Legislature(1995 - 1996)
03/11/1996 05:04 PM House FSH
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
March 11, 1996
5:04 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Alan Austerman, Chairman
Representative Carl Moses, Vice Chairman
Representative Scott Ogan
Representative Gary Davis
Representative Kim Elton
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members were present.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 390
"An Act relating to the nonresident anadromous king salmon tag and
the anadromous king salmon stamp; requiring nonresident alien sport
fishermen to be accompanied by a sport fishing guide; and providing
for an effective date."
- PASSED CSHB 390(FSH) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 538
"An Act relating to the establishment of a moratorium for vessels
participating in the Bering Sea Korean hair crab fishery; relating
to a vessel permit limited entry system; and providing for an
effective date."
- PASSED CSHB 538(FSH) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 390
SHORT TITLE: KING SALMON TAGS & STAMPS/GUIDE FOR ALIEN
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) ELTON
JRN-DATE JRN-DATE ACTION
01/05/96 2368 (H) PREFILE RELEASED
01/08/96 2368 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
01/08/96 2369 (H) STATE AFFAIRS, FSH, JUDICIARY, FINANCE
02/22/96 2861 (H) STA REFERRAL WAIVED
02/28/96 (H) FSH AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 124
02/28/96 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
03/06/96 (H) FSH AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 124
03/06/96 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
03/11/96 (H) FSH AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HB 538
SHORT TITLE: VESSEL MORATORIUM FOR HAIR CRAB FISHERY
SPONSOR(S): COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS
JRN-DATE JRN-DATE ACTION
03/06/96 2995 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
03/06/96 2995 (H) FISHERIES
03/06/96 (H) FSH AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 124
03/06/96 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
03/11/96 (H) FSH AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 124
WITNESS REGISTER
No witnesses testified.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 96-12, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIRMAN ALAN AUSTERMAN called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. Members present at the
call to order were Representatives Austerman, Davis and Elton.
Representatives Moses and Ogan joined the meeting at 5:09 p.m. and
5:11 p.m., respectively.
HB 390 - KING SALMON TAGS & STAMPS/GUIDE FOR ALIEN
Number 0046
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN recounted that at the previous meeting,
amendments to HB 390 had been passed. He noted that a working
draft including those amendments, version F, was before the
committee.
REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS moved that the committee adopt work
draftF, dated 3/7/96, of CSHB 390(FSH). There being no objection,
it was so ordered.
Number 0155
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN asked Representative Davis if he wished to make
another amendment.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS said yes. He referred to page 2, line 27,
where a new subsection was to be inserted that read, "The
Commissioner shall have the authority to adopt regulations
necessary to implement this section." He indicated it would be (f)
of that section.
Number 0225
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN said he would entertain a motion to amend CSHB
390, work draft F, page 2, line 27, by adding a new section (f).
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS clarified it would be subparagraph (f). He
moved to amend the committee substitute to add subparagraph (f), as
outlined in the written amendment he had submitted.
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN, hearing no objection, noted that subparagraph
(f) was approved for work draft F.
Number 0343
REPRESENTATIVE KIM ELTON pointed out that the packets contained a
new fiscal note from the Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) dated
3/11/96. "That new fiscal note is a tweak of the old fiscal note,"
he said, "using the new assumptions in the committee substitute."
He indicated the essential new assumption related to the $50 fee
for the second tag, down from $100. "And I think what the
department has already done, too, is refine some of the other
assumptions that were in the fiscal note," he said. "But the
fiscal note is not dramatically different than the old fiscal note.
But for the purposes of the bill packet, I guess I would move the
new fiscal note from the Department of Fish and Game, dated
3/11/96."
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN, hearing no objection, noted that the fiscal
note was part of the record. He referred to the fees associated
with HB 390 and said his initial reaction to the bill had been that
he liked it in concept but did not like the fees, which he still
considered to be high. "And I guess the amendment we made last
week," he said, "taking the second fish to $50, answered ... part
of my concern. But I guess when you have a day fishery, a person
fishing just during the day, that amendment would solve the
problems. The problem I'm having is with the $200 and $300 and
$400 fees that we are talking about, particularly with lodge
operations where people go fishing for a full week at a time or a
week and a half." He asked for further discussion before voting on
moving the bill.
