2000-02-02                     Senate Journal                      Page 2164
SB 241                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 241 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                              
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
An Act relating to the accounting for and                                     
appropriations of the dive fishery management                                  
assessment; and providing for an effective date.                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance              
Committees.                                                                    
                                                                               
Fiscal note published today from Department of Fish and Game.                  
                                                                               
                                                                               

2000-02-02                     Senate Journal                      Page 2165
SB 241                                                                       
Governors transmittal letter dated February 1:                                 
                                                                               
Dear President Pearce:                                                         
                                                                               
I signed into law in 1997 a bill allowing fishermen to establish               
regional dive fishery associations with the ability to assess                  
themselves to support management and development of their                      
fisheries. By 1999, one association had organized and begun paying             
its self-assessed tax to the state. This bill I transmit today fulfills the    
bargain made with dive fishermen in the 1997 law -- that the state             
ensure the association's self-assessments are used to support the dive         
fisheries.                                                                     
                                                                               
This bill requires dive fishery assessments be accounted for                   
separately and classified as non-general fund revenues. The                    
assessment is levied on the value of fishery resources taken by dive           
gear within specified areas. Current law states the assessment receipts        
may be appropriated to the Department of Fish and Game and                     
qualified development associations to fund research, stock assessment          
and management activities. By accounting for these funds separately            
and allowing them to be appropriated back to the program, the state            
will honor the commitment made by the dive fishermen who voted                 
to tax themselves to pay for more research and management in their             
fishery.                                                                       
                                                                               
This is an excellent example of the fishing industry being willing to          
contribute to paying the cost of commercial fisheries management               
and research and worthy of your support.                                       
                                                                               
					Sincerely,                                                                
					/s/                                                                       
					Tony Knowles                                                              
					Governor