Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
03/02/2022 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB202 | |
| SB204 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 202 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 204 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 204-HUNTING PERMIT/TAG AUCTIONS/RAFFLES
3:50:10 PM
CHAIR REVAK reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 204 "An Act relating to
auctions or raffles for hunting harvest permits and big game
tags; and providing for an effective date."
CHAIR REVAK noted that this was the first hearing for SB 204 in
this committee.
3:50:35 PM
EMMA TORKELSON, Staff, Senator Joshua Revak, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced SB 204 on behalf the
sponsor, speaking to the following sponsor statement:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Since its passage in the 1997, the Governor's Auction
and Raffle Tag program has successfully and
substantially increased funding for the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). In 2021, gross
revenue was just over $1.2 million. SB 204 seeks to
build on this success and expand the department's
ability to bring in revenue, which will support
wildlife conservation and protection programs and
education across Alaska.
Foundationally, Senate Bill 204 adds three species to
the available harvest permit list and standardizes the
number of game harvest permits that ADF&G grants each
year to qualified organizations for fundraising
auctions or raffles. By doing so, the department will
have the flexibility to issue up to four permits for
each species, taking into account the health of the
game population and recommendations of department
biologists when determining the actual number that
will be issued each year.
The increased revenue from this moderate expansion of
available harvest permits will ensure two important
outcomes. First, it allows the department to maintain
sufficient funds to continue critical conservation and
wildlife protection measures that have been the
mainstay of wildlife management for decades. Second,
with the large increase in firearms and ammunition
sales and approximately $18 million in new Pittman-
Robertson (PR) grants coming our way, ADF&G will need
sufficient matching dollars to prevent these new PR
funds from reverting back to the federal government.
Modern, effective wildlife management is becoming more
expensive. For example, an increase of a couple of
dollars to aviation fuel has a major impact on survey
and inventory operations which, in turn, are a key
element in setting game population and harvest
objectives. Without accurate objectives, for instance,
the Board of Game cannot make well-informed decisions
on yearly hunting seasons and bag limits.
In sum, SB 204 will allow more federal revenue to be
leveraged for critical sustainable wildlife education
and management programs and the proactive work needed
to prevent new listings under the Endangered Species
Act. Senate Bill 204 directly supports sustainable
wildlife populations, outdoor traditions, hunters, and
outdoor recreation users.
3:53:20 PM
CHAIR REVAK asked Ms. Torkelson to proceed with the sectional
analysis.
MS. TORKELSON reviewed the following sectional analysis for SB
204.
[Original punctuation provided.]
Senate Bill 204 Sectional Analysis
"An Act relating to auctions or raffles for hunting
harvest permits and big game tags; and providing for
an effective date."
Section 1. Amends AS 16.05.343(a):
Page 1 Lines 6-7: Adds Afognak and Raspberry Island
Herds to the type of Elk harvest permits that can be
donated by the department to be auctioned or raffled.
Page 1 Line 6: Changes the number of harvest permits
that can be donated for Etolin, Afognak, or Raspberry
Elk herds from four to two.
Page 1 Line 9: Adds the word "wildlife" in front of
"conservation" to clarify that the nonprofits who
qualify to receive these donated harvest permits must
be established to promote education in outdoor
traditions and "wildlife" conservation and wildlife
protection programs in partnership with the
department.
Section 2. Amends 16.05.343(c):
Page 1 Line 14 Page 2 Line 4: Removes differing
tag limits for individual species and allows up to
four harvest permits to be issued for all the listed
species.
Page 2 Line 1: Adds "emperor goose" to the list of
available species harvest permits.
Page 2 Lines 5-8: Adds four McNeil River State Game
Sanctuary bear-viewing permits to be auctioned or
raffled through the same process.
Page 2 Lines 13-30: Removes language and replaces it
later in a new subsection (1) outlining a 70/30
revenue split between the Department of Fish and Game
and the qualified organization putting on the auction
or raffle and (2) limiting use of the funds by the
organization to approved programs and prohibiting use
of the funds for any political campaign or candidate.
This language is put back into statute in Section 4 as
subsections (f) & (g) of AS 16.05.343.
Page 2 Lines 12 & 13, Page 3 Lines 1, 2, & 5:
Removes "big game" from any mention of "big game
harvest permit" so that all the permits are referred
to consistently by the broader "harvest permit."
