00                       CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 174(RES)                                                                    
01 "An Act relating to commercial fishing permit and vessel license fees; and providing for                                
02 an effective date."                                                                                                     
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 16.05.520(a) is amended to read:                                                                  
05            (a)  The vessel license includes a permanent number plate.  The number plate                                 
06       shall be accompanied by a tab affixed to the number plate [IT] designating the year                           
07       to be fished.  A number plate is not transferable, and the number plate [IT] shall be                         
08       considered a permanent fixture upon the vessel upon which the number plate [IT] is                            
09       originally placed.  The number plate [IT] shall be securely fastened well forward on                          
10       the port side in plain sight.  On a vessel with a superstructure the number plate shall                       
11       be fastened on the port side of the superstructure.  A number plate remains the                                   
12       property of the state.  The Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission may                                  
13       establish by regulation a reasonable fee for the initial issuance of a permanent                              
14       number plate.  If a permanent number plate is accidentally defaced, mutilated,                                
01       destroyed, or lost, the person owning or operating the vessel shall immediately apply                             
02       for and may obtain a duplicate upon furnishing the Alaska Commercial Fisheries                                    
03       Entry Commission with the pertinent facts and a payment of a reasonable fee                                   
04       established by the commission by regulation that is not less than $2.                                         
05    * Sec. 2.  AS 16.05.530 is repealed and reenacted to read:                                                         
06            Sec. 16.05.530.  Renewal of vessel license.   (a)  Upon payment of the vessel                              
07       license fee and filing of the name and address of the owner of the vessel or the owner's                          
08       authorized agent, the name and number of the vessel, a description of the vessel, the                             
09       vessel license number, if any, the area to be fished, and other reasonable information                            
10       required by the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, the commission                                      
11       shall issue a permanent number plate and a vessel license.  If the vessel has a                                   
12       permanent number plate, the commission shall issue a vessel license and tab                                       
13       designating the year the license is valid. The tab shall be placed in the space provided                          
14       on the permanent number plate.                                                                                    
15            (b)  For calendar year 2006 and following years, the annual fee for a vessel                                 
16       license issued or renewed under this section is set according to the overall length, as                           
17       defined by the United States Coast Guard, of the vessel under the following schedule:                             
18                 (1)  0 - 25 feet ................................................................................. $24  
19                 (2)  over 25 feet - 50 feet .................................................................. 60       
20                 (3)  over 50 feet - 75 feet ................................................................ 120        
21                 (4)  over 75 feet - 150 feet .............................................................. 300         
22                 (5)  over 150 feet - 250 feet ............................................................ 600          
23                 (6)  over 250 feet ........................................................................... 900.     
24    * Sec. 3.  AS 16.43.160 is repealed and reenacted to read:                                                         
25            Sec. 16.43.160.  Fees.   (a)  Except as specifically provided in this section, the                         
26       commission shall establish annual fees for the issuance and annual renewal of entry                               
27       permits or interim-use permits.                                                                                   
28            (b)  The commission may charge interest at a rate not to exceed the legal rate                               
29       of interest established in AS 45.45.010 on fees more than 60 days overdue.                                        
30            (c)  For an entry permit or an interim-use permit issued or renewed for                                      
31       calendar year 2006 and following years, the annual base fee for issuance or renewal of                            
01       an entry permit or an interim-use permit may not be less than $30 or more than                                    
02       $3,000.  The annual base fee must reasonably reflect the different rates of economic                              
03       return for different fisheries.  In addition to the annual base fee established by the                            
04       commission under this subsection, a nonresident shall pay an annual nonresident                                   
05       surcharge for the issuance or renewal of one or more entry permits or interim-use                                 
06       permits.  The commission shall establish the annual nonresident surcharge by                                      
07       regulation at an amount that is as close as is practicable to the maximum allowed by                              
08       law.                                                                                                              
09            (d)  For an entry permit or an interim-use permit issued or renewed for                                      
10       calendar year 2006 and following years, the holder of a permit whose household                                    
11       income, assets, and financial resources fall within the eligibility standards for the food                        
12       stamp program under 7 U.S.C. 2011 - 2025, as amended, is subject to an annual base                                
13       fee for the issuance or renewal of an entry permit or an interim-use permit that is equal                         
14       to 50 percent of the annual base fee that the permit holder would otherwise pay under                             
15       (c) of this section.  In addition to the reduced annual base fee under this subsection, a                         
16       nonresident who qualifies for a reduced fee under this subsection shall pay the annual                            
17       nonresident surcharge established under (c) of this section.                                                      
18    * Sec. 4.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                         
19 read:                                                                                                                   
20       VESSEL LICENSE FEES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2005.  (a)   Notwithstanding the                                            
21 repeal and reenactment of AS 16.05.530, by sec. 2 of this Act, the annual license fee for a                             
22 vessel license issued or renewed for calendar year 2005 is set according to the overall length,                         
23 as defined by the United States Coast Guard, of the vessel under the following schedule:                                
24            (1)  0 - 25 feet ............................................................................................
