Legislature(1995 - 1996)

02/20/1995 05:50 PM House FSH

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
txt
              HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES                             
                       February 20, 1995                                       
                           5:50 p.m.                                           
                                                                               
                                                                               
 MEMBERS PRESENT                                                               
                                                                               
 Representative Alan Austerman, Chairman                                       
 Representative Gary Davis                                                     
 Representative Kim Elton                                                      
 Representative Scott Ogan                                                     
                                                                               
 MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                
                                                                               
 Representative Carl Moses                                                     
                                                                               
 COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                            
                                                                               
 * HB 140:  "An Act relating to surety bonds required of certain               
            fish processors."                                                  
                                                                               
            PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE                                            
                                                                               
 * HB 141:  "An Act relating to the appointment of members of                  
            the Board of Fisheries."                                           
                                                                               
            HEARD AND HELD                                                     
                                                                               
 (* First public hearing)                                                      
                                                                               
 WITNESS REGISTER                                                              
                                                                               
 ANDY GOLIA                                                                    
 Post Office Box 663                                                           
 Dillingham, Alaska 99576                                                      
 Telephone:  842-5307                                                          
 POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported HB 140                                         
                                                                               
 JEROME SELBY, Mayor                                                           
 Kodiak Island Borough                                                         
 722 Mill Bay Road                                                             
 Kodiak, Alaska 99615                                                          
 Telephone:  486-9301                                                          
 POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported HB 140                                         
                                                                               
 JERRY McCUNE, President                                                       
 United Fishermen of Alaska                                                    
 211 Fourth Street, Suite 112                                                  
 Juneau, Alaska 99801                                                          
 Telephone:  586-2820                                                          
 POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported HB 140 and HB 141                              
                                                                               
 GERON BRUCE, Legislative Liaison                                              
 Alaska Department of Fish and Game                                            
 Post Office Box 25526                                                         
 Juneau, Alaska 99811-5526                                                     
 Telephone:  465-4100                                                          
 POSITION STATEMENT:  Supported HB 141                                         
                                                                               
 PREVIOUS ACTION                                                               
                                                                               
 BILL:  HB 140                                                               
 SHORT TITLE: SMALL FISH PROCESSOR SURETY BONDS                                
 SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) AUSTERMAN                                       
                                                                               
 JRN-DATE     JRN-PG               ACTION                                      
 02/01/95       199    (H)   READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)                 
 02/01/95       199    (H)   FSH, L&C                                          
 02/15/95              (H)   FSH AT 03:30 PM CAPITOL 124                       
 02/20/95              (H)   FSH AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 124                       
                                                                              
 BILL:  HB 141                                                                
 SHORT TITLE: TERM OF FISH & GAME BOARD MEMBERS                                
 SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) AUSTERMAN,Grussendorf                           
                                                                               
 JRN-DATE     JRN-PG               ACTION                                      
 02/01/95       199    (H)   READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)                 
 02/01/95       199    (H)   FSH, RES                                          
 02/15/95              (H)   FSH AT 03:30 PM CAPITOL 124                       
 02/20/95              (H)   FSH AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 124                       
                                                                               
 ACTION NARRATIVE                                                              
                                                                               
 TAPE 95-9, SIDE A                                                             
 Number 000                                                                    
                                                                               
 The House Special Committee on Fisheries was called to order by               
 Chairman Alan Austerman at 5:50 p.m.  Members present at the call             
 to order were Representatives Davis and Elton.                                
                                                                               
 HFSH - 02/20/95                                                               
 HB 140 - SMALL FISH PROCESSOR SURETY BONDS                                  
                                                                               
 Number 061                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN called for a ten minute recess.                            
                                                                               
 Number 062                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN reopened the meeting at 6:05 p.m., noting that             
 Representative Ogan was present.                                              
                                                                               
 Number 076                                                                    
                                                                               
 ANDY GOLIA, testified via teleconference from Dillingham, in                  
 support of HB 140.  He stated for the record, "I believe HB 140               
 will increase the economic opportunities for small processors or              
 operators who want to market salmon.  It is estimated that the                
 Bristol Bay permit holder, has paid about $1.4 million in the 1994            
 season, towards the 1 percent marketing tax.  I expect the domestic           
 market to open up for Alaska salmon and HB 140 will help to                   
 facilitate that."                                                             
                                                                               
 Number 155                                                                    
                                                                               
 JEROME SELBY, Mayor, Kodiak Island Borough, testified via                     
 teleconference from Kodiak, in support of HB 140.  He stated, "HB
 140 was drafted in response to a resolution passed by the Southwest           
 Alaska Municipal Conference.  It is orientated towards trying to              
 make it a little easier for some of the smaller communities to                
 develop an economy, geared towards processing specialty packs of              
 fish products.  The purpose of this bill to allow these people to             
 reduce their start up costs and build this type of economic                   
 venture.  The marketing analysts seem to think that there is a                
 viable market for this kind of specialty product."                            
                                                                               
 Number 215                                                                    
                                                                               
 JERRY McCUNE, President, United Fishermen of Alaska, testified in             
 support of HB 140.  He stated, "This bill would be very helpful to            
 the small outfits starting up, because it drops the $10,000 bonding           
 requirement, for processing under 30,000 pounds."                             
                                                                               
 Number 231                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT OGAN asked, "What is the cost difference                 
 between a $10,000 surety bond and a $2,000 surety bond?"                      
                                                                               
 MR. McCUNE wasn't sure what a company charges.                                
                                                                               
 MR. SELBY stated, "There is no hard set fee.  Each case is treated            
 on an individual basis.  The surety bond companies consider the               
 product, the risk involved and circumstantial information."                   
                                                                               
 Number 251                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE KIM ELTON moved an amendment forward.  The amendment           
 takes place on page 2, line 10, insert the words that are the same            
 as on page 1 where it says if the money is insufficient as a bond,            
 then the bond will double over time if a processor has a claim                
 against him or a judgment resulting from a claim.  Basically, it              
 takes Section 1 and inserts it into Section 2.                                
                                                                               
 MR. SELBY stated he had no objection to the amendment.                        
                                                                               
 MR. GOLIA said he did not object to the amendment.                            
                                                                               
 Number 295                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN asked if there was any opposition from the                 
 committee.  Hearing no objection, Amendment Number 1 passed.                  
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ELTON made a motion to move CSHB 140(FSH) out of               
 committee with individual recommendations, and a zero fiscal note.            
                                                                               
 Hearing no objection, CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN announced that CSHB
 140(FSH) moved out of the House Special Committee on Fisheries.               
                                                                               
 HFSH - 02/20/95                                                               
 HB 141 - TERM OF FISH & GAME BOARD MEMBERS                                
                                                                               
 Number 314                                                                    
                                                                               
 GERON BRUCE, Legislative Liaison, Alaska Department of Fish and               
 Game, testified in support of HB 141.  He stated, "This bill is a           
 result of concerns brought forth by the Fisheries Policy Transition           
 Team.  Since HB 141 is being held over, we would like to work with            
 the committee on rewording the transition section of the bill."               
                                                                               
 MR. McCUNE testified in support of HB 141.  He added, "I was a                
 member of the transition team and we felt that this should make the           
 Board of Fish more streamline and more efficient."                            
                                                                               
 Number 362                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE OGAN commented, "This bill should help in the                  
 confirmation process and might produce a better selection of                  
 candidates knowing they aren't going to get beat up."                         
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN indicated that HB 141 would be held over in              
 committee.                                                                    
 ADJOURNMENT                                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN adjourned the meeting at 6:23 p.m.                         
                                                                               

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