Number 0511
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS thought that section would probably have a lot
of additional debate further down the line and mentioned that it
had been discussed in the subcommittee. He indicated there were
many different scenarios and options for visitors to the state. He
suggested that none of the committee members had a solid
understanding of exactly how those fees would be received.
Number 0640
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN expressed that with lodge operations,
particularly, a person was more likely to take three or four fish
at $50 per fish. He thought a person would not be as likely to
even come to Alaska if he or she thought it would cost $1,000 for
the fishing permits.
Number 0667
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON agreed it was difficult to assign a fee. As
ADF&G had indicated at an earlier meeting, ten people would have
ten different suggested fee structures, some higher and some lower.
He expressed concern for what would happen to lodge owners and
agreed the impact would be greater on them than on the day charter
fleet, especially with the new $50 rate for the second tag.
However, he thought if nothing was done to reduce pressure on the
resource through an economic disincentive, the most likely
reduction would be through time and area closures, perhaps in
combination with gear restrictions. Representative Elton thought
such closures, which were in-season management tools, would be more
destructive to the lodge business. Because most lodge visits were
presold months in advance, it would be difficult to sell trips that
owners could not guarantee would take place. He suggested that
would be more difficult for lodge owners than a high price tag.
Number 0880
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON further suggested that visitors arriving in
May, for example, might be able to fish, while visitors planning to
fish in June, July or August might not have that opportunity. "As
onerous and as odious as we may think the Pacific Salmon Treaty
stipulations are," he said, "they're there and I'd like to think
that logic and reason will mean that we can catch more than 40,000
next year. But I think the most likely scenario is 30,000. So, if
nothing else, this may protect lodge owners in that second scenario
also, that you don't reach a 30,000 cap nearly as quickly, so you
can extend your season further to the salmon angler visitor." He
reiterated that he did not mean to diminish the concern for lodge
owners. "I don't know what the perfect answer is on fees, though,"
he concluded.
Number 0969
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN reiterated his concern about the disparity
between anglers on charter boat day trips, especially for visitors
off of cruise ships, and visitors coming to lodges to fish for a
week, who spent the majority of their money with a local lodge
owner.
Number 1096
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS referred to the desire to have the bill heard
in the House Resource Committee, for which it was not scheduled,
rather than in the House Judiciary Committee, and asked about the
process for giving the bill an additional referral.
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN replied the request would have to come from one
of the co-chairmen of Resources if they wished to hear it.
Number 1152
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS moved that CSHB 390(FSH) move out of committee
with attached fiscal notes and the amendment that had been made, as
well as with a letter requesting that the referrals for the bill be
amended.
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON commented that he felt comfortable with the
motion and said he thought it was much more appropriate that the
bill be heard in the House Resources Committee.
Number 1181
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN noted that there being no objection, CSHB 390
(FSH) moved out of the committee with individual recommendations.
HB 538 - VESSEL MORATORIUM FOR HAIR CRAB FISHERY
Number 1195
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN indicated there were no new amendments before
the committee and noted that HB 538 would go to the House Rules
Committee next. He asked if there was further discussion on the
bill, which had been heard previously.
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON moved that HB 538, as amended, move from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS objected for the purpose of discussion. He
asked if Chairman Austerman wanted to hear more testimony if any
were available.
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN answered that no more testimony was planned.
"We didn't move it last time because it had only this committee as
a referral and we wanted everybody to sleep on it a little bit and
bring it back," he said. He noted that the motion was to move CSHB
538, as amended, with accompanying fiscal notes and individual
recommendations.
Number 1362
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON referred to the zero fiscal note and asked,
"Even though it's a zero fiscal note, does this pick up a Finance
Committee referral?"
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN responded, "Not unless we request it." He added
that it went to the House Rules Committee next.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS withdrew his objection.
CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN asked if there were any other objections to
moving the bill. There being no objection, CSHB 538 moved out of
committee.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to conduct, CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN
adjourned the House Special Committee on Fisheries meeting at 5:25
p.m.
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