Legislature(2003 - 2004)
02/03/2004 01:36 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 03, 2004
1:36 PM
TAPE HFC 04 - 17, Side A
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Williams called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:36 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative John Harris, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Williams, Co-Chair
Representative Mike Chenault
Representative Eric Croft
Representative Hugh Fate
Representative Richard Foster
Representative Mike Hawker
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Carl Moses
Representative Bill Stoltze
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Kevin Meyer, Vice-Chair
ALSO PRESENT
Senator Fred Dyson; David Teal, Legislative Fiscal Analyst,
Legislative Finance.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Dennis Fentie, Premier, Yukon Territories, Canada
SUMMARY
CSSB 56(FIN)
An Act relating to sport fishing license fees and
anadromous king salmon tag fees for residents of
Yukon, Canada; and providing for an effective
date.
HCS CSSB 56(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee
with a "do pass" recommendation and with a new
fiscal note by the Department of Fish and Game.
HB 413 An Act making an appropriation to reverse the
deposit of money available for appropriation in
the general fund at the end of fiscal year 2003
into the constitutional budget reserve fund;
making an appropriation under art. IX, sec. 17(c),
Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the
constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing
for an effective date.
HB 413 was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
CS FOR SENATE BILL 56(FIN)
An Act relating to sport fishing license fees and
anadromous king salmon tag fees for residents of Yukon,
Canada; and providing for an effective date.
SENATOR FRED DYSON spoke in support of CSSB 56(FIN). He
explained that the Yukon Territory has amended regulations
to allow Alaskans to obtain resident fishing licenses in
Canada. Similarly, this bill would allow Canadians to fish
Alaskan waters with resident license rates. He commented
that Governor Murkowski and Premier Fentie have recently
established a broad memorandum of understanding and
cooperation between Alaska and the Yukon Territory.
PREMIER DENNIS FENTIE, YUKON TERRITORY, CANADA expressed
support for SB 56, stating that the goodwill intent of this
legislation speaks to the ongoing cooperation between the
Yukon Territory and Alaska. He explained that many
Canadians enjoy fishing but have no saltwater access. The
communities of Haines and Skagway have welcomed Canadians to
enjoy coastal fishing and other activities, which support
their local economies. In September 2003, the Yukon amended
its fishing regulations to allow for license fee reciprocity
for Alaskans to fish the freshwater lakes and rivers of the
Yukon at resident rates, contingent on similar provisions
being enacted for Yukoners to fish in Alaskan waters.
Representative Fate asked if there would be a curtailment of
Alaskan residents' ability to fish in the areas of the Yukon
that are controlled by guides. Mr. Fentie affirmed, and
explained that fishing would not be allowed in areas where
fishing lodges are located. The Yukon has stocked lakes
with char that previously had no fish, and in certain cases,
these would be off limits to fishing by Alaskans. The
information would be readily available when a license is
purchased.
Co-Chair Harris clarified that CSSB 56(FIN) is the version
before the committee.
Co-Chair Harris MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1, which reads:
Page 2, line 1:
Delete "immediately under AS 01.10.070(c)"
Insert "January 1, 2005."
There being NO OBJECTION, Amendment 1 was ADOPTED.
Co-Chair Williams explained that the amendment changes the
effective date to January 1, 2005 because the licenses for
2004 have already been printed.
Representative Foster MOVED to report HCS CSSB 56(FIN) out
of Committee with the accompanying fiscal note and
individual recommendations. There being NO OBJECTION, it
was so ordered.
HCS CSSB 56(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with a new fiscal note by the
Department of Fish and Game.
HOUSE BILL NO. 413
Representative Croft explained that the Legislature owes a
debt to the Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR) [under
section 17(d), which requires leftover general fund balances
to be swept into the CBR at the end of the fiscal year.
These funds are generally restored by a ¾ vote under section
17(c) of the CBR provisions]. He explained that HB 413 would
simply reverse the sweep, and noted that it's usual in the
CBR negotiations that the legislature restore the small
funds. Representative Croft discussed the "CBR Sweep
Summary-DRAFT" (copy on file.) He observed that the $88
million restoration affects the State Forestation Fund, the
Oil and Hazardous Substance Release Accounts, the Tobacco
Education/Cessation Fund, the Alcohol/Drug Abuse
Treatment/Prevention Fund, and the Railbelt Energy Fund. He
explained that because the CBR negotiations failed to reach
agreement last year, these sub-accounts were swept. He
observed that although the sweep hasn't had a direct impact
on government yet, it's becoming more critical that these
funds be restored. Representative Croft offered HB 413 as a
goodwill gesture. He stated that the bill expresses a
willingness to put monies back into the general fund sub-
accounts in the hope of resolving the larger issue of the
basic withdrawal of the CBR.
Co-Chair Harris presented conceptual Amendment 1:
Amend section 1 by adding a new subsection to read:
(b) The sum of $125,000 is appropriated from the
budget reserve fund (art. IX, sec. 17, Constitution of
the State of Alaska) to the Department of Revenue,
treasury division, for the fiscal year ending June 30,
2004, for investment management fees for the budget
reserve fund (art. IX, sec. 17, Constitution of the
State of Alaska).
Amend existing subsection (b) to read:
(c)(b) The appropriations in (a)and (b) of this
section are [IS] made under art. IX, sec. 17(c),
Constitution of the State of Alaska.
MR. DAVID TEAL, LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ANALYST, LEGISLATIVE
FINANCE confirmed that the $125 thousand in CBR management
fees to Department of Revenue, treasury division, was
correct.
Representative Croft did not object to the amendment, which
is the standard amount paid for management of the CBR.
There being NO OBJECTION, the conceptual amendment was
ADOPTED.
HB 413 was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 1:54 P.M.
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