2020-02-12                     House Journal                      Page 1606
HB 247                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 247 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the fish and game fund; establishing the sport                                                         
     fishing enhancement surcharge; relating to the repeal of the sport                                                         
     fishing facility surcharge; providing for an effective date by                                                             
     amending the effective date of sec. 21, ch. 18, SLA 2016; and                                                              
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on                                                          
Fisheries and the Finance Committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Fiscal, Dept. of Fish & Game                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 11 follows:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to sportfish hatchery                                                           
bond surcharges.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This bill would allow the Department of Fish and Game to continue                                                               
collecting a reduced sportfishing license surcharge beyond the date it                                                          
is set to expire. Currently, the sportfishing facility surcharge is                                                             
collected in order to pay off bonds issued to construct the Ruth Burnett                                                        
hatchery in Fairbanks and the William Jack Hernandez hatchery in                                                                
Anchorage. The surcharge also funds Chinook and Coho salmon                                                                     
production for southeast Alaska, which will be lost when the surcharge                                                          
sunsets.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                

2020-02-12                     House Journal                      Page 1607
The statutes authorizing the bonds and the surcharge will sunset on                                                             
January 1 of the calendar year following the repayment of the bond                                                              
obligations, which is anticipated to be later in 2020. This bill would                                                          
retain the statute authorizing the department to collect the surcharge                                                          
but at a reduced rate. The surcharge revenue would be used for                                                                  
ongoing maintenance and repairs at state sport fish hatchery facilities                                                         
as well as enhancement of sport fisheries in southeast Alaska, directly                                                         
benefiting sport anglers. This is an effective way to support economic                                                          
development with only a small remaining surcharge for Alaskan                                                                   
residents, accordingly, I urge your prompt and favorable action on this                                                         
measure.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"