00HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 301(FIN)                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to the Chitina dip net fishing permit; and providing for an                                            
02 effective date."                                                                                                        
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04    * Section 1.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new                                 
05 section to read:                                                                                                        
06  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS, PURPOSE, AND INTENT.  (a)  The legislature finds that                                            
07   (1)  the Copper River Railroad right-of-way has provided access to the Chitina                                        
08 dip net fishery for nearly 40 years;                                                                                    
09   (2)  the Chitina dip net fishery provides salmon for personal consumption to                                          
10 more than 20,000 Alaskans each year;                                                                                    
11   (3)  disputes over land ownership rights have created access problems in the                                          
12 past; and                                                                                                               
13   (4)  agreements between the State of Alaska and the private landowners in the                                         
14 Chitina dip net fishery area have enabled continuous use of the Copper River Railroad right-                            

01 of-way to provide access to the fishery since 1987.                                                                     
02  (b)  In approving an increase in the Chitina dip net fishing permit fee, the legislature                               
03 recognizes the need to maintain access to the Chitina dip net fishery for more than 20,000                              
04 Alaskans; however, the current agreement between the state and the private landowners expires                           
05 December 31, 2000.  It is the intent of the legislature that (1) the Department of Fish and                             
06 Game enter into a subsequent agreement for access to the fishery by February 28, 2001, with                             
07 the private landholders in the area that will last for three years; and (2) the permit fee is not                       
08 to exceed $25 during the term of the agreement.  Also, during the term of that agreement, the                           
09 Department of Fish and Game is to work with other local, state, and federal agencies to secure                          
10 a long-term solution by a lease, land exchange, or other means.  The Department of Fish and                             
11 Game is to work with private landowners, the Department of Natural Resources, and the                                   
12 Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to identify the portion of the Copper River                          
13 Railroad right-of-way associated with the Chitina dip net fishery, utilizing the most cost-                             
14 efficient methodology available to carry out this intent, the costs of which should be paid from                        
15 the revenues generated from the Chitina dip net fishing permit fee.                                                     
16    * Sec. 2.  AS 16.05.340(a)(22) is amended to read:                                                                 
17   (22)  Chitina [PERSONAL USE SALMON] dip net fishing                                                                  
18 permit  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25  [10]                                   
19  A person who has received a permanent identification card issued under                                               
20 AS 16.05.400(b) may obtain a Chitina dip net fishing permit without charge.                                             
21 The members of the family of a person who has obtained a Chitina dip net fishing                                       
22 permit are not required to have a Chitina dip net fishing permit while they are                                         
23 engaged in dip net fishing at Chitina if they are engaged in fishing in the presence                                    
24 of the person and the person has the Chitina dip net fishing permit in the                                              
25 person's physical possession.  In this paragraph, "family" means persons who are                                        
26 related by blood, marriage, or adoption and who live in the same household on                                           
27 a permanent basis.  The legislature may appropriate the receipts from the sale of                                       
28 the permit to the fish and game fund.                                                                                  
29    * Sec. 3.  This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).