HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 19, 1997 1:40 P.M. TAPE HFC 97 - 33, Side 1, #000 - #520. CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Gene Therriault called the House Finance Committee meeting to order at 1:40 P.M. PRESENT Co-Chair Hanley Representative Grussendorf Co-Chair Therriault Representative Kohring Representative Davies Representative Martin Representative Davis Representative Moses Representative Foster Representative Mulder Representative Kelly was not present for the meeting. ALSO PRESENT Representative Jeannette James; Carol Carroll, Director, Division of Administrative Services, Department of Natural Resources; David Stancliff, Staff, Representative Scott Ogan; Michele Drummond, Alaska Environmental Lobby (AEL), Kodiak; Wayne Regelin, Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Fish and Game; Patrick Kalen, President, American Congress On Surveying & Mapping, Fairbanks. SUMMARY HB 17 An Act establishing the Department of Natural Resources as the platting authority in certain areas of the state; relating to subdivisions and dedications; and providing for an effective date. CS HB 17 (RES) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a fiscal note by the Department of Natural Resources dated 1/31/97. HB 26 An Act relating to big game tags for wolves; and providing for an effective date. HB 26 was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a fiscal note by the Department of Fish and Game dated 1/31/97. 1 HOUSE BILL 17 "An Act establishing the Department of Natural Resources as the platting authority in certain areas of the state; relating to subdivisions and dedications; and providing for an effective date." REPRESENTATIVE JEANNETTE JAMES noted that last year HB 17 was HB 80 which died in the rush of adjournment. She commented that work on the legislation over the last several years has molded the bill into one that has no opposition. Representative James advised that the proposed legislation is supported by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), surveyors and all impacted classes of people. HB 17 would bring all of the unorganized boroughs under the purview of DNR as pertaining to platting of real estate. The bill would also clean up the definition problems by defining the word "subdivision" so that all agencies use the same terminology. The Department has specified a time frame in which the plat must be approved or disapproved. If the review is not completed in a timely manner, the plat would be approved by default. Representative James proceeded to address the changes made to the original legislation in the committee substitute. Representative Grussendorf asked if the boroughs and municipalities had been contacted regarding impact of the legislation. Representative James noted that the process would not affect the boroughs or municipalities because they already have their own rules. The only ones affected would be the ones with no platting authority. The law would be relative to a new borough or municipality and the language of the bill would include University lands. She concluded, the purpose of the legislation would be to meet State requirements for monumentation, review and legal access. Representative Foster asked how the legislation would affect patented mining claims. Representative James understood that if at this time they are doing it, they would not have to provide legal access. Under the DNR purview and the proposed legislation, legal access would be required. She advised that the legislation would cover all lands where there is no other platting authority. PATRICK KALEN, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN CONGRESS ON SURVEYING AND MAPPING (ACSM), FAIRBANKS, spoke in support of the proposed legislation. The original bill appeared before the Legislature in 1976. ACSM initially forbade the Department from implementing engineering standards. He commended Representative James for creating a "good" piece of 2 legislation and one which ACSM supports. Representative Foster noted that the fiscal note indicates that revenues raised would pay for the Lands Surveyor Assistant II position. He voiced concern that living in an unorganized borough, those funds would be going to the General Fund. His fear was with future budget cuts, the permitting process would be slowed down. Mr. Kalen replied that a 45 day time limit for filing would be installed. Co-Chair Therriault pointed out that Page #4, Line #3, clarifies that language noting the 45 day filing time limit and that, "the Commissioner 'shall' approve the plat or return it". Co-Chair Therriault asked the difference between last year's fiscal note and the current one. Representative James explained, last year's fiscal note had indicated $64 thousand dollars in receipts and expenses; the current fiscal note requests $73.3 thousand dollars with a start-up request of $21.3 thousand dollars. CAROL CARROLL, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, added that the difference between the two notes was directly related to personal services and the funding of the Land Surveyor II position. She was not aware of the position funding requested last year. Representative James pointed out that as the costs have risen, the permit fee was increased. Representative G. Davis asked if the fee would be adjustable depending on the actual costs. Representative James noted that the fee would cover the expenses. Representative J. Davies pointed out that the fees would be received as General Fund receipts. If there were $70 thousand dollars General Fund receipts, under present budget operations, a $70 thousand dollars would need to be cut elsewhere in the budget. Representative James agreed, although, countered that legal challenges addressing subdivisions could "eat" that amount up quickly. She believed that the legislation would provide a savings over the long term. Representative J. Davies commented for the record that