Page 3 Lines 3 & 4: Changes the inscription on the
hunting license issued under this subsection from
"Governor's license" to "Commissioner's license"
Section 3. Amends AS 16.05.343(e):
Page 3 Line 11: Adds that a nonprofit must promote
education in "wildlife conservation" and conduct
"wildlife" conservation programs in order to qualify
as an organization that can conduct auctions or
raffles for the department. The new requirement
sentence reads: "The department may select a nonprofit
organization that promotes education in outdoor
traditions and wildlife conservation and that conducts
wildlife conservation and wildlife protection programs
Section 4. Amends AS 16.05.343 by adding new
subsections:
Page 3 Lines 19-25: Reinserts the language removed
in Section 2 to create a new subsection (f) that
requires that all revenue earned from an auction or
raffle of harvest permits be paid to the Department of
Fish and Game EXCEPT an amount not to exceed 30%,
which the qualified organization putting on the
auction or raffle can retain for the administrative
costs of holding the auction/raffle and approved
projects and educational programs that support outdoor
tradition, wildlife conservation, and wildlife
protection.
Page 3 Lines 26 Page 4 Line 4: Reinserts the
language removed in Section 2 to create a new
subsection (g) explicitly limiting use of the funds by
the organization to approved programs listed in (f)
and prohibiting use of the funds for any "candidate
for political office," "organization supporting or
opposing ballot propositions," and "expenses
associated with lobbying the legislature or
administration."
Page 4 Lines 3-7: Creates a new subsection (h) which
allows winners of brown bear and Dall sheep harvest
permits to engage in the hunt even if they have
successfully taken a brown bear or Dall sheep in the
state in the four years preceding.
Section 5. Sets an effective date January 1, 2023
3:59:56 PM
CHAIR REVAK stated that he worked closely with the department,
stakeholders, and user groups on this bill. The intent of SB 204
is to find reasonable improvements to a very successful program
that earns ADF&G a lot of revenue and benefits wildlife
conservation studies, education, and nonprofits. Seventy percent
of program revenues directly benefit ADF&G.
The intent is to get through public testimony, then hold and
fine-tune SB 204 in committee.
4:01:01 PM
SENATOR BISHOP asked what prompted the change in designation
from "Governor's license" to the "Commissioner's license."
MS. TORKELSON answered that all raffle or auction permits
bearing the inscription "Governor's license" currently require
the governor's signature. Winners are often given a short
timeframe to complete hunts. Couple this with permits often
issued collectively in batches, and processing time becomes
critical. The commissioner is already involved with the
licensing process, so shifting responsibility would relieve the
governor of quick-turnaround time pressure.
SENATOR BISHOP asked whether the department should be specified
to differentiate it, even though it is understood SB 204
proposes that the ADF&G commissioner issue the licenses.
MS. TORKELSON answered that this statute is under the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game domain, so the department is
implied.
4:02:44 PM
EDDIE GRASSER, Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation,
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Palmer, Alaska, pointed out
that many statute titles reference the commissioner without
specifying the department; this is how most other permits like
this are written.
CHAIR REVAK stated that the question would be reviewed.
4:03:18 PM
SENATOR KIEHL sought confirmation that the department could
donate two elk tags and one bison tag under [subsection] (a) [in
bill Section 1]; and an additional four elk tags and four bison
tags with the revenue share program under [subsection (c) in
bill Section 2].
MS. TORKELSON answered yes, the programs are separate. The
organization that raffles the tags under [subsection (a)] gets
100 percent of the proceeds. The department and organization
split the revenue under [subsection] (c); ultimately, the
department may issue up to four elk tags and four bison tags. If
the herds cannot sustain that, the department may issue fewer.
SENATOR KIEHL sought confirmation that SB 204 reduces the elk
cap to six total permits and increases the bison permit cap by
one.
MS. TORKELSON expressed her belief that the bison cap increased
by one and the elk cap decreased by two.
SENATOR KIEHL expressed curiosity about the language in
Section 1 that refers to the Etolin, Afognak, and Raspberry
Island elk herds, inquiring whether there were other herds.
MR. GRASSER answered that elk inhabit other islands in Southeast
Alaska too, like Zarembo Island.
4:05:37 PM
At ease.
