Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
04/14/2021 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB26 | |
| HB98 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 98 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 26-CONFLICT OF INTEREST: BD FISHERIES/GAME
1:06:48 PM
CHAIR PATKOTAK announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 26, "An Act relating to participation in
matters before the Board of Fisheries and the Board of Game by
the members of the respective boards; and providing for an
effective date."
1:07:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR, Alaska State Legislature, noted that
the HB 26 allows conflicted board members to deliberate, but not
vote, on issues in the interest of transparency of the board
process.
1:08:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said that in considering this potential
legislation he reflected on the role of legislative committee
members. He said that he believes that it's important to have
informed input on issues as a matter of public record.
1:09:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK said that he remains confused by HB 26. He
related an experience of hearing testimony against someone who
had a perceived conflict of interest, and opined that HB 26
"actually favors a member testifying," characterizing it as a
"mixed message."
1:10:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER referred to Amendment 1, which failed to
be adopted by the committee, and stated his belief that Resident
Hunters of Alaska (RHAK) "didn't really care one way or the
other about the amendment." He then opined that there is
varying support for HB 26 and expressed his belief that HB 26 is
a Board of Fisheries bill and should not include the Board of
Game. He stated that he cannot support the proposed
legislation.
1:12:51 PM
CHAIR PATKOTAK discussed referencing the official record of
actions by a board when considering actions in the future.
1:14:08 PM
GLENN HAIGHT, Executive Director II, Board of Fisheries, Boards
Support Section, Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G),
explained that, while boards will typically engage in
deliberations and pass proposals or regulations which are very
clear and with specific language, there are occasions during
which deliberations are viewed as litigation. He expressed that
it was unclear to him how HB 26 would impact consideration of
previous deliberations.
CHAIR PATKOTAK asked, "The benefit of having those discussions
and the ability for somebody who might be conceived as having a
conflict to have that discussion and provide that input on the
record isn't going to necessarily affect the outcome of the
vote?"
MR. HAIGHT responded, "It's hard to speculate what a board
member might glean from an informal conversation with a member
who's been recused." He noted that the information would be more
clearly on the record if the conflicted individual was present
to deliberate.
1:16:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK opined that there is nothing wrong with the
system currently in place.
1:17:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR expressed her belief that the benefit of HB
26 would be improved transparency by having deliberations on the
record. She said that she understands the differing
perspectives affecting the Board of Game versus the Board of
Fisheries, but those boards are allocating a common property
resource, and having the same administration is the reason why
they are both included in this proposed legislation.
1:18:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS moved to report HB 26 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
1:19:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVES CRONK and RAUSCHER objected.
1:19:06 PM
CHAIR PATKOTAK invited either Representative Cronk or Rauscher
to speak to their objection.
1:19:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER reiterated his earlier remarks.
1:19:53 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Fields, Hopkins,
Hannan, Schrage, and Patkotak voted in favor of HB 26.
Representatives McKay, Cronk, Rauscher, and Gillham voted
against it. Therefore, HB 26 was reported out of the House
Resources Standing Committee by a vote of 5-4.