Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/23/1994 03:38 PM Senate RES
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SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE
February 23, 1994
3:38 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Miller, Chairman
Senator Loren Leman, Vice Chairman
Senator Steve Frank
Senator Drue Pearce
Senator Dave Donley
Senator Fred Zharoff
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Al Adams
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 232
"An Act relating to a bow hunting tag and bow hunting safety; and
providing for an effective date."
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 17
Relating to reauthorization of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation
and Management Act.
SENATE BILL NO. 322
"An Act repealing the limitation on delays imposed on oil and gas
lease sales under the Alaska Land Act."
PREVIOUS ACTION
HB 232 - See Resources minutes dated 2/22/94 and 2/23/94.
SJR 17 - See Resources minutes dated 2/23/94.
SB 322 - See Resources minutes dated 2/23/94.
WITNESS REGISTER
Jim Eason, Director
Division of Oil and Gas
Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 107034
Anchorage, Ak. 99510-7005
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 322.
Senator Suzanne Little
State Capitol
Juneau, Ak. 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 322.
Representative Bunde
State Capitol
Juneau, Ak. 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor HB 232.
Garry Cason
Kenai Peninsula Archers
P.O. Box 4215
Soldotna, Ak 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232.
Bill Curtis
P.O. Box 91
Soldotna, Ak. 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232.
Don Poole
Alaska Bow Hunters Association
P.O. Box 2200
Soldotna, Ak. 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232 personally and said the ABHA
was neutral.
Ken Vorisek, President
Golden North Archery Association
427 Crestmont Dr.
Fairbanks, Ak. 99709
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 232.
Rick Schikora
1416 Gillam Way
Fairbanks, Ak. 99701
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 232.
Dennis Goldback
915 21st. Ave.
Fairbanks, Ak. 99701
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232.
Harry Lusk
2113 Lake View Terrace
Fairbanks, Ak. 99701
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 232.
Edward Russell
P.O. Box 111867
Anchorage, Ak. 99511
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232.
Phil Pringle
2104 Misty Glen Cr.
Anchorage, Ak. 99502
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232.
George Moerlein
7300 O'Malley
Anchorage, Ak. 99516
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232.
Dave Kelleyhouse, Director
Division of Wildlife Conservation
Department of Fish and Game
P.O. Box 25526
Juneau, Ak. 99802-5526
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 232.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 94-14, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN MILLER called the Resources Committee meeting to order at
3:38 p.m. and announced SB 322 (DELAYS OF OIL AND GAS LEASE SALES) )
to be up for consideration.
JIM EASON, Director, Division of Oil and Gas, said this is a very
simple, but important amendment. It removes a provision requiring
when the Department schedules a sale on its five-year schedule that
they have to hold that sale within 90 days of the quarter in which
the sale is scheduled. If they don't do that, they lose the
opportunity to conduct the sale for a minimum of two years.
The reason it should be deleted now, he explained, is because there
is a vast amount of laws and regulations that overlap, more than in
1978 when this amendment was adopted. The likelihood is that sales
will often have to be delayed just to avoid potential complications
with these overlaps.
MR. EASON said recently they have found another reason. Last night
the Supreme Court noticed they would not hear the State's appeal on
the sale 78 decision. He said the Department's ability to continue
to work with the public on that sale was stalled by this very
provision. They delayed that sale once in order to allow more
time, but couldn't delay it further because of this provision.
SENATOR LITTLE supported SB 322. She said there were many
difficulties with lease sale 78. The Commissioner was not able to
hold additional public hearings although there were several
requests after the public comment period had closed.
SENATOR FRANK moved to pass SB 322 from Committee with individual
recommendations and accompanying fiscal note. There were no
objections and it was so ordered.
Number 92
SENATOR FRANK suggested sending an effective date along to the next
Committee. SENATOR MILLER agreed.
SENATOR MILLER announced SJR 17 (MAGNUSON FISHERY CONSRV & MGT ACT) T)
to be up for consideration.
SENATOR LITTLE explained that the resolution sends an important
message to congress to retain the current geographic composition of
the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council so Alaska's
representation would not be weakened.
She said the proposed CS contains technical amendments requested by
the Department of Fish and Game. It deletes "high seas" and
replaces it with "exclusive economic zone." It removes the term
"outer" from "outer continental shelf."
SENATOR LITTLE noted there was a $0 fiscal note.
Number 133
SENATOR DONLEY moved to adopt the CS to SJR 17. There were no
objections and it was so ordered.
SENATOR LITTLE said that there was a letter of support from the
Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's Association. She also noted they
wanted more persons to be added to the list to which they would
send the resolution, but they wanted to make that amendment in
Judiciary.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to discharge CSSJR 17 from Committee with
individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was so
ordered.
Number 181
SENATOR MILLER announced HB 232 (BOW HUNTING STAMP & BOW HUNTING
SAFETY to be up for consideration.) He said they would take a
recess at 3:50 p.m. and called the meeting back to order at 3:55
p.m.
