Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 124
02/23/2007 08:30 AM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB137 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 137 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
February 23, 2007
8:40 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Paul Seaton, Chair
Representative Kyle Johansen
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux
Representative Peggy Wilson
Representative Lindsey Holmes
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Bryce Edgmon
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 137
"An Act amending the requirements for the identification card
needed for sport fishing, hunting, and trapping without a
license by residents who are 60 years of age or more."
- MOVED CSHB 137 (FSH) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4
Requesting the Federal Subsistence Board to reconsider its
decision regarding the subsistence fishery priority given to
Ninilchik residents.
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 137
SHORT TITLE: SENIOR FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING LICENSES
SPONSOR(s): FISHERIES
02/14/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/14/07 (H) FSH, RES, FIN
02/19/07 (H) FSH AT 8:30 AM CAPITOL 124
02/19/07 (H) -- Meeting Canceled --
02/23/07 (H) FSH AT 8:30 AM CAPITOL 124
WITNESS REGISTER
KATHERINE SHOWS, Staff
to Representative Paul Seaton
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 137 on behalf of sponsor House
Special Committee on Fisheries, Chair Paul Seaton.
KRISTIN WRIGHT, Licensing Supervisor
Division of Administrative Services
Alaska Department of Fish & Game
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions about HB 137.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR PAUL SEATON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 8:40:53 AM. Representatives
LeDoux, Wilson, and Holmes were present at the call to order.
Representative Johansen arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 137-SENIOR FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING LICENSES
8:41:21 AM
CHAIR SEATON announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 137, "An Act amending the requirements for the
identification card needed for sport fishing, hunting, and
trapping without a license by residents who are 60 years of age
or more."
8:42:17 AM
KATHERINE SHOWS, Staff to Representative Paul Seaton, Alaska
State Legislature, introduced HB 137, paraphrasing from the
sponsor statement, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
The Permanent Identification Card (PID) is a permanent
license that allows Alaskan seniors to enjoy the
natural resources of this great state through hunting,
fishing and trapping free of charge. However, as the
program is currently structured, there are few
safeguards to prevent abuse. Because the license is
permanent, someone can get the card when they live in
Alaska, move out of state and never have to pay for a
license in Alaska on subsequent return visits. Also,
because there is no easily enforceable determination
of Alaskan resident, non-residents can fraudulently
apply for a card. This is not fair to seniors who
live here year round that have the right to fish
without the financial burden of a yearly license fee.
HB 137 changes the current PID statute from a
permanent identification card to a temporary
identification card. The license holder is required
to renew the card every three years and must be
eligible for the permanent fund dividend [PFD] to
qualify for the free hunting/fishing/trapping card.
Fish and Game will have a list of individuals who
received the PFD to cross reference before issuing a
free senior license. The program will be easier for
Fish and Game to administer because they have a simple
way to check for suspected fraud instead of enlisting
the help of the overextended Wildlife Troopers. HB
137 will result in an increase of funds as out-of-
state individuals will have to purchase their license.
More people have been issued a PID in the last 20
years than there are eligible residents [age 60 and
over] in Alaska who receive the PFD. Anecdotal
stories of abuse of this benefit include a Fish and
Game clerk on the Kenai Peninsula who issued a PID to
a senior who claimed he was a resident but that he did
not own a drivers license to prove it. He then
proceeded to get into the drivers seat of a car with
out-of-state plates. The Fish and Game officer faxed
the individual's information to the Wildlife Troopers,
however they do not have the resources to persecute
minor offenses such as fraudulent license
applications, leaving the program with little means
for checks and balances.
8:46:04 AM
MS. SHOWS explained that HB 137 will continue to allow senior
Alaskans to receive a PID, and will clarify eligibility for the
program by providing clear direction for seniors who move out of
state. HB 137 makes enforcement of residency requirements
easier and maintains the integrity of the program, she said.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 25-
LS0118\C.1, Kane, 2/22/07, which read:
Page 1, line 12, following "resident":
Insert "must have lawfully received a permanent
fund dividend in the previous year or"
Page 1, line 13:
Delete "AS 43.23.005"
Insert "AS 43.23.005(a)(3) - (7)"
8:48:26 AM
CHAIR SEATON objected for purposes of discussion.
