Legislature(2005 - 2006)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/27/2005 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB76 | |
| HB102 | |
| SB113 | |
| SB124 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 76 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 113 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 102 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 124 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 153 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 76(FIN) am
"An Act relating to the Big Game Commercial Services Board and
to the regulation of big game hunting services and
transportation services; and providing for an effective date."
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
HENRY WEBB, Staff to Representative Ralph Samuels, the bill's
sponsor, explained that this bill would re-establish a Big Game
Commercial Services Board within the Division of Occupational
Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development, to oversee the professional hunting and transporting
industry. When the previous such Board terminated in the mid 1990s,
its powers had been transferred to the Division. In the year 2003,
both a Legislative Budget & Audit report, Audit Control Number 08-
30025-03, dated October 16, 2003 [copy on file] and a letter, dated
March 18, 2003 [copy on file] from the Board of Game to Senate
President Gene Therriault and House Speaker Pete Kott, pointed out
many of the problems facing the industry. The Audit suggested that
the Legislature re-establish the Board. While a similar bill had
passed the Senate the previous Legislative Session, it had not
progressed through the committee process of the House of
Representatives. "Extensive work" has been conducted on this bill,
which balances the concerns of the industry, the public, and the
agencies that manage the resources. The majority of this 29-page
bill relates to transferring the authority from the Division to the
Board.
9:09:13 AM
Mr. Webb stated that the differences in the bill before the
Committee and the bill that passed the Senate the previous year
would include increasing the membership of the Board from seven to
nine members; requiring that the Board issue a license to someone
who satisfied license requirements, and increasing the level of a
fine that would have precluded an individual from being able to
receive or renew a guide or transfer license for a violation of a
hunting, guiding, or transporting statute or regulation that had
been received in the previous twelve month period from $1,000
to$2,000.
Co-Chair Wilken moved to adopt the committee substitute Version 24-
LS0332\Y as the working document.
There being no objection, the Version "Y" committee substitute was
ADOPTED as the working document.
Mr. Webb noted that one of the three differences between CS HB
76(FIN) am, Version 24-LS0332\F.A and the Version "Y" committee
substitute is the elimination of the requirement that the Board
must award a license at their next meeting. This change, which was
suggested by the Division of Occupational Licensing, would provide
some flexibility to the Board and the Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development.
9:12:01 AM
Co-Chair Green understood therefore that the phrase "first meeting
of the Board" had been eliminated from language in Version "Y",
Sec. 4((a)(2) beginning on line four, page three, which reads as
follows.
(2) authorize the issuance of [ISSUE] registered guide-
outfitter [GUIDE], class-A assistant guide, assistant guide,
and transporter licenses after the applicant for the license
satisfies the requirements of the license;
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
Mr. Webb affirmed.
Mr. Webb continued that the second change that would be implemented
by the Version "Y" committee substitute would be the inclusion of
the phrase "an unsuspended fine" in Sec. 6(a)(1)(ii), (iii), and
(iv), lines 23, 25, and 27 respectfully. This language was included
at the suggestion of the Department of Public Safety.
9:12:39 AM
Co-Chair Green asked whether the levels of the fines specified in
those sections were new.
Mr. Webb stated that the fine levels were included in the previous
version of the bill, Version "F.A".
Co-Chair Green clarified therefore that the inclusion of the term
"unsuspended fine" was the issue at hand.
Mr. Webb concurred.
Mr. Webb stated that the third change included in Version "Y" was
the expansion of some of the criteria that must be included in
guide and transport contracts. The new language is included in Sec.
17(c) beginning on line 26, page 11 of the bill; specifically the
language reflected on lines six through 19 on page 12.
Mr. Webb stated that this criterion was not exclusive; the Board
could develop additional criteria "as they deemed appropriate".
9:13:41 AM
Co-Chair Green recalled that a vast amount of time had been spent
discussing this legislation the previous year. To that point, she
asked for confirmation that other than the language identified
today, the remainder of the language mirrored that of the previous
Session's bill.
Mr. Webb affirmed.
Senator Dyson asked permission to abstain from voting on the bill
due to a conflict of interest. The bill would affect his business.
Co-Chair Green overruled the request.
Senator Dyson noted that while the bill might "make his life a
little more miserable", he would probably vote in favor of it.
9:14:50 AM
BOBBY FITHIAN, Representative, Alaska Professional Hunters
Association, testified via teleconference from Anchorage and stated
that this bill "is supported by every State, federal, or private
entity that has any stewardship" involving such things as wildlife
or wildlife resources. It would enhance "proper stewardship,
accountability, and sustainability" to one of the State's "oldest
and most recognized industries". A tremendous amount of discussion
has transpired in regards to this issue, and he appreciated the
Committee's attention to the bill.
RICK THOMPSON, Resource Manager, Department of Natural Resources,
testified via teleconference from Anchorage, to notify the
Committee of the Department's support of the bill.
Co-Chair Wilken moved to report the committee substitute from
Committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal
notes.
There being no objections, SCS CS HB 76 (FIN) was REPORTED from
Committee with zero Fiscal Note #1, dated February 4, 2005 from the
Department of Fish and Game, zero Fiscal Note #2, dated February 4,
2005 from the Department of Public Safety, zero Fiscal Note #4,
dated February 11, 2005 from the Department of Natural Resources,
and $20,000 Fiscal Note #5, dated February 11, 2005 from the
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.
9:18:02 AM
AT EASE: 9:18:08 AM / 9:18:30 AM
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