25            (2)  over 25 feet - 50 feet .............................................................................. 50
26            (3)  over 50 feet - 75 feet ............................................................................ 100 
27            (4)  over 75 feet - 150 feet .......................................................................... 250  
28            (5)  over 150 feet - 250 feet ........................................................................ 500   
29            (6)  over 250 feet ....................................................................................... 75
30       (b)  Notwithstanding the repeal and reenactment of AS 16.05.530, by sec. 2 of this                                
31 Act, a vessel license issued or renewed for calendar year 2005 under the former provisions of                           
01 AS 16.05.530 before the effective date of sec. 2 of this Act is valid for the period for which                          
02 the license was issued or renewed.                                                                                      
03    * Sec. 5.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                         
04 read:                                                                                                                   
05       FEES FOR ENTRY PERMITS AND INTERIM-USE PERMITS FOR CALENDAR                                                       
06 YEAR 2005.  (a)  Notwithstanding the repeal and reenactment of AS 16.43.160, by sec. 3 of                               
07 this Act, for an entry permit or an interim-use permit issued or renewed for calendar year                              
08 2005, on or after the effective date of sec. 3 of this Act, the annual base fee may not be less                         
09 than $10 or more than $300.  The annual base fee must reasonably reflect the different rates of                         
10 economic return for different fisheries.  In addition to the annual base fee established by the                         
11 Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission under this subsection, a nonresident shall                                 
12 pay an annual nonresident surcharge for the issuance or renewal of one or more entry permits                            
13 or interim-use permits.  The annual nonresident surcharge shall be established by the                                   
14 commission by regulation at an amount that is as close as is practicable to the maximum                                 
15 allowed by law.                                                                                                         
16       (b)  Notwithstanding the repeal and reenactment of AS 16.43.160, by sec. 3 of this                                
17 Act, for an entry permit or an interim-use permit issued or renewed for calendar year 2005,                             
18 the holder of a permit whose household income, assets, and financial resources fall within the                          
19 eligibility standards for the food stamp program under 7 U.S.C. 2011 - 2025, as amended, is                             
20 subject to a maximum annual base fee that is equal to 50 percent of the annual base fee that                            
21 the permit holder would otherwise pay under (a) of this section.  In addition to the annual base                        
22 fee under this subsection, a nonresident who qualifies for a reduced fee under this subsection                          
23 shall pay an annual nonresident surcharge of $57 for the issuance or renewal of one or more                             
24 entry permits or interim-use permits.                                                                                   
25       (c)  Notwithstanding the repeal and reenactment of AS 16.43.160, by sec. 3 of this                                
26 Act, an entry permit or an interim-use permit issued or renewed for calendar year 2005 under                            
27 the former provisions of AS 16.43.160 before the effective date of sec. 3 of this Act is valid                          
28 for the period for which the entry permit or the interim-use permit was issued or renewed.                              
29    * Sec. 6.  This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).