this type of receipt should be categorized as designated program receipts so that no other service would be cut from another program. Representative Martin MOVED to report CS HB 17 (RES) out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was 3 so ordered. CS HB 17 (RES) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a fiscal note by the Department of Natural Resources dated 1/31/97. HOUSE BILL 26 "An Act relating to big game tags for wolves; and providing for an effective date." DAVID STANCLIFF, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT OGAN, noted that HB 26 addresses the need to provide wildlife specialists with the proper management tools in areas identified as needing intense management. In light of Ballot Initiative #3 being approved, he suggested that it was more important to pass HB 26. Without sufficient latitude, it would be difficult for the Department of Fish and Game and the Board of Game to meet the requirements of sustained yield management under Article VIII of the State Constitution. Mr. Stancliff continued, to maintain a healthy population of moose, caribou, and sheep for both human and natural harvest, the Department and Board of Game have few choices once hunting has been reduced or eliminated. HB 26 would provide increased incentives for non-resident hunters who consider the purchase of a big game tag to harvest wolves. Those hunters are generally under the supervision of a professional guide which requires a more closely monitored entry into the field. Together with more stringent reporting requirements of animals both taken and shipped, would provide the Department a well controlled tool in attaining the scientifically established population goals for a given area. He noted, of the 10,000 nonresident who typically hunt in Alaska annually, less than 3% purchase tags for harvesting a wolf. The main reason for low tag sales is that the opportunity to harvest a wolf is remote. Consequently, most hunters are unwilling to pay a large sum of money with such poor odds. Mr. Stancliff thought that by establishing a more reasonable price on tags, the Department should see a significant rise in sales placing more dollars into the Fish and Game Fund while also increasing the incidental take of wolves. He concluded that HB 26 would provide a wider latitude for the Board of Game in making adjustments to meet the needs of both human and secondary utilization of our important ungulate resources while increasing the revenues for better management. Mr. Stancliff urged the Committee's support of the legislation. 4 In response to Representative Therriault's query, Mr. Stancliff responded that the fees would be applicable to resident and resident non-aliens. The legislation would reduce the fee for non-resident hunters from $175 to $30 dollars, reducing big game fee wolf tag fee for non- residents from $250 to $50 dollars. He noted at this time, there is no fee for residents. Co-Chair Therriault asked how the fiscal note had been calculated. Mr. Stancliff replied that last year, consensus had been reached with the Department of Fish and Game, that the requested level not be prohibitive for big game hunters to pick up a tag. The Department attempted to calculate revenues generated if 50% of the non-residents hunters purchased tags. Representative Grussendorf stressed that tags are necessary in order to monitor the harvest of wolves within relationship to the game management. WAYNE REGELIN, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, stated that a count of how many wolves had been harvested would be provided when having the hides sealed. The hide can not be exported out of the State without being sealed and at that time the information being documented. Representative Grussendorf asked if that would be true for State residents. Mr. Regelin advised Representative Grussendorf that there is good reporting of numbers of wolves harvested. He reiterated that in order to export the hides to have them tanned or to be sold, they must be sealed by the Department. The hide can not be sold if it is not sealed. Co-Chair Therriault asked the Department's position on the proposed legislation. Mr. Regelin stated that the Department of Fish and Game supports the legislation. The wolf population in Alaska is under-utilized and the legislation would provide more opportunity to sportsmen to harvest wolves without damage to that population. MICHELE DRUMMOND, ALASKA ENVIRONMENTAL LOBBY (AEL), KODIAK, spoke against the proposed legislation. She informed Committee members that the reduction cost of tag fees for hunting wolves would not increase revenue. She suggested that the bill was clearly a voice against the will of the people and their vote on Proposition #3. Co-Chair Therriault countered that there could be an increase in revenue because the fee would be lower and the 5 tags would be easier to purchase. He added that in his district, Proposition #3 failed. Representative Grussendorf asked if there were any areas within the State where a smaller wolf population exists. Mr. Regelin confirmed that the wolf population throughout Alaska is healthy with between 7,000 and 10,000 wolves in the State. The average yearly harvest is 1,100 wolves. He emphasized that the bill is not a predator control bill. The legislation will provide more opportunity to harvest a resource that is abundant. Mr. Regelin added, the only area of concern would be on the Seward Peninsula. The wolf population there is kept at a lower level because of the reindeer industry. In response to questions by Representative Grussendorf, Mr. Regelin advised that 60-70% of the wolf harvest is taken by trapping. Representative Mulder MOVED to report HB 26 out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HB 26 was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a fiscal note by the Department of Fish and Game dated 1/31/97. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 2:10 P.M. 6