04/26/2021 01:30 PM House FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 41                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  relating to management  of enhanced  stocks of                                                                    
     shellfish; authorizing  certain nonprofit organizations                                                                    
     to engage  in shellfish enhancement  projects; relating                                                                    
     to  application fees  for salmon  hatchery permits  and                                                                    
     shellfish  enhancement  project permits;  allowing  the                                                                    
     Alaska  Seafood Marketing  Institute to  market aquatic                                                                    
     farm products; and providing for an effective date."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:02:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick indicated  that HB 41 was heard  in a prior                                                                    
hearing on April 21., 2021.  She reported that there was one                                                                    
amendment by Representative Thompson.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Thompson  withdrew   Amendment  1  (copy  on                                                                    
file).                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:03:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Thompson   MOVED    to   ADOPT   Conceptual                                                                    
Amendment 1 (copy on file):                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     I Move  A Conceptual  Amendment; Sections 7  Through 10                                                                    
     Are Effective Through June 30, 2025.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Thompson explained  that the  bill would  be                                                                    
amended  to  sunset sections  7-10  on  June 30,  2025.  The                                                                    
sections  addressed the  Alaska Seafood  Marketing Institute                                                                    
ASMI portion of the bill.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:03:46 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:08:49 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Thompson   further   explained   Conceptual                                                                    
Amendment 1.  He indicated that the  bill contained sections                                                                    
providing that  ASMI would market aquatic  farm products and                                                                    
that the industry would be  exempt from reparations to ASMI.                                                                    
He relayed  prior testimony  stating the  shellfish industry                                                                    
would be  worth $100 million  in a  few years. He  felt that                                                                    
the  industry  should  have  some   skin  in  the  game  and                                                                    
contribute to ASMIs  marketing.  The sunset date would allow                                                                    
time to revisit  the issue to determine whether  there was a                                                                    
need  to  contribute  for  marketing.  He  shared  that  the                                                                    
fishing industry  contributed .50  percent of  the ex-vessel                                                                    
price through the processors.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:10:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Edgmon   thanked   the   former   fisheries                                                                    
committee  chairman.  He thought  Representative  Thompson's                                                                    
amendment was beneficial and supported it.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick WITHDREW her OBJECTION.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster  MOVED  to  report   CSHB  41(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal notes.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 41(FIN) was REPORTED out  of committee with a "do pass"                                                                    
recommendation  and with  five  previously published  fiscal                                                                    
notes,  two zero  notes: FN1(CED)  and  FN2(DFG); and  three                                                                    
indeterminant  notes:  FN3(DFG),   FN4(GOV/SP  Approp),  and                                                                    
FN5(REV).                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Merrick  reviewed  the agenda  for  the  following                                                                    
meeting.