Legislature(2007 - 2008)BUTROVICH 205
05/07/2007 04:00 PM Senate RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB87 | |
| HB220 | |
| SB57 | |
| SJR4 | |
| HJR4 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 87 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 220 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 57 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
CSHB 220(JUD)-BAN COMPUTER-ASSISTED REMOTE HUNTING
4:21:48 PM
CHAIR HUGGINS announced to be up for consideration. [CSHB
220(JUD) was before the committee.]
REPRESENTATIVE BOB BUCH, sponsor of HB 220, said this bill talks
about Internet hunting, which is when a people anywhere in the
world can shoot animals from their living rooms by aiming and
firing a rifle from a computer keypad and making the kill with a
click of a mouse.
This bill does three things. It would prohibit individuals from
engaging in Internet hunting in Alaska, it would prohibit anyone
from providing services or operating facilities in the state to
enable computerized hunting activities, and finally it would
make sure that future technology designed to assist the
legitimate needs of handicapped or disabled hunters out in the
woods would not be subject the ban otherwise created in this
bill.
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH said HB 220 has a broad spectrum of support
including the Humane Society, the National Rifle Association
(NRA), the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA),
hunting organizations and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game
(ADF&G). One person in this building had objections [he
indicated Senator Wielechowski].
4:23:31 PM
SENATOR WAGONER asked if he were a rancher with his own herd of
buffalo, why wouldn't he be able to hunt like that. He said most
of the instances they are talking about occur on private land,
but with resources that are owned by the state.
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH answered:
We object to the fact that they are using it through
the Internet; that they're using a technology and our
objection is that they are not doing it in person and
care-taking for that critter, whatever that critter
is. There is a certain relevance there to that animal.
And it is a complete disregard to that animal and to
those of us who participate in the fair chase sport of
hunting.
JOE KLUTSCH, Alaska Professional Hunters Association, supported
HB 220. He said using the Internet it is not hunting. His
members are committed to fair chase hunting practices and
ethical standards of conduct. He stated:
The organization of killing animals by cyberspace and
robotics is not hunting. True hunting is a problem
solving exercise that involves planning, knowledge of
the species being pursued, its habitat. The hunter has
to be prepared to cope with all the elements in
nature, and particularly in Alaska. It involves real-
life drama that involves doubt, frustration, anxiety,
discovery, great physical and mental challenge, joy
and disappointment. And the outcome of the process is
by no means assured. That's what fair chase hunting
is.
MR. KLUTSCH said this bill follows the lead of many other
states.
4:27:01 PM
ROD ARNO, Alaska Outdoor Council, supported HB 220. He pointed
out that advertisements for Internet hunting say it can save you
days in the field, but that is just what the Council is
advocating - days in the field.
4:27:24 PM
BOB FITHIAN, Executive Director, Alaska Professional Hunter's
Association, deferred to Mr. Klutsch's testimony and followed
with a few other comments. He supported HB 220 saying that it
seeks to stop hunting that doesn't have any concept of fair
chase, wilderness lore, or stewardship and develops unneeded
anti-hunting sentiment.
SENATOR STEVENS asked Representative Buch to explain line 10.
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH answered that organizations like the "Make a
Wish Foundation" provide a final wish for disabled people who
are dying and he wasn't going to create a ban on technologies
that assist those people.
4:29:21 PM
MATT ROBUS, Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), said that the department
supported the bill and that the House amended it to deal with
his concern. At first it couldn't have possibly been interpreted
to allow somebody to remain at their residence and use this
technology in order to take an animal if they had disabilities.
He said the department has a very long and successful history of
accommodating persons with disabilities to allow equal access to
the extent possible to hunting opportunity. In fact, the Board
of Game has delegated through regulation to the division the job
of granting methods and means and exemptions to allow somebody
with a disability to use a method not used under the normal
hunting regulations. This has been backed up by the state ADA
coordinator in that the person in that situation has always been
required to make some sort of active attempt to go to the field
and participate in the taking of the animal. The bill still
requires the person with a disability to be present in the field
making a meaningful attempt to participate in the hunt.
SENATOR STEVENS asked if this is a minimal issue.
MR. ROBUS replied yes and it would be applied on a case by case
basis and be based on a person's ability to participate in a
hunt.
4:31:45 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to pass CSHB 220(JUD) from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. There were
no objections and it was so ordered.
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