Legislature(1995 - 1996)
03/07/1995 08:03 AM House STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HSTA - 03/07/95 HB 59 - RAFFLE OR AUCTION OF BIG GAME PERMITS Number 430 REPRESENTATIVE CON BUNDE, Sponsor, said HB 59 is a "win-win easy decision" for the committee. It extends the program to raise money to promote fish and wildlife enforcement by raffling or auctioning big game tags to include any qualified nonprofit organization that promotes wise use of Alaska's "huntable" resources. The organization would get 10 percent of the proceeds and the rest would go to the fish and game fund, thus generating increased income for the fund. He hopes the positive fiscal note is a modest projection, based on what has been raised in other states with similar auctions and raffles. For example, $415,000 was raised in Nevada in the last ten years, and $170,000 was raised in Wyoming with sheep and moose permits in the last two years. Number 463 GERON BRUCE, Legislative Liaison, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, testified in support of HB 59. It would allow the department to raise funds and promote Alaska's wildlife resources without affecting the hunting opportunities for Alaskans. This is done successfully by most of the other western states. Number 475 REPRESENTATIVE PORTER asked Mr. Bruce how many organizations in Alaska would qualify. MR. BRUCE said "a handful." REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE named some: Rocky Mountain Elks, Safari Club, Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS), Ducks Unlimited, Alaska Bow Hunters, Alaska Outdoor Council. He added it could include numerous other state organizations. Number 489 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN inquired if a hunter from "outside" winning one of the permits would require a guide. MR. BRUCE said yes, he would have to comply with all other laws governing hunting in Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if the department or the state would be involved in determining what guide to use. MR. BRUCE answered no, the Department of Fish and Game would not be involved in that. Number 505 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE added it would be a great public relations opportunity for guides, and a way for more prominent guides to donate their services with future referrals in mind. People bidding on the tags are philanthropists who can afford to contribute large sums of money. Number 517 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if the income to other states were gross figures or net after the 10 percent is deducted. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE answered he is speculating the figure is gross and reiterated he believes the $25,000 positive fiscal note is conservative. Number 517 REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON asked to be quickly "walked through the process." REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE replied tags become available to organizations, then the tag can either be raffled by selling tickets over a period of time or auctioned at an event such as an annual banquet, whichever will yield the most income. The winner is granted the prestigious "Governor's Tag" and then follows the normal process for getting a license and a guide. Number 553 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said in another bill there is a problem with out-of-state people getting licenses and affecting federal contributions. In HB 59, it appears the license is donated. Will the income generated cause the federal government to cut its contribution? REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE said he had no information that this has happened in other states. MR. BRUCE concurred, adding that one approach is used for management protection of the resource and the other is not. Number 576 CAM RADER, Board Member of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS), and member of the Alaska Outdoor Council, the Isaac Walton League, and Ducks Unlimited, testified via teleconference. He is a practicing attorney in Anchorage and holds an assistant guide's license. He echoed the previous testimony in support of HB 59, both for consumptive and nonconsumptive hunters. Recently FNAWS raised $26,000 with an auction; typically they use the money to assist with surveys of hunting areas, which benefits all users. He said he is aware of at least eight organizations which would qualify under the definition as currently drafted. In 1993, Arizona raised $303,000, so Representative Bunde's estimate of $25,000 is "substantially conservative." He believes local guides would be eager to contribute their time to participate in the program. He listed large amounts of money raised in other states for Big Horn Sheep permits, and repeated this bill offers a "win-win" situation. Number 670 ROD ARNO, President, Alaska Outdoor Council, testified via teleconference in support of HB 59, saying it would provide direct revenue to the fish and game fund, increase emphasis on hunting education in Alaska, and increase federal funding in matching funds for licenses by increasing the number of licenses sold. MR. ARNO continued, saying the program would promote the hunting segment of the tourism industry without requiring any additional state funding for advertising. TAPE 95-24, SIDE A Number 043 EDDIE GRASSER, Legislative Director for Alaska Outdoor Council, testified in support of HB 59, saying he is a retired professional guide and has donated many hunts. He agreed significant amounts of money could be raised, and suggested a raffle for a multi-species hunt rather than a single-species permit, throughout clubs in North America. He thought $100,000 could be raised that way. He expressed concern that such money given to the fish and game fund should be earmarked and used by the department to benefit hunters, not nonhunters, since the money will come from hunters. Number 144 DUANE BUELL, representing Alaska Wildlife Safeguard, testified in support of HB 59. He stated that since Alaska Wildlife Safeguard was founded in 1984, there have been over 2000 phone calls to their toll free number in Anchorage, reporting fish and game violations. These callers can be anonymous, and the calls often lead to convictions. Fifty percent of the callers refuse the rewards they are offered, and 60 percent are willing to testify without anonymity. Funds are raised through raffles, and HB 59 would greatly assist those fund-raising efforts. He suggested the bill could include a multi-species raffle provision. Number 230 CHAIR JAMES noted the arrival of Representative Ivan earlier. REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON asked if there could be a designation as to where the funds go, and expressed concern that general fund allotments would decrease if the bill raises more money. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE replied the designated fish and game fund is already in existence, and said it is possible general fund money could decrease, but it will decrease anyway as the budget is cut. He added that line 3, page 3, establishes types of organizations that qualify, and promotes "ethical use of game populations for hunting." REPRESENTATIVE PORTER noted that one ethical use for hunting could include nonhunting. CHAIR JAMES agreed the definition of qualifying organizations is not very clear. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE said Department of Law came up with that wording to address that exact problem. REPRESENTATIVE IVAN inquired what "ethical use" means. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE replied it means legal, accepted hunting practices. REPRESENTATIVE IVAN asked if it included "subsistence taking." REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE said subsistence would be included, since it involves "killing cleanly and humanely." Number 279 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN moved to pass HB 59 from committee with individual recommendations and accompanying positive fiscal note. There were no objections, so the motion passed.
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