04/12/2000 03:10 PM Senate RES

           HB 114-REPEAL PROHIBITION ANTLERLESS MOOSE                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  HALFORD  announced  that  the  committee  has  held  one                                                              
hearing on  HB 114 and that  the sponsor has prepared  a committee                                                              
substitute (CS).                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. ED GRASSER, legislative aide  to Representative Beverly Masek,                                                              
sponsor  of HB  114, said  that after  working  with the  advisory                                                              
committees  and the  Alaska Department  of Fish  and Game  (ADFG),                                                              
Representative  Masek concluded  that  an outright  repeal of  the                                                              
antlerless  moose provision  of statute  was not  workable so  the                                                              
groups came to  a compromise solution.  The CS  relieves the Board                                                              
of  Game of  the time  and cost  involved  in implementing  annual                                                              
antlerless hunts.   It allows the Board to adopt  regulations that                                                              
are  effective for  up  to two  consecutive  regulatory years  and                                                              
requires a  majority of  local fish  and game advisory  committees                                                              
with jurisdiction to object in writing to stop a hunt.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRASSER  explained that  under the  present statute,  ADFG has                                                              
had  to arrange  a  meeting of  the  advisory  committees to  take                                                              
action before  the Board  could take  action.  Arranging  advisory                                                              
committee meetings  was problematic for ADFG because  many of them                                                              
are in rural Alaska and do not meet often.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR.  MATT ROBUS,  Deputy  Director  of  the Division  of  Wildlife                                                              
Conservation, ADFG, stated support for HB 114.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MACKIE moved to adopt the  proposed CS (1-LS0538\D) as the                                                              
working version  of the committee.   There being no  objection, it                                                              
was so ordered.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN HALFORD  announced that  SCSHB 114(RES)  will need  to be                                                              
accompanied by a resolution to change  the title because the House                                                              
no longer wants  the original title.  He noted  the resolution was                                                              
being prepared.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GREEN moved SCSHB 114(RES)  from committee with individual                                                              
recommendations.  There being no objection, the motion carried.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN   HALFORD  announced   that   SCSHB   114(RES)  and   its                                                              
accompanying resolution moved from committee.