Legislature(2023 - 2024)ADAMS 519
05/04/2023 01:30 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Adjourn | |
| Start | |
| SB98 | |
| SB25 | |
| HB125 | |
| HB38 | |
| HB81 |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 25 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 125 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 81 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 98 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 38 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 125
"An Act relating to trapping cabins on state land; and
relating to trapping cabin permit fees."
2:40:44 PM
Co-Chair Foster asked the bills sponsor to provide a brief
recap.
2:41:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TOM MCKAY, SPONSOR, gave a brief summary of
the bill. He thanked the committee for the prior discussion
on the bill and asked for members support. He commented
that the legislation provided common sense reform to the
current statutes related to Trapping Cabin Construction
Permits (TCCP).
2:41:57 PM
TREVOR JEPSEN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY, offered a
PowerPoint Presentation titled "HB 125 Highlights" dated
April 27, 2023 (copy on file). He turned t0 slide 2 titled
Trapping Cabin Permit Process:
Trapping cabin permits currently issued under two
statutes:
AS 38.95.075 Permits for the Use of Trapping
Cabins
AS 38.95.080 Trapping Cabin Construction Permits
Statutes create unnecessary confusion in permitting
process and restricts DNR from permitting cabins under
certain scenarios.
Mr. Jepsen elaborated that the bill combined both
authorization types under one statute. He discussed slide 3
titled AS 38.95.075 Permits for the Use of Trapping
Cabins:
AS 38.95.075 states how the DNR issues permits for
cabins that already exist.
Issue arises with cabins that have lapsed in
ownership/use or have been abandoned.
DNR unable to issues new trapping cabin permits in
these scenarios.
Mr. Jepsen continued that under the current statute, the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was unable to permit
many existing cabins on state land due to the restrictive
language of AS 38.95.075, which required proof of use of an
existing cabin prior to August 1, 1984. He moved to slide 4
titled AS 38.95.080 Trapping Cabin Construction
Permits:
AS 38.95.080 authorizes the DNR issues permits for the
construction of new trapping cabins.
1. The person must have an established trapline with
proof of regular use;
2. The person must have a trapline of sufficient length
to justify the need for cabin construction.
38.95.080 also outlines responsibilities of the
department and additional requirements and restrictions
for trapping cabin construction permits.
Mr. Jepsen delineated that the bill combined both
authorization types under one statute providing more
consistency and clarity. He reviewed slide 5 titled HB 125
Highlights:
HB 125 revises AS 38.95.080 (Trapping Cabin
Construction Permits) to include all trapping cabin
permit situations and repeals AS 38.95.075 (Permits
for the Use of Trapping Cabins)
Allows the DNR to permit existing cabins on state
lands.
Updates application fee schedule and sets all related
fees in statute.
Provides further clarity than current statute for
issuing trapping cabin permits.
HB 125 was the result of the House Resources Committee
working with DNR and the Alaska Trappers Association.
Mr. Jepsen pointed out that HB 125 allowed DNR to permit
existing cabins on state lands for trapping if the
applicant did not build a cabin without permission and
demonstrated that they actively used a trapline that
necessitated the use of a cabin for safety purposes. He
emphasized that the bill did not grant exclusive rights to
existing cabins and the department could also issue
multiple permits for the same cabin. The permits for
existing and new cabins do not represent a disposal of
interest or granted preference rights to a future lease or
purchase of land. In addition, the cabins must solely be
used for trapping activities, were for seasonal use only,
and a permittee was prohibited from residing in a trapping
cabin. The department may not impose additional land use
fees.
2:44:36 PM
Representative Josephson asked how many total cabins
currently existed. MR. Jepsen answered that there were 83
active trapping cabins and believed that more existed. He
deferred to DNR for further answer.
2:45:14 PM
MEGAN HILLGARTNER, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGER, DIVISION OF
MINING, LAND AND WATER, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
(via teleconference), responded that there were currently
83 permitted cabins and 12 were pre-statehood cabins.
