Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
01/24/2024 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB243 | |
| HB201 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 243 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 201 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 243-BISON DRAW PERMIT APPLICATION FEE
1:02:53 PM
CHAIR MCKAY announced that the first order of business would be
House Bill No. 243, "An Act reducing the draw permit application
fee for bison to $5; and providing for an effective date."
1:03:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CRONK, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, introduced the HB 243 which was crafted due to the
extenuating circumstances from the bison die-off last winter.
He contended that the community of Delta [Junction] consider
bison their babies and the bison herd is very important to that
community. He stated that the concerns of the citizens were not
listened to by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) and
a lot of the bison died last winter due to the heavy snow. He
explained that the bison had to migrate to live on the highway
because the snow was so heavy, which resulted in many vehicle
collisions and death of bison creating a safety issue. He
offered his understanding that if the herd grew too large, which
and is the reason why there was a high number of bison
mortality. He recollected former legislator Pappi Moss
introduced legislation in the past to change the [permit] fee
from $5 to $10 to provide one-tenth of a percent to go to a
total fund to manage the bison herd but that has not happened;
that is the reason for HB 243. He sited the source of revenue
bison provide is important to many communities in addition to
Delta Junction. He acknowledged the problem of keeping bison
away from agricultural crops but returned to the 2021 starvation
event when the easy fix would be to feed them [the herd] but the
state did not. He insisted that bison provide a lot of meat and
the 2021 loss accounted for a $1 million loss in revenue. He
advocated for a special draw permit in those cases as a
solution. He expressed the need for the Advisory Board to
continue to be involved with those communities affected. He
reasserted HB 243 is a measure to reduce fees on hunters.
1:10:05 PM
DAVE STANCLIFF, Staff, Representative Mike Cronk, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Cronk, prime sponsor of
HB 243, provided the background for adopting a bison hunt in
Delta River. He indicated the legislature in 1979 established a
bison hunt south of the Alaska Range. In 1984, the legislature
appropriated $1.54 million for the bison range to be developed.
He raised the question to management of what the sustainable
population should be that would not cause starvation or
destruction of agriculture. He cited a report from June 1988
that found 471 bison were counted last year and 15,000 permit
applications were issued, and highlighted the need for more
permits to be issued and better management practices by ADF&G.
He further questioned the management goals by ADF&G to allow
250-350 bison to be harvested which exceeded the die-off rate in
2021.
1:13:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK believed there hasn't been a buy-in with
farmers and ADF&G because they feel they have been shut out of
the process. He professed the need to sustain the bison herd
from the $400,000 profit received from permit applicant fees.
1:15:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER spoke to HB 243 regarding snowstorms and
what ADF&G was doing to create a solution. He found the
immediate solution was to contact the Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) to place cautionary
road signs. He pleaded for the answer to what the state was
doing to manage that herd and if it is adequate. He also
queried where the money comes from and where it goes to manage
the herd. He proclaimed his support for HB 243.
1:19:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG asked how the plan was created and if
the legislature has the power to amend or collaborate with
ADF&G.
1:19:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK thought management should be up to the
professionals at ADF&G; but he insisted that local knowledge is
essential to achieve management goals. He proclaimed ADF&G has
not been managing the herd well enough and has not been truthful
in reporting the number of bison and die-off. He implored the
legislature to provide the money to allow the biologists to do
their job.
1:22:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MEARS identified she was unfamiliar with the
Delta Advisory Committee and their demography and role.
1:22:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK explained there are a number of advisory
committees across the state and the Delta Advisory Committee
works with ADF&G to look at proposals and/or other functions
similar to the legislative process but on a lower level.
1:23:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what the end-goal of HB 243 is with
respect to management, hunting pressure, and the effect to the
herd of [bison].
1:23:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK said he hoped the end-game of HB 243 would
be that bison are being properly managed. He maintained that
the current permit fees are not being used appropriately to
manage the herd. He related an anecdote about a cow bison that
was struck on the road, laid in the ditch for 11 days, until it
starved to death because ADF&G did nothing about it.
1:25:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER offered his understanding of the law of
supply-and-demand would increase the hunting pressure if the fee
was lowered.
1:25:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK informed Representative Saddler that the
limited number of permits issued factors in hunting pressure on
the herd, which would not be adversely affected.
1:25:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE said there is a larger problem of
departments not being nimble enough to make management
decisions.
1:27:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK replied that the purpose of HB 243 is to
react more quickly during winter starvations.
1:28:23 PM
REPRESENATIVE BAKER identified himself as a member of the
Kotzebue Sound Advisory Council, which helps manage the Western
Arctic Caribou herd, the largest in Alaska. He asked if there
is a similar advisory council assisting management of the bison
herd in Representative Cronk's district.
1:29:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK said he wasn't sure if there was an
advisory council in Delta River. He continued that many people
in Delta would help reenergize the group but there is a zero-
confidence level with the group towards ADF&G.
