Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
04/03/2023 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Consideration of Governor Appointees | |
| HB103 | |
| SB78 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 103 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 78 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
April 3, 2023
3:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel, Co-Chair
Senator Bill Wielechowski, Vice Chair
Senator Scott Kawasaki
Senator James Kaufman
Senator Forrest Dunbar
Senator Matt Claman
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONSIDERATION OF GOVERNOR APPOINTEES
Board of Fisheries
Stanley Zuray - Tanana
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Big Game Commercial Services Board
Larry Kunder - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
HOUSE BILL NO. 103
"An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska Minerals
Commission."
- MOVED HB 103 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 78
"An Act relating to hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses for
certain nonresident postsecondary students; and providing for an
effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 103
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND ALASKA MINERALS COMMISSION
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CRONK
03/08/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/08/23 (H) RES
03/20/23 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/20/23 (H) Moved HB 103 Out of Committee
03/20/23 (H) MINUTE(RES)
03/22/23 (H) RES RPT 7DP
03/22/23 (H) DP: MEARS, DIBERT, MCCABE, SADDLER,
WRIGHT, RAUSCHER, MCKAY
03/29/23 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/29/23 (H) VERSION: HB 103
03/31/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/31/23 (S) RES
04/03/23 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 78
SHORT TITLE: HUNT/FISH LICENSE FOR NONRESIDENT STUDENT
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) WILSON
02/24/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/24/23 (S) RES, FIN
04/03/23 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
STANLEY ZURAY, Appointee
Board of Fisheries
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)
Nenana, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the Board of
Fisheries.
MONTE ROBERTS, President
Kenai River Professional Guides Association (KRPGA)
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the appointment of
Stanley Zuray to the Board of Fisheries.
SHANNON MARTIN, Executive Director
Kenai River Sport fishing Association
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the appointment of
Stanley Zuray to the Board of Fisheries.
LARRY KUNDER, Appointee
Big Game Commercial Services Board
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the Big Game
Commercial Services Board.
DAVID STANCLIFF, Staff
Representative Mike Cronk
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced HB 103 on behalf of the sponsor.
SENATOR DAVID WILSON, District N
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 78.
GINA ESKOLA, Staff
Senator David Wilson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sectional analysis for SB 78
on behalf of the sponsor.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:30:19 PM
CO-CHAIR CLICK BISHOP called the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Dunbar, Wielechowski, Claman, Co-Chair
Giessel, and Co-Chair Bishop. Senators Kaufman and Kawasaki
arrived immediately thereafter.
^CONSIDERATION OF GOVERNOR APPOINTEES
CONSIDERATION OF GOVERNOR APPOINTEES
BOARD OF FISHERIES
BIG GAME COMMERCIAL SERVICES BOARD
3:31:33 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of Governor
Appointees to Boards and Commissions. He read the following
description:
The board consists of 7 members appointed by Governor
on the basis of interest in public affairs, good
judgment, knowledge, and ability in the field of
action of the board, and with a view to providing
diversity of interest and points of view in the
membership. Members must be residents of the state,
appointed without regard to political affiliation or
geographical location of residence.
3:32:31 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI joined the meeting.
CO-CHAIR BISHOP invited Stanley Zuray to testify.
3:32:56 PM
STANLEY ZURAY, Appointee, Board of Fisheries, Alaska Department
of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Nenana, Alaska, stated that he
relocated to Alaska in 1973 to live on a salmon spawning stream
in the remote Alaska wilderness. His occupations in Alaska
include trapping, running an in-stream chum salmon incubation
program, subsistence fisherman, commercial fisherman, and fish
wheel contractor for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. In the
early 1990s he began looking into the declining size and numbers
of chum salmon and the fungal infection ichthyophonosis. He
recounted his extensive volunteer work on various boards and
advisory committees. He has worked as a mechanic and equipment
operator in Tanana since the collapse of the Yukon River salmon
runs. He is happily married and has eight grandchildren.
3:35:42 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP asked if he was on the trail or at home.
MR. ZURAY replied that he was home but earlier he was working on
the river.
CO-CHAIR BISHOP asked if there were questions.
3:36:10 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked how he feels about the trawl industry
that is fishing beyond the regulatory range of the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and the Board of Fish.
MR. ZURAY expressed concern about hatcheries, Asian in
particular, that compete with wild stocks, the bycatch in the
federal pollack fishery, and the small fish numbers in the
Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim (AYK) area and beyond.
3:38:07 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP opened public testimony on Stanley Zuray.
3:38:42 PM
MONTE ROBERTS, President, Kenai River Professional Guides
Association (KRPGA), Soldotna, Alaska, stated that he met Mr.