Representative Josephson asked how many would be
grandfathered in under HB 125. Ms. Hillgartner asked what
Representative Josephson meant by grandfathered. She
wondered whether he meant how many cabins would be able to
be permitted under the proposal. Representative Josephson
responded in the affirmative and added that it was his
understanding that additional cabins would be added that
DNR was not aware of. Ms. Hillgartner responded that the 83
cabins were currently permitted. Currently, there was not a
way to know how many trappers would want to use the
existing cabins. Representative Josephson asked if the
cabins were not available to a non-trapper for recreational
use. Mr. Jepsen responded in the affirmative and noted that
the trapper would also have to prove a specific set of
criteria including proof of an existing trapline and that
it necessitated use of a cabin.
Co-Chair Foster moved to the discussion of the fiscal note.
2:47:55 PM
Ms. Hillgartner reviewed the fiscal impact fiscal note FN1
(DNR). She pointed to the control code ggCOj prepared on
03/24/2023. She indicated that the bill revised AS
38.95.080 and repealed AS 38.95.075 that provided for the
issuance of permits for the construction and use of
trapping cabins on state land. The department currently
charged a fee of $160 for an application and $240 for an
annual trapping cabin authorization issued under AS
38.95.075 for an existing cabin. She delineated that the
application fee is $400 and $10 for an annual fee and the
use fee is set at $10 under AS 38.95.080 for the
construction of new cabins. On average the department
issues one authorization under AS 38.95.075 and nine
authorizations under AS 38.95.080 annually. For
authorizations under AS 38.95.080 the department collected
all annual fees for the ten-year permit at once. She
calculated that the revenue amounted to $4,900 per year.
Under the proposed legislation, the application fee would
be set at $100, and the annual use fee set at $25. The
department expected some revenue loss resulting from the
bill. However, the department supported the bill because it
clarified the trapping cabin statutes.
2:50:12 PM
Representative Josephson asked if in a typical year most of
the 83 cabins were unused. Ms. Hillgartner answered that
most of the trapping cabin permits were for the
construction of new cabins. The current statute restricted
the use of existing cabins by requiring proof of use prior
to August 1, 1984.
2:51:28 PM
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony on HB 125.
2:52:01 PM
PETER BUIST, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), shared
his prior work and life experience. He testified in support
of HB 125. He thanked the committee for hearing the bill.
He felt that the bill was important to trappers in rural
areas. He reported that many years ago, he helped craft the
original trapper cabin bill and draft the original
regulations. He thought the bill addressed many of the
problems that had come up over the years and was a tribute
to the collaborative efforts of legislators, trappers, and
DNR. He believed that the bill reduced the administrative
burden, reduced DNR trespass problems in rural areas, and
kept the trapper cabin program viable. He urged the
committee to support the bill.
2:53:59 PM
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony.
2:54:22 PM
Representative Cronk MOVED to report CS HB 125 (RES) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
HB 125 was REPORTED out of committee with nine "do pass"
recommendations and one amend recommendation and with one
previously published fiscal impact note: FN1 (DNR).
2:55:03 PM
Representative McKay thanked the committee for its
consideration.
2:55:43 PM
AT EASE
3:01:11 PM
RECONVENED
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 81 Sectional Analysis .pdf |
HFIN 5/4/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 3/21/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 81 |
| HB 81 Supporting Documents.pdf |
HFIN 5/4/2023 1:30:00 PM |
HB 81 |
| HB 81 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HFIN 5/4/2023 1:30:00 PM STRA 3/21/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 81 |
| SB25 Fund Backup Information - LFD Presentation extract 050423.pdf |
HFIN 5/4/2023 1:30:00 PM |
SB 25 |
| HB 125 Public Testimony Rec'd by 050423.pdf |
HFIN 5/4/2023 1:30:00 PM |
HB 125 |