4:06:04 PM
CHAIR REVAK reconvened the meeting, found no further questions,
and opened public testimony on SB 204.
4:06:36 PM
KEVIN KEHOE, President, Alaska Wild Sheep Foundation, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 204. He stated the foundation
has approximately 700 members and has been in operation since
2014. This is an excellent program and has been successful in
the past. SB 204 appears to improve the program. He expressed
his belief that the Foundation participated in this program more
than other organizations, contributing almost $2.5 million to
ADF&G. Based on the Pittman-Roberston Wildlife Restoration Act
match, this equates to almost $10 million for conservation. The
foundation strongly supports SB 204, the program should
continue, and the changes in the bill will help improve the
program.
4:08:09 PM
JANET PASTERNAK, Representing Self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 204 as an avid hunter and fisherman. She is a
proud graduate of the Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) Program
and has attended numerous nonprofit-supported outdoor classes.
These educational programs were funded and supported by
nonprofit organizations such as the Outdoor Heritage Foundation
of Alaska and the Safari Club International. As a woman from a
non-hunting family, she learned the traditions and ethics of
hunting in Alaska. She could never have participated in the life
she now leads without the support from these programs. SB 204
allows nonprofit organizations to raise tremendous money for
conservation and education. In addition, it offers resident
hunters another opportunity to win a coveted tag they might have
missed in the state lottery. One year as a volunteer at the
Outdoor Heritage Foundation table selling bison tags, people
plunked down hundreds of dollars to buy tickets for a bison tag.
At that time, ADF&G said 36,000 hunters applied for 35 to 45
annually available bison tags. Not very good odds for winning.
Providing raffles at auctions for some of these tags gives
hunters more chance of hitting the jackpot. This is a win-win
for education, conservation, and hunters alike. She urged the
passage of SB 204 as it will help improve and support the
cherished Alaska tradition of hunter education and ethics.
4:10:33 PM
MARK RICHARDS, Executive Director, Resident Hunters of Alaska
(RHAK), Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in tentative support of SB
204, withholding written support or comments until the
organization reviews fiscal notes and other documentation. RHAK
supports ways to generate revenue for wildlife conservation as
long as they do not negatively impact resident hunter
opportunities. He stressed that RHAK does not want this to
extend beyond four tags per species. Some states are pushing for
more Governor's tags to increase department revenues, decreasing
resident hunting opportunities. The North American model of a
user-paid wildlife conservation system equalizes license, tag
fees, and hunting opportunities. Governor's tags do not fall
within the scope of this model; typically, the wealthier
nonresident hunter is able to bid on and win these tags. RHAK
would prefer SB 204 to state an intent to stop asking for more
Governor tag allocations in the future. RHAK has discussed other
options for raising revenues with the commissioner and Director
Grasser. RHAK has participated in the Governor's tag program for
several years, and he was happy to answer questions about what
they do with their 30 percent of the revenue. RHAK typically
applies for the most coveted sheep tag, but because RHAK is
based solely in Alaska and focuses on resident hunting
opportunities it will probably never get a coveted sheep tag.
The organization is unable to compete with the dollars generated
on the national level in the Lower 48. He expressed gratitude
for the resident-only Kodiak brown bear Governor's tag, which
RHAK received for the past two years. Resident Hunters of Alaska
wants to see parity in how tags are awarded and allocated to
organizations. While the benefit passes mainly to the
department, the boon to the organizations awarded coveted tags
is the big crowds attending banquets and fundraisers where
tables, tickets, and other auctioned items bring in additional
dollars. In this respect, RHAK does not benefit. Although RHAK
supports increasing department revenues, there are better
methods. He said he will forward written comments on the bill
after further review.
4:13:53 PM
TED SPRAKER, President, Kenai Peninsula Chapter of Safari Club
International, Soldotna, Alaska, testified in support of the
amended language in SB 204 on behalf of the Alaska Chapter and
the Kenai Peninsula Chapter of the Safari Club International.
The Kenai Peninsula Chapter has about 150 members, and the
Alaska Chapter has about 600 members. He encouraged the
committee to review a letter submitted by Mr. John Sturgeon, the
president of the Alaska Chapter. The letter contains good
information, especially about Governor's tags. He highlighted
the success of a recent sheep tag that netted a little over
$400,000. The interesting detail about this sheep tag and the
funds it generated is that 53 percent of the funds came from out
of state. He pointed out that these are new dollars that can be
used for conservation, not just recirculated Alaska dollars.
