02/06/2020 11:00 AM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB185 | |
| HB218 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 185 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 218 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
February 6, 2020
11:05 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Louise Stutes, Chair
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative Geran Tarr
Representative Mark Neuman
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
Representative Sarah Vance
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 185
"An Act relating to the registration of commercial vessels; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 185(FSH) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 218
"An Act relating to salt water sport fishing operators and salt
water sport fishing guides; and providing for an effective
date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 185
SHORT TITLE: REGISTRATION OF BOATS: EXEMPTION
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STUTES
01/21/20 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/20
01/21/20 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/20 (H) FSH, TRA
02/04/20 (H) FSH AT 11:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
02/04/20 (H) Heard & Held
02/04/20 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
02/06/20 (H) FSH AT 11:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
BILL: HB 218
SHORT TITLE: SALT WATER FISHING: OPERATORS/GUIDES
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
01/27/20 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/27/20 (H) FSH, RES, FIN
02/06/20 (H) FSH AT 11:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
RICHARD DAVIS, Governor
Seafood Producers Cooperative
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 185.
RACHEL LORD, Executive Secretary
Alaska Association of Harbormasters & Port Administrators
(AAHPA)
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered testimony on HB 185.
MATT GRUENING, Staff
Representative Louise Stutes
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered an explanation on Amendment 1 to HB
185, on behalf of Representative Stutes, prime sponsor.
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 218 on behalf of the House
Rules Committee, by request of the governor.
ACTION NARRATIVE
11:05:41 AM
CHAIR LOUISE STUTES called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 11:05 a.m. Representatives
Stutes, Kopp, Tarr, and Neuman were present at the call to
order. Representative Edgmon arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
HB 185-REGISTRATION OF BOATS: EXEMPTION
11:06:25 AM
CHAIR STUTES announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 185, "An Act relating to the registration of
commercial vessels; and providing for an effective date."
11:07:00 AM
CHAIR STUTES opened public testimony on HB 185.
11:07:45 AM
RICHARD DAVIS, Member, Seafood Producers Cooperative, testified
in support of HB 185. He stated that he is a 43-year member of
a fishermen's cooperative consisting of approximately 500 Alaska
commercial fishermen and boat owners, over 200 of which are
documented vessel owners. He said the cooperative was formed in
1945 and is the largest and longest surviving fishermen's
cooperative in North America. He expressed that the cooperative
would like to expressly thank the sponsor of HB 185 and
encourage the passage of the bill, and it supports any lawmakers
that would assist in its passage.
11:09:11 AM
RACHEL LORD, Executive Secretary, Alaska Association of
Harbormasters & Port Administrators (AAHPA), offered testimony
on HB 185. She stated that since the late 1970s, the AAHPA has
worked to connect harbormasters, port directors, port and harbor
staff, engineers, fabricators, and others from the marine
support industries from around Alaska's working waterfronts, to
support and improve port and harbor facilities to the benefit of
every fleet. She explained that the AAHPA represents 42 ports
and harbors throughout Alaska and over 60 companies from related
support industries. She said that from 2014 to 2016 she was the
facilitator of the statewide Ad-hoc Derelict Vessel Taskforce,
which worked with local, state, and federal governments, as well
as private stakeholders, to address the issue of derelict
vessels in Alaska's public waters. She stated that the
taskforce's work was the underpinning of Senate Bill 92 [passed
during the Thirtieth Alaska State Legislature in 2018].
MS. LORD explained that at an annual meeting this past October,
the AAHPA membership and board of directors passed a resolution
supporting automatic registration of Commercial Fisheries Entry
Commission (CFEC) vessels with the Division of Motor Vehicles
(DMV). She stated that while the AAHPA does not oppose HB 185,
it still believes it is most prudent and reasonable to reduce
bureaucratic burden, while still maintaining a single database
of vessel ownership, at the DMV, for vessels operating primarily
in Alaska's waters. She likened this to the registration of
commercial and recreational boat trailers and vehicles on public
roads. As an example, she stated that if an individual owns and
operates a commercial vehicle, he/she is required to have an
additional commercial permit; however, this does not exempt that
individual from the state's DMV registration requirements. She
explained that every working vessel will one day see an end to
its useful life, just like a car or a truck. She summarized
that the AAHPA desires to balance that reality with the desire
to reduce paperwork and burden; therefore, it believes that it
is most prudent for the state to provide for automatic DMV
registration when applying for a CFEC permit.
11:11:27 AM
CHAIR STUTES, after ascertaining that there was no one else who
wished to provide testimony, closed public testimony on HB 185.
