change the rules or cost for stamps and tags.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:07:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  ANDERSON,  in response  to  a  question from  Representative                                                               
Mears, said that  nonresident students would not  be permitted to                                                               
dip net.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:07:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCABE  asked  about   the  estimated  number  of                                                               
students who may be interested in a license.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  ANDERSON expressed  uncertainty about  this current  number.                                                               
She mentioned that,  according to fiscal notes, there  would be a                                                               
zero fiscal note and not a major loss of revenue.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:08:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked about the eligibility.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. ANDERSON  replied that she  would follow up to  the committee                                                               
with the exemptions.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked whether  the students receiving the                                                               
benefit would  live in the  dorms.   He also asked  about whether                                                               
the license applied to moose and caribou.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS.  ANDERSON answered  that the  students would  not necessarily                                                               
need to live on  campus or in a dorm.  She stated  that HB 120 is                                                               
for all part-time  and full-time students, and  the license would                                                               
not cover  large game,  like moose and  caribou.   If applicable,                                                               
the students would need to purchase  large game stamps or tags at                                                               
the regular nonresident cost.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:10:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TOMASZEWSKI  clarified that all  students enrolled                                                               
in  the  University of  Alaska  system  and other  post-secondary                                                               
schools within  the state could  benefit whether they live  on or                                                               
off campus.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY questioned whether the  Alaska Department of Fish and                                                               
Game (ADF&G) would need to  verify that the students are enrolled                                                               
in a post-secondary school in Alaska.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. ANDERSON  replied that students  could use  enrollment papers                                                               
or  student  identification cards  to  show  their status.    She                                                               
stated that  she would  speak to  ADF&G for  specifics concerning                                                               
the  documents needed.    She assured  the  committee that  store                                                               
clerks  have experience  checking  for the  validity of  military                                                               
identification  cards; therefore,  these  clerks  are trained  to                                                               
determine the validity of identification cards.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:12:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RAUSCHER asked  whether the  meat would  be going                                                               
outside of Alaska or utilized in the state.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. ANDERSON  answered that meat  leaving the state  would likely                                                               
be an uncommon exception.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:14:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WRIGHT confirmed  that  a student  identification                                                               
card would be sufficient proof  of enrollment when students apply                                                               
for  a  license.    He   questioned  the  activities  nonresident                                                               
students are permitted to do at present.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS.  ANDERSON  answered  that  they   are  currently  treated  as                                                               
nonresident  sportsman and  can  get a  license  for hunting  and                                                               
fishing; however, they must pay  the nonresident fees and are not                                                               
eligible for a trapping license.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:15:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DIBERT  commented  on  the  training  needed  for                                                               
nonresidents who are fishing and hunting.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TOMASZEWSKI said that  ADF&G offers classes anyone                                                               
can attend.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. ANDERSON said training is currently not a requirement.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:15:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY announced that HB 120 was held over.