Zuray at the last BOF meeting and particularly appreciated his
remarks related to subsistence issues. He represented a view
that isn't seen often on the board. His experience with
subsistence fishing was crucial in the deliberations. He
concluded his comments stating that KRPGA supports the
confirmation of Stanley Zuray to the Board of Fisheries.
3:39:45 PM
SHANNON MARTIN, Executive Director, Kenai River Sportfishing
Association, Soldotna, Alaska, expressed support on behalf of
the Kenai River Sportfishing Association for the appointment of
Stanley Zuray to the Board of Fisheries. During the recent fin
fish meeting he demonstrated a solid understanding of Alaska's
diverse fisheries. His judgements were balanced and considered
all stakeholders and fishery managers.
3:40:34 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP closed public testimony.
3:40:48 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP turned to the Big Game Commercial Services Board
and read the following description:
The board consists of 9 members 8 appointed by
Governor: 2 members who are licensed registered guide-
outfitters; 2 members who are licensed transporters, 1
member of the Board of Game chosen by the Board of
Game and who does not hold a guide or transport
license, 2 members who represent private landholders
affected by guided hunting or transportation
activities/services and who do not hold a license
under this board, and 2 public members.
He invited Larry Kunder to testify.
3:41:50 PM
LARRY KUNDER, Appointee, Big Game Commercial Services Board,
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
(DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska, stated that he moved to Alaska in
2005 to further his career as an electrician. He enjoys the
bountiful outdoors that Alaska offers. He was asked to serve in
the public seat for this board and he was honored to give back
in this way. He recounted his extensive memberships and
volunteer work to help conservation. What he brings to the board
is a care for the animals and commitment to follow the rules and
regulations so that the animals always have a "fair shake" and
this renewable resource continues. He has two grown children and
owns an electrical contracting business.
3:43:25 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP opened public testimony on Larry Kunder; finding
none, he closed public testimony.
3:43:43 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL stated the Senate Resources Standing Committee
has reviewed the qualifications of the following Governor's
appointees and recommends that their names be forwarded to a
joint session for consideration:
Board of Fisheries
Stanley Zuray - Nenana
Big Game Commercial Services Board
Larry Kunder - Anchorage
Signing the reports regarding appointments to boards and
commissions in no way reflects individual members' approval or
disapproval of the appointees; the nominations are merely
forwarded to the full legislature for confirmation or rejection.
CO-CHAIR BISHOP stated that the names would be forwarded to the
joint session.
HB 103-EXTEND ALASKA MINERALS COMMISSION
3:44:25 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO.
103 "An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska
Minerals Commission."
He stated that this is the first hearing but the committee heard
the companion, SB 90. He invited Mr. Stancliff to present the
bill.
3:44:45 PM
DAVID STANCLIFF, Staff, Representative Mike Cronk, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that he began reviewing
commissions that were sunsetting in 1981, and he was impressed
when he reviewed this one. The commission is dedicated, produces
good work product, and is highly thought of. If there's a needle
in the haystack, he said he can't find it.
CO-CHAIR BISHOP found no questions.
3:45:59 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP opened public testimony on HB 103; finding none,
he closed public testimony.
3:46:24 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL moved to report HB 103, work order 33-LS0580\A,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
3:46:38 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP found no objection and HB 103 was reported from
the Senate Resources Standing Committee.
SB 78-HUNT/FISH LICENSE FOR NONRESIDENT STUDENT
3:46:42 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.
78 "An Act relating to hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses
for certain nonresident postsecondary students; and providing
for an effective date."
He invited the sponsor to introduce the bill.
3:47:05 PM
SENATOR DAVID WILSON, District N, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 78 introduced the legislation
speaking to the sponsor statement:
Senate Bill 78 adds a new non-resident student
hunting, fishing, and trapping license. Upon passage
of this legislation, a non-resident student enrolled
in classes part time, as determined by their school,
can purchase a license at resident cost. This does not
change any regulations or the cost of tags.
Research shows hunting and fishing have declined since
the 1960s. As the percentage of the population that
hunts, fishes, and traps declines, so does our
conservation funding. Conservation funding by federal
statutes (Pittman-Robertson Act, Dingell-Johnson Act,
Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, etc.) is directly
tied to excise taxes on things like ammunition,
firearms, archery and fishing equipment. These taxes
are then distributed to the states' fish and game
departments for conservation and management efforts.
To access these federal dollars, the states must match
the funding, Alaska does so by utilizing the revenue
from hunting and fishing licenses. The direct
correlation between our hunters and our conservation
ability cannot be overlooked. It is critical that we
encourage younger generations to participate in these
wonderful outdoor activities. While COVID saw an
uptick in licensees due to indoor activity closures,
we cannot rely on a pandemic to increase
participation.