11:11:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP moved to adopt [Amendment 1], labeled 31-
LS1250\M.1, Klein, 1/31/20, which read as follows:
Page 2, following line 16:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Section 1. AS 05.25.056(a) is amended to read:
(a) Except as provided under (f) of this
section, the owner of an undocumented boat subject to
registration in this state under AS 05.25.055, or
exempt from registration under AS 05.25.055(i)(7),
shall apply to the Department of Administration for a
certificate of title for the boat."
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
11:11:44 AM
CHAIR STUTES objected to the motion, for the purpose of
discussion.
11:11:54 AM
MATT GRUENING, Staff, Representative Louise Stutes, Alaska State
Legislature, offered an explanation on Amendment 1 to HB 185, on
behalf of Representative Stutes, prime sponsor. He stated that
it would clarify that an undocumented CFEC registered vessel is
exempt from registration with the DMV but would still be
required to be titled with the DMV. He explained that it was
never the bill sponsor's intention for HB 185 to exempt those
vessels from titling, only to make them exempt from
registration. He said it makes sense to require CFEC
registration in conjunction with either a DMV title or United
States Coast Guard (USCG) documentation; however, having the
CFEC be the only agency responsible for tracking small
undocumented vessels seems slightly excessive. He pointed out
that the title will require a one-time fee of $20. Mr. Gruening
cited page 3, line 10, of Senate Bill 92 [included in the
committee packet], which requires undocumented vessels subject
to registration under AS 05.25.055 to apply for a title. He
explained that the proposed amending of AS 05.25.055(i), under
HB 185, would inadvertently remove the requirement from Senate
Bill 92 to title undocumented CFEC registered vessels, which was
not the intent of the bill sponsor of HB 185. He explained that
adding the wording "or exempt from registration under AS
05.25.055(i)(7)" would clarify that those vessels are exempt
from DMV registration but will continue to title through the
DMV.
11:13:41 AM
CHAIR STUTES removed her objection to the motion to adopt
Amendment 1. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was
adopted.
11:14:00 AM
CHAIR STUTES stated that she thinks HB 185, [as amended], is a
good bill that would remove duplicative registration
requirements on commercial fishing vessels. She expressed that
she thinks Amendment 1 would strengthen the bill for tracking
undocumented CFEC vessels. She summarized that HB 185, [as
amended] streamlines preparations for the fishing season, while
still collecting needed data on vessel ownership for the state's
database.
11:14:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved to report HB 185, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 185(FSH) was
reported from the House Special Committee on Fisheries.
11:15:03 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 11:15 a.m. to 11:17 a.m.
HB 218-SALT WATER FISHING: OPERATORS/GUIDES
11:17:24 AM
CHAIR STUTES announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 218, "An Act relating to salt water sport fishing
operators and salt water sport fishing guides; and providing for
an effective date."
11:18:44 AM
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish &
Game (ADF&G), presented HB 218 on behalf of the House Rules
Committee, by request of the governor. He explained that the
bill would reinstitute saltwater sport fishing guide and
operator licensing standards, saltwater guide and operator fees,
and logbook reporting requirements for saltwater guides. The
logbook data provided by saltwater fishing guides provides
critical information that informs in-season management. He said
that the Board of Fisheries (BOF) management plans also benefit
from updated and complete information. The data obtained
through the logbook reporting requirements is critical for the
ADF&G to successfully uphold its obligations under the Pacific
Salmon treaty, as well as the International Pacific Halibut
Commission "obligation treaties." He said the treaties require
the state to issue logbooks and collect data; however, this
mandate is not funded. He stated that HB 218 would reestablish
licensees for saltwater sport fishing guide services to cover
the cost of the mandated program. He explained that this
program existed in the past, but it was a saltwater and
freshwater program; there was a lot of controversy surrounding
the freshwater portion of the program, which is not included in
HB 218. The program proposed under HB 218 would only focus on
the saltwater portion, which is mandated by treaty obligations.
11:20:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP asked Commissioner Vincent-Lang whether he
could clarify what the concerns surrounding the freshwater guide
licensing logbooks were, and why a different course had been
chosen.
11:20:45 AM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG replied that the main concern
surrounding the freshwater portion of the program was that the
ADF&G was requiring freshwater guides across the entire state to
license with the state and maintain logbooks for fisheries that
didn't need the management information in season. As an
example, he pointed to the grayling fisheries in Bristol Bay and
parts of Interior Alaska. He explained that the ADF&G wasn't
using this information for in-season management purposes, and
there were many questions as to why it was requiring information
that wasn't being used and was duplicative of a statewide
harvest survey being collected. In the areas where freshwater
information is clearly needed, the ADF&G has freshwater survey
programs in place and eliminated the statewide requirements for
logbooks in those fisheries.
11:21:40 AM
CHAIR STUTES asked whether [the salt water portion] of the
previous bill [program] sunsetted due to its connection to the
freshwater logbooks [program].
