05/01/2003 03:14 PM House FIN

SENATE BILL NO. 139                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act repealing the termination date of the Alaska                                                                       
     salmon price report program; and providing for an                                                                          
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
IAN FISK, STAFF, REPRSENTATIVE OGG,  spoke in support of the                                                                    
bill.  He  explained that the current bill  would repeal the                                                                    
sunset date  of a Department  of Revenue program  called the                                                                    
Alaska  Salmon   Price  Report  (ASPR),   which  is   in  AS                                                                    
43.80.050. Processors  that sell over one  million pounds in                                                                    
salmon products a year are  required to report the wholesale                                                                    
price  received  for  the  product   to  the  Department  of                                                                    
Revenue.  The Department  publishes the  data three  times a                                                                    
year:  January  31,  May  31, and  September  30.  The  ASPR                                                                    
details monthly  and annual  average wholesale  price sorted                                                                    
by salmon species, product form  and the eight regions where                                                                    
the salmon is produced. The  report provides data helpful to                                                                    
negotiations between  harvesters and  processors.   The ASPR                                                                    
statute  would   sunset  on  July   1,  2003,   without  the                                                                    
legislation.  The  sponsor believes  the  ASPR  should be  a                                                                    
permanent function of the Department of Revenue.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Harris  observed that Representative  Austerman had                                                                    
previously introduced the legislation.   Mr. Fisk noted that                                                                    
the  bill was  successful and  received broad  support.   In                                                                    
response  to a  question  by Co-Chair  Harris, he  confirmed                                                                    
that the proposed  bill merely eliminated the  sunset of the                                                                    
program.   He noted that  the report  was used to  help with                                                                    
the purchase program and had no opposition.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Whitaker referred  to the  zero fiscal  note                                                                    
and expressed support for the legislation.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Croft noted  that  Chair  had expressed  the                                                                    
desire to know  the real cost of boards or  commissions.  He                                                                    
observed  that the  program cost  roughly  $50 thousand  and                                                                    
suggested that  it should be  reflected in the  fiscal note.                                                                    
Mr.  Fisk confirmed  that this  cost estimate  was accurate.                                                                    
They pointed  out that  funding would  come from  the salmon                                                                    
fund.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Croft  MOVED that the fiscal  note be changed                                                                    
to reflect  the $50 thousand  in salmon treaty  funds. There                                                                    
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Harris MOVED  to report  SB 139  out of  Committee                                                                    
with the accompanying revised fiscal note.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stoltze OBJECTED and  stated that he hoped to                                                                    
someday pass  a bill  to benefit sports  fishing as  well as                                                                    
commercial fishing.  He WITHDREW  his OBJECTION. There being                                                                    
NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SB  139 was  REPORTED  out  of Committee  with  a "do  pass"                                                                    
recommendation  and  one new  fiscal  impact  note from  the                                                                    
Department of Revenue.