Legislature(2007 - 2008)BELTZ 211
03/10/2008 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB165 | |
| SB273 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 165 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 273 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 165-BIG GAME GUIDES AND TRANSPORTERS
CHAIR FRENCH announced the consideration of HB 165.
1:33:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE LEDOUX, sponsor of HB 165, said this
bill rights an inadvertent wrong and promotes economic
development in rural areas. It is an Act related to providing
field accommodations for big game hunters. She explained that in
1996, much needed legislation was enacted to define who is a big
game hunter, outfitter, or transporter and to provide
regulations for licensing and other considerations. However,
there was no provision for the person who merely wants to rent
his or her cabin to people who may or may not be hunting. Many
people in rural Alaska have cabins that are empty for part of
the year and this bill would allow the rental of those cabins
without falling under the current limiting statutory
regulations.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX reminded the committee that it is very
difficult to generate economic development in rural areas and HB
165 will enable people in such areas to provide a service and
make a little extra money. She said that members of the Big Game
Commercial Services Board have worked with her office in order
to craft this bill.
1:36:59 PM
SENATOR McGUIRE explained that the issue came about as a result
of the Big Game Guide Task Force. The intention was to keep big
guiding operations from using public lands without having the
requisite licenses to take in out-of-state hunters. Some folks
that have private cabins did testify that they were
inadvertently swept in. As it now stands, individuals who have
private cabins have to get a transporter license in order to
rent their cabins to any big game hunters. That's the point of
the bill, but the drafting is convoluted because it addresses
the old law.
1:38:23 PM
CHAIR FRENCH asked whether it's a transporter license or an
outfitter guide license that's needed. His understanding is that
a transporter license is required to rent out skiffs, and an
outfitter guide license is needed to rent out a cabin.
SUZANNE HANCOCK, staff to Representative LeDoux, explained that
this bill tries to exempt people who are only providing lodging.
They are not taking people out in the field and are not renting
skiffs.
CHAIR FRENCH noted the memorandum from legislative legal, and
asked if the bill fixes just the lodging prong; anyone who rents
skiffs would still need to get a license.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX said that's correct.
SENATOR McGUIRE added that a private cabin owner who also
provides transportation, perhaps as part of a package, would
still need to get a transporter license.
CHAIR FRENCH summarized that under this bill, a cabin owner
could rent out his or her cabin without obtaining an outfitter
guide license. It's simple, narrow, and focused, and it's not a
broad exemption, he added.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX agreed.
1:40:48 PM
CHAIR FRENCH asked if the bill is opposed by anyone in either
body.
MS. HANCOCK replied no opposition has been voiced in the
committee meetings, but one man would like this to also apply to
leased property. The sponsor doesn't support that expansion.
CHAIR FRENCH opened public testimony.
1:41:48 PM
RICK METZGER, rural property owner, Kodiak Island, said he asked
Representative LeDoux to sponsor HB 165 when he found himself in
this situation. He explained that the bill was developed with a
great deal of cooperation with the Big Game Commercial Services
Board and the sponsor's staff. After much discussion, the scope
was narrowed to private property rental accommodations only. He
highlighted a broad spectrum of supporters and said this is an
opportunity for people who live in rural areas to generate some
extra income.
CHAIR FRENCH asked if the state had begun proceedings against
him, or was he trying to prevent a problem.
MR. METZGER explained that he rented his cabin for several years
prior to 1996 when the state troopers dropped by to inform him
of the new interpretation of existing big game guide transporter
statutes. Under the new interpretation, private property was
considered to be "in the field," and only big game guides or
transporters who provide transportation services could rent a
cabin in the field. He was warned but not cited, which prompted
him to go to the Big Game Commercial Services Board seeking a
solution.
CHAIR FRENCH noted that two committee members extensively heard
the bill in the past.
1:45:17 PM
JAMES MARTIN, big game hunter from Homer, said his concern as a
resident licensed big game hunter is that it's difficult to
access the resource. He has a hunt of a lifetime coming up, but
at this point his only option is to tent camp on Kodiak Island
for 15 days even though private cabins are available. He'd like
to see some resolution so that private cabin owners could rent
their cabins, big game guides could continue to provide their
valuable services, and people such as himself could rent private
cabins and afford big game hunts in Alaska.
1:47:54 PM
KELLY SALTZGIVER, hunter, stated support for HB 165. He lives in
Kenai and has hunted on Kodiak Island for 30 years. He's tried
to give all six of his children a hunting experience on the
island, but the opportunities are disappearing. Hunting on
Kodiak Island used to cost in the hundreds of dollars per person
and now it costs between $3,000 and $5,000 for a deer hunt.
Having private cabins available, as provided in the bill, is an
opportunity to continue to take his children and grandchildren
hunting.
1:49:47 PM
DAVE SALTZGIVER, hunter from Kenai, said he's hunted on Kodiak
Island for about 12 years and this bill will make it possible to
continue doing that because it'll help keep the cost reasonable.
"I support this bill," he said.
CHAIR FRENCH asked the sponsor if there are two sets of rules
for cabins on public land versus cabins on private land. The
state obviously doesn't need a license to rent its cabins, but
individuals must get an outfitter license to rent their private
cabins.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX said yes; "The state isn't applying the
same rules to its cabin that it's applying to private cabins."
CHAIR FRENCH held HB 165 in committee for a subsequent hearing.
At ease from 1:51:34 PM to 1:53:00 PM.
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