Legislature(2021 - 2022)ADAMS 519
02/28/2022 02:30 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB64 | |
| HB30 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 64 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 64
"An Act relating to regional fishery development
associations; and relating to developing fishery
management assessments."
2:41:42 PM
Co-Chair Merrick noted the bill had been previously heard
on February 2.
FATE PUTMAN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE LOUISE STUTES, relayed
that the bill would establish regional fishery development
associations to allow for the development of fishery
management assessments in order to support the growth of
new and developing fisheries. He explained that regional
fishery development association fisheries were perspective
fisheries within geographic regions of the state not
currently regulated by the Commercial Fisheries Entry
Commission (CFEC). In the case of new and developing
fisheries, the funding was there to help the fisheries get
started and to conduct surveys and assessments in order for
the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to open the
fisheries. He highlighted that the bill created a mechanism
to fund the management and new development of fisheries and
allowed for the creation of regional fishery development
associations. He described the associations as nonprofit
organizations representing the fishery stakeholders that
may elect to levy an assessment upon themselves to help pay
for the studies.
Co-Chair Merrick OPENED public testimony.
2:43:14 PM
AT EASE
2:44:38 PM
RECONVENED
JERRY MCCUNE, CORDOVA DISTRICT FISHERMAN UNITED, JUNEAU,
testified in support of the bill. He detailed the
organization had worked with the bill sponsor to develop a
bill that would finance new fisheries. He explained that
due to the budget crisis DFG did not have the funding to
address every new fishery. He detailed that the bill would
enable the financing of some wintertime fisheries in
Cordova including sea cucumbers, crab, and potentially a
new herring fishery near Cape Suckling. The organization
was exploring whether it was possible to generate work in
the winter for fishermen.
PHIL DOHERTY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOUTHEAST ALASKA REGIONAL
DIVE FISHERIES ASSOCIATION (SARDFA), KETCHIKAN (via
teleconference), testified in support of the bill. He
relayed that SARDFA was the only fishing association that
was set up "such as under HB 64." He stated the association
had been working under its own legislative rules since
1998. The funds had been generated to allow dive fisheries
in Southeast Alaska to help pay the State of Alaska for
management of three species including sea cucumbers, sea
urchins, and geoduck clams. He explained that monies
generated from the fisheries paid DFG for its management
and assessment. He reported the three fisheries combined
had a vessel value of $15 million. He elaborated that
SARDFA had been started because at the time, DFG did not
have the funds to conduct management or assessment of the
three dive fisheries. The method had worked very well. He
relayed the fisheries were ongoing throughout the winter
and employed 70 to 100 divers, crew members, boats, and
companies.
WES HUMBYRD, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), shared that
he was a commercial fisherman in all different species of
fisheries. He relayed he is a member of the Cook Inlet
Drift Association and noted there was also aquaculture in
Cook Inlet. He stated that a 2 percent tax was taken from
Cook Inlet fishermen and the fishermen did not get anything
back. He hoped that if the bill passed, the legislature
would make certain the fishery saw some type of recovery
from the tax. He relayed that he had friends who fished in
Bristol Bay, Cook Inlet, and other areas in the state. He
reported one of his friends made $300,000 fishing in
Bristol Bay the previous year. He suggested going back to
an income tax and giving some of the generated funds to DFG
to enable it to do its job. He had worked for DFG years
back and recalled hearing the state had no money. He
implored the legislature to figure out a way to get money
without taxing the people if they were not going to get
anything back from it. He stressed the Cook Inlet fishery
did not get anything back from the tax it paid into
aquaculture. He provided a personal example related to
taxes. He emphasized that people coming to Alaska and
generating revenue from the different fisheries needed to
start paying something. He saw where the bill could work
for certain fisheries.
2:50:33 PM
Co-Chair Merrick CLOSED public testimony.
Mr. Putman noted there was an individual available online
to answer any questions.
Co-Chair Merrick noted Representative Wool and
Representative Thompson had joined the meeting.
2:51:32 PM
AT EASE
2:51:41 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Foster MOVED to REPORT CSHB 64(FSH) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes.
CSHB 64(FSH) was REPORTED out of committee with five "do
pass" recommendations and four "no recommendation"
recommendations and with one previously published zero
fiscal note: FN3 (DFG); and two previously published
indeterminate fiscal notes: FN4 (DFG) and FN5 (REV).
2:52:07 PM
AT EASE
2:53:19 PM
RECONVENED
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 30 Rep. LeBon Amd A.2.pdf |
HFIN 2/28/2022 2:30:00 PM |
HB 30 |