2010-04-01                     Senate Journal                      Page 2062
SB 255                                                                                                                        
The Resources Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 255 "An                                                                      
Act relating to sharing records regarding fish purchased by fish                                                                
processors with certain federal agencies, to requirements to obtain and                                                         
maintain a fisheries business license, and to payment of industry fees                                                          
required of fish processors; and providing for an effective date" and                                                           
recommended the adoption of the following Resources Committee                                                                   
Letter of Intent:                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                               Letter of Intent                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
            The Alaska Legislature recognizes that passage                                                                      
            of SB 255 is a necessary step to enable a planned                                                                   
            permit buyback program in the Southeast Alaska                                                                      
            Salmon Seine fishery to move forward. Further,                                                                      
            while the Legislature recognizes the value of                                                                       
            reducing the number of permits in the Southeast                                                                     
            Salmon Seine fishery, it is also concerned that                                                                     

2010-04-01                     Senate Journal                      Page 2063
            the permit buyback program will not remove                                                                          
            more permits than necessary for the health and                                                                      
            viability of the fishery, nor result in negative                                                                    
            economic impacts to the region or state,                                                                            
            including diminishment of the economic benefits                                                                     
            of the investments that have been made in                                                                           
            Alaska communities.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
            Specifically, the Legislature is passing this                                                                       
            legislation with the understanding, and the                                                                         
            assurance of the Southeast Revitalization                                                                           
            Association, that the permit reduction program                                                                      
            the association seeks to undertake for the                                                                          
            Southeast Alaska Salmon Seine fishery and to                                                                        
            implement through the provisions of this bill will                                                                  
            not reduce the number of permits in that fishery                                                                    
            to less than 260.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Signing do pass: Senator Wielechowski, Cochair; Senators Huggins,                                                               
French, Wagoner. Signing no recommendation: Senator Stevens.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
     Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Revenue                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The bill was referred to the Finance Committee.