02/27/1995 05:05 PM House FSH

 HFSH - 02/27/95                                                               
 Number 410                                                                    
                                                                               
 HB 141 - TERM OF FISH AND GAME BOARD MEMBERS                                
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN AUSTERMAN brought forth CSHB 141 (FSH), for the purpose of           
 discussion.                                                                   
                                                                               
 GERON BRUCE, Legislative Liaison, Department of Fish and Game,                
 described the two changes brought forth in the committee substitute           
 (CS).  He pointed out the first change on page 1, line 11, deleted            
 "a successor is qualified to serve on the board" and replaced it              
 with "an appointed successor's term begins."  The second change               
 modified the transition section of the bill to affect only the                
 members appointed after January 1, 1995, for the next three years             
 thereafter.                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE OGAN stated that he wanted his support for this                
 legislation on the record because he supports depoliticizing the              
 Board of Fish process.                                                        
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS asked if votes of appointed Board of Fish                
 members are legal before those individuals are confirmed.                     
                                                                               
 MR. BRUCE indicated that he believed Title 39 specified that                  
 appointed members have all powers of a confirmed board member.                
 He added, "The idea for this bill did come from the Fisheries                 
 Policy Transition Team and it was an unanimous recommendation from            
 that team."                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE OGAN moved that the CS be adopted.                             
                                                                               
 Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.                                      
                                                                               
 Number 449                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ELTON said, "It's also important to note that the              
 transition team that recommended this, had representatives from the           
 sport, the commercial and the subsistence segments of the                     
 industry."                                                                    
                                                                               
 JERRY MCCUNE, President, United Fishermen of Alaska, testified in             
 support of CSHB 141 (FSH).  "We do support this bill 100 percent.             
 I think it will take a lot of the confirmation battles out of the             
 legislature.  We'll be able to have more public candidates put                
 their name forth knowing that they're not under the gun.  Knowing             
 that you have to be confirmed, sitting on the board, makes it                 
 pretty tough to make any kind of decisions because you're going to            
 be under the microscope when you get back.  So I think this will be           
 healthy."                                                                     
                                                                               
 Number 470                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE OGAN moved CSHB 141 (FSH) out of committee with                
 individual recommendations.                                                   
                                                                               
 Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.