ADF&G can use these dollars for game management. He expressed
satisfaction that SB 204 added emperor goose harvest permits. He
was uncertain how many people applied for the McNeil River State
Game Sanctuary bear viewing permits, noting that 25 nonresident
emperor goose tags were available last year, and 2,721 people
applied. This draw was specifically for nonresidents. Again,
this is all new money entering the state for wildlife
conservation.
4:16:51 PM
SAM ROHRER, President, Alaska Professional Hunters Association
(APHA), Kodiak, Alaska, stated that APHA strongly supports the
proposed changes to the Governor's tag program. The program has
been effective at raising millions of dollars for wildlife
conservation in Alaska. It is an excellent example of the
benefits Alaskans receive when the state partners with Alaska's
own conservation-based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) like
APHA. The association supports a user-pay funding management
model for Alaska wildlife. SB 204 is part of the suite of
possibilities that keep wildlife management funding in Alaska
robust. Alaska's hunting guides are deeply vested in supporting
wildlife conservation in Alaska, and APHA's support of SB 204 is
an expression of those values.
4:18:22 PM
CHAIR REVAK closed public testimony on SB 204. He asked whether
SB 204 affects the regular draw program by reducing
opportunities for Alaskan hunters.
4:18:57 PM
RACHEL HANKE, Legislative Liaison, Alaska Department of Fish and
Game, Juneau, Alaska, replied that is correct.
4:19:10 PM
SENATOR KIEHL sought confirmation that if the department were to
issue all of the bison permits under the cap, that would be one
more than allowed under existing law. He also asked if that
additional bison permit would come out of the draw for the area
for which the tag was issued.
MS. HANKE deferred the questions to Director Grasser.
MR. GRASSER answered that the regular draw tags are allotted
through the drawing program that starts in November. The
department works closely with area biologists to ascertain
whether adding one more bison outside of the general draw would
be detrimental to the overall health of the bison herd. If
biologists determine the overall health would not be affected,
that permit is generally used in the governor's auction tag
program. Some years a tag is withdrawn. This year for example,
the Tok sheep tag was withdrawn because the department had to
reduce the number of resident tags available due to winter die
offs of that sheep herd.
SENATOR KIEHL said that answered his question.
SENATOR KIEHL recalled that during public testimony, there was
some discussion that only nonresidents could draw for emperor
geese and that emperor geese would be in this program. He sought
clarification that there is also a resident harvest available
for emperor geese.
MR. GRASSER answered that is correct. Residents can hunt without
having to draw a permit.
4:21:40 PM
CHAIR REVAK held SB 204 in committee for future discussion.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 202 DCCED Fiscal Note 2.25.2022.pdf |
SRES 3/2/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 202 |
| SB 202 Sectional Analysis 2.26.22.pdf |
SRES 3/2/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 202 |
| SB 202 Sponsor Statement 2.26.22.pdf |
SRES 3/2/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 202 |
| SB 202 Support Docs REF Projects By Region 4.14.2021.pdf |
SRES 3/2/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 202 |
| SB 202 Support Docs Renewable Energy Fund Fact Sheet 2.11.2022.pdf |
SRES 3/2/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 202 |
| SB 202 Support Letter APA 2.25.22.pdf |
SRES 3/2/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 202 |
| SB 204 Sectional Analysis 3.1.22.pdf |
SFIN 3/30/2022 9:00:00 AM SRES 3/2/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 204 |
| SB 204 Sponsor Statement 3.1.22.pdf |
HRES 4/25/2022 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/29/2022 1:00:00 PM SFIN 3/30/2022 9:00:00 AM SRES 3/2/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 204 |
| SB 204 Support Doc Auction-Raffle Revenue by Year 2.28.2022.pdf |
HRES 4/25/2022 1:00:00 PM SFIN 3/30/2022 9:00:00 AM SRES 3/2/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 204 |
| SB 204 Support Letter SCI-AK 3.1.22.pdf |
HRES 4/25/2022 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/29/2022 1:00:00 PM SFIN 3/30/2022 9:00:00 AM SRES 3/2/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 204 |
| SB 204 ADF&G Fiscal Note 2.26.2022.pdf |
SRES 3/2/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 204 |