MS. SHOWS explained that Amendment 1 was drafted to alleviate
concerns held by the PFD division. Requiring that a senior PID
applicant be successful by also being a PFD applicant may result
in an influx of ineligible PFD applications. Amendment 1
requires that a PID applicant meet PFD eligibility standards,
regardless of whether a PFD was received, as stipulated under AS
43.23.005(a)(3)-(7). This allows residents who do not apply for
a PFD to be eligible for a PID. In response to a question from
Representative Holmes, the committee was provided with a copy of
AS 43.23.005. Ms. Shows explained that HB 137 does not include
the requirements of AS 43.23.005(1)-(2) because those two
requirements are related to the act of applying for a PFD. The
intent of the amendment is to not allow mere application for a
PFD to qualify a person for a PID. Therefore, Amendment 1
focuses on AS 43.23.005(a)(3)-(7) which sets forth residency
criteria, such as stipulations for physical presence in the
state.
REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES stated that the physical presence aspect
is addressed in AS 43.23.005(a)(6), which requires that a person
be in the state at all times during the qualifying year, except
for absences as allowed under AS 43.23.005(a)(8).
CHAIR SEATON emphasized that not all seniors apply for the PFD,
even though they are residents of the state and qualify for a
PID.
8:53:58 AM
CHAIR SEATON withdrew his objection to Amendment 1.
There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked what the PID program currently costs
the state.
MS. SHOWS directed the committee's attention to an ADF&G
committee handout indicating a revenue loss of $137,827, due to
program abuse. However, she stressed that this can only be
estimated because ADF&G does not know how many ineligible PIDs
are currently in use.
CHAIR SEATON noted that while the amount of $137,000 is not
significant, the public's perception of program abuse is a
significant issue.
REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES questioned how a card holder's residency
will be determined during the application process, as well as in
the field.
8:57:54 AM
KRISTIN WRIGHT, Licensing Supervisor, Division of Administrative
Services, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, (ADF&G), explained
that under the provisions of the proposed bill, the PFD division
will annually provide ADF&G with a file containing the names of
PFD recipients. Before issuance of a PID, an applicant's name
must appear in the PFD file; or if not, the applicant must
utilize the alternative process of AS 43.23.005(3)-(7) to
determine residency.
8:58:36 AM
CHAIR SEATON reminded the committee that the goal is to assure
qualified licensing, and legal use of temporary licenses.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked what the timeline for receiving a
PID is, following application at an ADF&G office.
MS. WRIGHT indicated that a temporary license is valid for 60
days, and that a permanent card is mailed within two weeks of
application. She opined that it should be an easy task to cross
check applicant names against the PFD file. However, she said
that a senior will not be able to use their license on the day
they apply.
CHAIR SEATON inquired whether ADF&G could issue a temporary
senior card on the day a person applies if ADF&G has immediate
access to the PFD files.
MS. WRIGHT ventured that it may not be a problem to issue a
temporary card on the day a person applies if the name is
included in the PFD file. She said it may also be possible for
a senior to apply via online, similar to the online application
for a sport fishing license. Persons applying online receive a
same day temporary license.
CHAIR SEATON observed that the application process described
above would take care of most applicants in an efficient manner.
9:02:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX sought assurance that ADF&G would check
senior license applications against the PFD information.
MS. WRIGHT expressed confidence that the proposed residency
checks will happen, and offered that the PFD division has
assured ADF&G file availability. To a follow-up question, she
answered that an applicant for a PID must have been in the state
for the previous 12 months.
REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES recognized that passage of HB 137 will
impose new methods for PID application, and asked how seniors
would be made aware of the changes to the process.
MS. WRIGHT replied that this is still being contemplated and has
yet to be reviewed by the Department of Law (DOL). However, one
option being considered is to send letters to current PID
holders every three years, to remind them of the need to renew
their license. She stated that whether the provisions of HB 137
will apply to seniors already in the system is a discussion for
the DOL.
CHAIR SEATON stated that the DOL will provide the necessary
guidance, and if those who currently hold a PID are required to
comply with aspects of HB 137, notification will be
appropriately made.
9:06:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON moved to report HB 137, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 137(FSH) was moved
from committee.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 9:07:23
AM.
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