ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE  April 11, 2005 1:05 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Jay Ramras, Co-Chair Representative Ralph Samuels, Co-Chair Representative Jim Elkins Representative Carl Gatto Representative Kurt Olson Representative Paul Seaton Representative Harry Crawford MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Gabrielle LeDoux Representative Mary Kapsner COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE BILL NO. 256 "An Act naming the Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery in Fairbanks." - MOVED HB 256 OUT OF COMMITTEE SENATE BILL NO. 25 "An Act relating to labeling and identification of genetically modified fish and fish products." - MOVED SB 25 OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 251 "An Act authorizing the Board of Fisheries to adopt regulations regarding fishing by a person who holds two entry permits for a salmon fishery." - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 256 SHORT TITLE: RUTH BURNETT SPORT FISH HATCHERY SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) RAMRAS 04/06/05 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/06/05 (H) FSH, RES 04/11/05 (H) FSH AT 8:30 AM CAPITOL 124 04/11/05 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 BILL: SB 25 SHORT TITLE: GENETICALLY MODIFIED FISH SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) ELTON, STEVENS G 01/11/05 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 12/30/04 01/11/05 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/11/05 (S) L&C, RES 02/01/05 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211 02/01/05 (S) -- Meeting Rescheduled to 02/08/05 -- 02/08/05 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211 02/08/05 (S) Moved SB 25 Out of Committee 02/08/05 (S) MINUTE(L&C) 02/09/05 (S) L&C RPT 4DP 1NR 02/09/05 (S) NR: BUNDE 02/09/05 (S) DP: ELLIS, DAVIS, SEEKINS, STEVENS B 02/23/05 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 02/23/05 (S) Moved SB 25 Out of Committee 02/23/05 (S) MINUTE(RES) 02/24/05 (S) RES RPT 4DP 02/24/05 (S) DP: WAGONER, DYSON, STEDMAN, ELTON 03/07/05 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 03/07/05 (S) VERSION: SB 25 03/09/05 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/09/05 (H) FSH, L&C, RES 03/16/05 (H) FSH AT 8:30 AM CAPITOL 124 03/16/05 (H) Moved Out of Committee 03/16/05 (H) MINUTE(FSH) 03/17/05 (H) FSH RPT 5DP 03/17/05 (H) DP: ELKINS, KAPSNER, WILSON, LEDOUX, THOMAS 04/04/05 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17 04/04/05 (H) Moved Out of Committee 04/04/05 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 04/05/05 (H) L&C RPT 4DP 2NR 04/05/05 (H) DP: CRAWFORD, LEDOUX, GUTTENBERG, ANDERSON; 04/05/05 (H) NR: KOTT, ROKEBERG 04/11/05 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 WITNESS REGISTER    JIM POUND, Staff to Representative Jay Ramras Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 256 on behalf of Representative Ramras, sponsor PAULA CADIENTE, Staff to Senator Kim Elton Alaska State Legislature POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 25 on behalf of Senator Elton, Sponsor. ALICE OTTOSON-MCKEEN, Middle School Student Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 25. JERRY MCCUNE United Fisherman of Alaska Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SB 25. ACTION NARRATIVE CO-CHAIR RALPH SAMUELS called the House Resources Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:05:51 PM. Representatives Ramras, Samuels, Elkins, Crawford, Seaton, and Gatto were present at the call to order. Representative Olson arrived as the meeting was in progress. HB 256-RUTH BURNETT SPORT FISH HATCHERY CO-CHAIR SAMUELS announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 256 "An Act naming the Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery in Fairbanks." 1:06:35 PM JIM POUND, Staff to Representative Jay Ramras, Alaska State Legislature, said HB 256 names a fish hatchery in Fairbanks after former Mayor Ruth Burnett, who was key in getting funds for the hatchery. She once worked for Senator Ted Stevens, so through her connections she was able to secure $10 million in federal funding for a sport fish hatchery. CO-CHAIR RAMRAS said the fish hatchery in Fairbanks meets many of the city's economic development goals and improves the quality of life. It will provide facilities for research for the University of Alaska and a tourist destination. He said he knew Ruth Burnett, who recently passed away. 1:09:28 PM CO-CHAIR RAMRAS moved to report HB 256 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 256 was passed out of the House Resources Standing Committee. SB 25-GENETICALLY MODIFIED FISH CO-CHAIR SAMUELS announced that the final order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 25 "An Act relating to labeling and identification of genetically modified fish and fish products." PAULA CADIENTE, Staff to Senator Kim Elton, Alaska State Legislature, presented SB 25 on behalf of Senator Elton and Senator Gary Stevens, co-sponsors. She said the bill requires modified finfish or shellfish sold in Alaska to be identified on the label at the retail level. These fish are also called "FrankenFish," she noted. Currently, a glow-in-the-dark aquarium fish is the only genetically modified fish allowed to be sold in the United States, she said, but an application is pending before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for genetically farmed fish for human consumption. MS. CADIENTE said Atlantic salmon are expected to be the first species slated for genetic modification, she noted, and others would likely follow. A United States and Canadian firm wants to introduce a genetically modified salmon to be sold worldwide. The allure of fast growing fish is economically enticing, she stated, and it is important for Alaska consumers to make informed choices. Required labeling allows marketers of Alaska seafood to "draw a bright line" between natural, wild fish and industrial fish. 1:12:24 PM REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked about page 4, line 5, of SB 25. He said he understands the intent, but the term "not possible" should be exchanged with "highly unlikely." A court case may find a single case of it occurring in nature. MS. CADIENTE answered, "I think that 'not possible under natural conditions' just means not done in the laboratory." ALICE OTTOSON-MCKEEN, Middle-School Student, Juneau, said she was in favor of SB 25. She declared that she wants to know what she is eating. Genetically-modified fish have high levels of mercury and don't taste good, she added. The FDA's failure to require labeling of genetically modified foods is effectively restricting Americans from exercising a right, and subjects individuals to foods they have sound reasons to avoid. "Why not label them?" she asked. She said everyone wants to know what is in their food. 1:16:08 PM JERRY MCCUNE, United Fisherman of Alaska, Juneau, noted today's Anchorage Daily News and New York Times, which reported that retailers and distributors don't know the difference between farmed and wild fish. He said it is in the consumer's interest to have labeling laws, so people know what they are buying. 1:17:24 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report SB 25 out of committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SB 25 was reported out of the House Resources Standing Committee. ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:17:55 PM.