00 HOUSE BILL NO. 489                                                                                                    
01 "An Act relating to the transponders on commercial fishing vessels; and providing                                       
02 for an effective date."                                                                                                 
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04    * Section 1.  AS 16.05 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                 
05  Sec. 16.05.535.  Transponder required.  (a)  A person may not use, employ,                                          
06 or operate a vessel in a commercial fishery unless the vessel is equipped with a                                        
07 transponder and the transponder is operating while the vessel is engaged in commercial                                  
08 fishing.  In this subsection,                                                                                           
09   (1)  "overall length" means the straight line length between the                                                     
10 extremities of the vessel excluding anchor rollers;                                                                     
11   (2)  "vessel" means a vessel that has an overall length of more than 25                                              
12 feet and that is licensed under AS 16.05.490 to engage in commercial fishing.                                           
13  (b)  The Board of Fisheries may adopt regulations that the board finds helpful                                        
14 to implement this section.                                                                                              
01    * Sec. 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 1999.