Though hunting and fishing may not be easy hobbies to
pick up, an additional financial burden may make it
even harder. Many younger students who might be
interested in learning how to hunt and fish are also
trying to pay for college life. Lowering the license
cost non-resident students pay may encourage them to
go hunting and fishing with their fellow residents.
3:51:33 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL asked him to clarify that these students would
be enrolled in Alaska post-secondary institutions.
SENATOR WILSON confirmed that the students would be enrolled in
a postsecondary school in Alaska. He directed attention to the
language in Section 2, page 2, line 5 that identifies an
individual who is enrolled as a student either half- or full-
time at a postsecondary institution described under AS
14.43.830(a). This statute identifies a qualified post-secondary
school for purposes of qualifying for a state loan.
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL asked for confirmation that the license program
would apply only to students enrolled on the ground in Alaska.
SENATOR WILSON confirmed they would need to be enrolled in
Alaska's higher education system.
3:53:41 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI offered his understanding that if the bill were
to pass, a non-resident student who is enrolled at UAF would be
entitled to a hunting, fishing, or trapping license at the
resident price, so the cost would be less.
SENATOR WILSON said that's correct. A resident hunting and
fishing license costs $60, whereas the cost is $260 for a non-
resident.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked whether these students would be entitled
to a fishing and hunting license under the indigent
circumstances provision in statute.
SENATOR WILSON offered his understanding that those exceptions
only apply to residents.
CO-CHAIR BISHOP suggested he follow up with the specifics.
SENATOR WILSON said the ADF&G webpage that talks about the cost
of licenses does not list an income-based hunting and fishing
license for non-residents.
3:55:37 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked whether the proposed license for non-
resident students would qualify them to become a personal use
fisher in the dipnet fishery.
SENATOR WILSON said no; these individuals would not be eligible
for those activities.
SENATOR CLAMAN expressed concern about including half-time
students. He said he periodically hears about individuals taking
a surprisingly small number of classes and still receiving
student status.
SENATOR WILSON said he and the commissioner discussed that
possibility and that's the reason half-time student is
specified. Somebody couldn't qualify by enrolling in a "quick
online class." He paraphrased the definition for financial aid
programs for post-secondary students.
3:58:51 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked how half-time student and fulltime student
are defined in AS 14.43.160.
3:59:39 PM
At ease
3:59:46 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP reconvened the meeting.
SENATOR WILSON read the definition of half-time student in AS
14.43.160:
(4) "half-time student" means an undergraduate,
graduate, or career education student who, during the
semester, is enrolled and is in regular attendance at
classes at one or more public or private institutions
of higher education for six to 11 semester credit
hours or an equivalent of six to 11 semester credit
hours, and includes a career education student
enrolled and in regular attendance in classes for 15
hours a week or a graduate student who is enrolled and
is in regular attendance at classes for the equivalent
of six to eight semester hours of credit or the
equivalent;
4:00:43 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the intent was to include half-
time students who live out-of-state and enroll in online courses
or if there's a requirement for the students to live in Alaska
while attending school.
SENATOR WILSON referenced the definition that specifies that the
individual has to be enrolled in a school or university that is
physically located in Alaska.
CO-CHAIR BISHOP observed that that definition didn't say the
individual must be domiciled in Alaska.
SENATOR WILSON agreed then added that the idea was that the
individual would not live in Alaska fulltime. Maintaining their
out-of-state residency may be required for their scholarship or
other financial benefit. They are still contributing to this
state by living here part-time and going to school.
4:02:21 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked whether a student had to be enrolled in
an Alaska post-secondary institution at the time that they apply
for a license.
SENATOR WILSON answered that the individual would need to be
enrolled at the time they apply for the license.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked whether foreign students would qualify.
SENATOR WILSON said no.
4:04:06 PM
GINA ESKOLA, Staff, Senator David Wilson, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the sectional analysis
for SB 78 on behalf of the sponsor.
Section 1: Amends the section to include the new
nonresident postsecondary student license.
Section 2: Adds a new subsection allowing for
nonresident students who are enrolled half-time or
part-time in postsecondary education to purchase a
special nonresident postsecondary student license for
sport fishing, hunting, or trapping at the same cost
as a resident license.
Section 3: Provides uncodified law that allows the
Department of Fish and Game to adopt regulations to
implement to the new license.
Section 4: Provides for an effective date.
Section 5: Provides for an effective date.
4:05:02 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP opened public testimony on SB 78; finding none,
he closed public testimony and held the bill in committee.
4:06:24 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Co-Chair Bishop adjourned the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting at 4:06 p.m.