1:30:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT questioned if the permit fees helped
manage the [bison] herd while they were starving.
1:31:12 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
1:31:52 PM
CHAIR MCKAY announced the committee would hear invited
testimony.
1:32:34 PM
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish &
Game, offered an explanation of how bison are currently being
managed. He provided the background of how ADF&G has been
working with local farmers to manage the herd of approximately
375 bison. He explained that once the farmers learned they
could charge people to hunt on their land, the herd size
increased over the projected stable population. He admitted the
2021 snowstorm die-off caught ADF&G off-guard, and while the
department tried to purchase feed, for many reasons, it did not
happen. He informed the committee that ADF&G has purchased feed
for future storms in the event of another starvation season. He
also explained ADF&G tried to plow lands to provide a place for
the bison to go in the winter. He agreed that it is time to
reconvene the Delta hunting group to work with ADF&G, including
the department's Conservation Division. He indicated an
emergency hunt is hard to institute on a short basis, which is
why it has not been initiated in the past.
1:37:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT asked if the fees from the permits helped
the starving animals during that year.
1:37:43 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG replied that the fees did help the
bison herd that year.
1:38:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER said there are inconsistencies from his
recollection with what happened in 2021 regarding the bison herd
starvation. He said there was hay available, but ADF&G told
citizens they could not feed wild bison. He argued ADF&G was
allowed to declare an emergency but did not. He ascertained
that if an area had been plowed out, to allow the herd to eat
hay, the herd may not have starved to death.
1:40:06 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG emphasized that ADF&G was unaware of
hay resources available at that time. He advocated for
reforming a work group to address this issue in the future.
1:40:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked how ADF&G will address and
cooperate with farmers if the situation happens again.
1:42:01 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG agreed that the Delta Management
working group should get back together with all players at the
table and have a plan moving forward.
1:42:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER addressed feeding bison in the future
and what would be the solution.
1:43:50 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG maintained, under state law, it is
illegal to feed wildlife.
1:44:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG asked how the fees are being spent, and
given the proposed changes to the fee, how this would impact the
current management plans.
1:44:55 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG related that the money goes in the
general ADF&G fund and is allocated to the bison hunt management
in addition to all other hunts.
1:46:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked about feeding wildlife, as it
applies to the bison herd.
1:46:31 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG answered that feeding wildlife is a
slippery slope in general. He warned against a scenario of
feeding caribou on the North Slope, for example, because they
will have their ups-and-downs based on Mother Nature. He
contended bison are an introduced stock and management goals are
different because of that.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if there is any different status in
law or regulation of the food value for bison over other game.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG said in general there is a prohibition
on feeding wild animals.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Commissioner Vincent-Lang who would
compose the advisory council.
1:47:58 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG said the advisory council would be
managed the way the Board of Game functions with input from
hunters and farmers.
1:48:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked if the bison were already there.
1:49:49 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG justified bison were introduced in the
1920s prior to statehood. He stated that Alaska plains bison
are the purest stock in the nation.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE said Alaska has had a responsibility to
feed bison since they were introduced. He questioned why hunts
are closed during scarcity and not opened during times of
overabundance.
1:51:05 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained that in unusual snow events,
game will be affected, but striking a balance is essential for
game management.
1:53:25 PM
VICE-CHAIR RAUSCHER asked exactly what ADF&G has done to enact
the extra five-dollar fee to manage the bison herd.
1:52:37 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG offered to provide the numbers to the
committee at a later date.
1:53:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT asked what constituted a disaster
declaration to ADF&G in this situation.
1:54:06 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG offered that a disaster declaration
would be based on the situation. He explained that the governor
would allocate funds if there were a disaster. He revealed that
ADF&G does not have a disaster relief budget for such
circumstances.
CHAIR MCKAY announced that HB 243 was held over in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 201 Sponsor Statement - Version U 6.12.23.pdf |
HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM |
|
| HB 201 Sectional Analysis - Version U 5.16.23.pdf |
HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM HRES 1/26/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 201 |
| HB 201 Research - Southeast Alaska Resident and Non-Resident Sportfishing Regulations 5.12.23.pdf |
HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM HRES 1/26/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 201 |
| HB 201 Research - Alaska Resident and Non-Resident License Fees 5.17.23.pdf |
HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM HRES 1/26/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 201 |
| HB 201 Research - Allowable Absences 1.4.24.pdf |
HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM HRES 1/26/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 201 |
| HB 201 Letters of Support Received by 1.9.24.pdf |
HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM |
|
| HB 201 Letters of Support Received by 1.23.24.pdf |
HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM |
|
| SponsorStatement on HB-243.pdf.pdf |
HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 243 |
| HB 243 - Fiscal Note.pdf |
HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 243 |