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE, sponsor, explained that certain areas in
Alaska are reserved for bow hunting. It is necessary to take a bow
hunting class to hunt in those areas. Bow hunters support this
program physically and financially. He said the fees would go to
support the bow hunter program. He said a majority of bow hunters
support HB 232.
Number 287
SENATOR ZHAROFF asked if this applied state-wide. REPRESENTATIVE
BUNDE replied it applies in special archery seasons and areas. He
was not aware of an archery area in Kodiak.
SENATOR ZHAROFF moved an effective date of January 1, 1995. There
were no objections and it was so ordered.
GARRY CASON, Kenai Peninsula Archers, opposed HB 232 since it is
for bow hunting areas only. He felt there were enough restrictions
on bow hunting now. They feel that archery already pays for its
share of funding due to the Pitman-Robertson fund and there is an
11% excise tax on all archery equipment.
BILL CURTIS, Soldotna resident, opposed HB 232. He was appalled at
the way it was presented to the archers of the state.
DON POOLE, Soldotna resident, said he was against HB 232, because
it is an unnecessary expense. He is concerned that the income
generated from this would be used as general fund money. As
President of the Alaskan Bow hunters, he said they are split on the
matter and are taking a neutral stance.
Number 334
KEN VORISEK, President, Golden North Archery Association, supported
HB 232. He said a majority of the Bowhunters around the state have
voted to support HB 232. The $7 archery tag would be mandatory
wherever you hunt with a bow and arrow. The other part of the bill
mandates the state have a bow hunter education program. The intent
of the bill was to fund that program. The program is mandatory
where there is a bow hunting only area.
RICK SCHIKORA, Fairbanks resident, supported HB 232. He thought it
might provide the possibility of additional bow hunting seasons and
areas. After participating as an instructor in the IT&T program,
he was in favor of the bow hunting stamp.
DENNIS GOLDBACK, Fairbanks resident, opposed HB 232. He said he
didn't see any financial gain from selling stamps the way the bill
is written. He said he saw a lot of loop holes in it.
HARRY LUSK, Fairbanks resident, said in North Carolina and South
Carolina there is a longer hunting season without the stamp, but
with a tag. They also have "either sex days". He said that
archers expend a lot more energy to even stop game than rifle
hunters do. He said they should have more benefits than rifle
hunters.
Number 433
EDWARD RUSSELL, Anchorage resident, said he faxed his testimony
opposing HB 232. He said that wildlife stamps serve no useful
purpose in the management of game in Alaska. He said there is no
way the stamp can pay for printing, distribution, and some sort of
publicity campaign. He didn't think bow hunters should be charged
a surtax for hunting which is what this is.
PHIL PRINGLE, Anchorage resident and bow hunter teacher, totally
opposed HB 232. He didn't think the revenue generated would cover
the cost of implementing and maintaining the plan. He said there
was already an education force in place. He didn't think paying $7
was an issue.
GEORGE MOERLEIN, Anchorage resident and former Director of the
Alaska Bow Hunters Association, said HB 232 has no redeeming
features for either the state or the bow hunting community. He
said it is totally unfair to bow hunters.
Number 512
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE said bow hunters do have more opportunities to
hunt than rifle hunters.
DAVE KELLEYHOUSE, Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation, said
the costs of administering the program would be proportional to how
many tags were sold. The primary cost would be $1 per tag sold to
the vendor. The other is 5% of the tag and the remainder would go
into the Fish and Game fund. All vendor payments now are being
paid with Fish and Game funds. He thought the program would be
revenue positive.
SENATOR MILLER asked what if the legislation was amended to just
address bow hunting in those areas where there is only bow hunting.
MR. KELLEYHOUSE explained that most of the exclusive bow hunting
areas are around the urban areas. He thought that most of the bow
hunters would take advantage of the special seasons so they didn't
have to compete with the rifle hunters at the same time. It would
still be revenue positive because the cost of administering the
program would be proportional to the number of licenses sold.
There would be a month of a clerk typist at the most. The rest of
the costs are directly proportional to the number of tags sold.
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE explained an amendment to page 2, line 7 would
add "in a special bow hunting area or seasons" after "a person may
not engage in bow hunting".
SENATOR LEMAN moved that language as an amendment.
SENATOR ZHAROFF asked if it was necessary to put in "or season" if
you're going to have a special bow hunting area? REPRESENTATIVE
BUNDE replied that he had hoped to have special bow hunting seasons
in the future. For example on the Kenai Peninsula when they had a
prerifle season that was for archery.
TAPE 94-14, SIDE B
Number 588
SENATOR MILLER asked if there were objections to the amendment.
There was some discussion and he announced they would send the bill
to the drafters and get it back as a CS and schedule it for action
on Monday.
SENATOR MILLER adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
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