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG replied that when the bill's sunset
clause came due for renewal, the freshwater portion of it became
very controversial; rather than amending the bill at the end it
was decided to just let the bill die. He explained that there
wasn't much concern regarding the saltwater portion of the bill,
but the freshwater portion "drug the whole thing down."
11:22:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN asked how this bill might affect private
boat owners that rent or lease their boats for recreational
sport fishing.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG replied that there is a clearly
defined definition of what a guide is, which is "accompanying an
individual"; therefore, it would not affect the rental boat
sector. In response to a follow up question, he clarified that
this also applies to lodge owners who have boat rentals
associated through the rental of rooms or additional fees.
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN remarked that he wanted these explanations
on the record for any business owners, legislators, or other
people who may be listening to the meeting. He referred to Cook
Inlet and its "16 tributaries of stocks of concern," and he
noted that "we're getting rid of the weirs in pretty much all of
the state for in-season management tools." He asked how the
ADF&G would use guide logbooks to help areas that do not
currently have any in-season management.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG replied that the ADF&G would have an
accurate counting of the guided saltwater harvests through this
program. As an example, he said the ADF&G would know the
saltwater portion of the king salmon harvest but would not know
the freshwater portion of that harvest. He explained that to
the extent that the ADF&G sees that this information is needed,
it will investigate alternative methods for obtaining that
information for freshwater fisheries.
11:25:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN asked Commissioner Vincent-Lang whether he
thinks the ADF&G will be able to keep the logbooks up to date so
that the information can be used for real-time management.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG answered that the ADF&G already has an
electronically formatted program in Southeast Alaska; currently
it is seeing a 5- to 10-percent compliance rate. He expressed
that it is the desire of the ADF&G to make these logbooks
electronic to the extent possible for timely in season
management; he noted that there are some remote locations where
this will not be possible. He summarized that the information
is currently being processed, in season, to inform management
decisions for saltwater fisheries.
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN asked how long a delay there is from when
the information is recorded to when the ADF&G receives it.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG replied that it takes approximately a
week and a half for the ADF&G to receive the logbooks. He
explained that in Southeast Alaska that time frame is short
enough to meet the treaty mandate obligations; however, he
reiterated that the ADF&G is looking for ways to speed the
process up through electronic means.
11:27:20 AM
CHAIR STUTES announced that HB 218 would be held over for
further consideration.
11:27:42 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 11:28
a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 218 ADFG Letter of Support 1.28.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/13/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/20/2020 11:00:00 AM |
|
| HB 218 Fiscal Note 1.27.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/13/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/20/2020 11:00:00 AM HRES 3/13/2020 1:00:00 PM HRES 3/18/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 218 |
| HB 218 Logbook Use Summary 1.28.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/13/2020 11:00:00 AM HRES 3/13/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 218 |
| HB 218 Sectional Analysis 1.28.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/13/2020 11:00:00 AM HRES 3/13/2020 1:00:00 PM HRES 3/18/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 218 |
| HB 218 Transmittal Letter 1.28.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM |
|
| HB 218 V. A 1.27.20.PDF |
HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM |
|
| HB 185 Sponsor Statement v. M 1.30.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM |
|
| HB 185 Fiscal Note DMV 2.1.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM |
HB 185 |
| HB 185 Fiscal Note DPS 1.31.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM |
HB 185 |
| HB 185 Testimony Recieved by 2.3.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM HTRA 2/25/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 185 |
| HB 185 USAG Support Letter 1.31.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM HTRA 2/25/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 185 |
| HB 185 UFA Support Letter 1.20.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM |
HB 185 |
| HB 185 v M 1.21.20.PDF |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM |
HB 185 |
| HB 185 CFEC Vessel Licensing Forms 2.2.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM HTRA 2/25/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 185 |
| HB 185 Additional Document SB 92 (Enrolled 2018).PDF |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM |
HB 185 SB 92 |
| HB 185 USCG Brochure Documentation and Tonnage.pdf |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM HTRA 2/25/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 185 |
| HB 185 CDFU Support Letter 2.3.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM HTRA 2/25/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 185 |
| HB 185 CFEC Vessesl License. Number Plate, and Decal 2.3.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM |
HB 185 |
| HB 185 Support Letter ABSCA 2.3.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM HTRA 2/25/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 185 |
| HB185 AAHPA Board Statement 2-3-2020.pdf |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM |
HB 185 |
| HB 185 City of Seldovia CFEC Automatic Registration Resolution.pdf |
HFSH 2/4/2020 11:00:00 AM HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM HTRA 2/25/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 185 |
| HB 185 Amendment #1 2.6.20.pdf |
HFSH 2/6/2020 11:00:00 AM |
HB 185 |