2021-02-18                     House Journal                      Page 0142
HB 80                                                                                                                         
HOUSE BILL NO. 80 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                    
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act establishing the sport fishing hatchery facilities account;                                                        
     establishing the sport fishing facility surcharge; 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 January 28 follows:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Chief Clerk:                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to sportfish hatchery                                                           
bond surcharges.                                                                                                                

2021-02-18                     House Journal                      Page 0143
This bill would allow the Department of Fish and Game to continue to                                                            
collect a sportfishing license surcharge that expired on January 1,                                                             
2021. The expired sportfishing facility surcharge was collected in                                                              
order to pay off bonds issued to construct and renovate two hatcheries.                                                         
The surcharge also funded increases in hatchery production in                                                                   
Southeast Alaska. The statutes authorizing the bonds and the surcharge                                                          
sunsetted following the repayment of the bond obligations, but the                                                              
funds collected provided significant benefits to Alaska's sport fishing                                                         
community. This bill would reinstate statutory authority for the                                                                
department to collect a reduced surcharge to fund ongoing                                                                       
maintenance and operation of the department's sport fishing hatchery                                                            
facilities, so they can continue providing hatchery salmon for sport                                                            
fishing in Southeast Alaska. This is an effective way to support                                                                
economic development with only a small surcharge; accordingly, I                                                                
urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"