2020-02-12                     Senate Journal                      Page 1719
SB 189                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 189 BY THE SENATE 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 Resources and Finance                                                               
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Fish and Game                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 11:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2020-02-12                     Senate Journal                      Page 1720
Dear President Giessel:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
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.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
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