Legislature(2017 - 2018)BARNES 124
04/19/2017 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB197 | |
| HB107 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 203 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 107 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 197 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 197-COMMUNITY SEED LIBRARIES
1:04:42 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 197, "An Act relating to the duties of the
commissioner of natural resources; relating to agriculture; and
relating to community seed libraries."
1:04:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER JOHNSTON, Alaska State Legislature, as
the sponsor, introduced HB 197. She explained that HB 197
brings forth local issues related to growing one's own produce
to feed family members. The idea for the bill, she continued,
was brought to her attention by her daughter-in-law who was
looking at heirloom seeds and researching the restrictions on
the local exchange of seeds.
1:06:27 PM
TERRANOVA TASKER, Staff, Representative Jennifer Johnston,
Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Johnston,
sponsor, provided a sectional analysis of HB 197 as follows:
Section 1 would amend the duties of the commissioner of the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to include
development and regulation of noncommercial seed use in
community seed libraries.
Sections 2 and 3 would add subsection (b) to Alaska Statute
(AS) 03.05.030 to allow an exemption for seed libraries
from regulations governing commercial seeds as long as they
comply with AS 03.20.[110], which are the guidelines for
community seed libraries, and do not violate regulations
that pertain to patented use without permission, be
misrepresented in classification, or be prohibited by the
department as a noxious (harmful) seed.
Section 4 would add new section 03.20.110 providing
guidelines for seed libraries as follows: an individual
can establish a community seed library that allows for 100
grams of [one variety of] seed [per person receiving the
seed per year], and the packaging must be labeled with the
variety, seller's name and address, year of packaging,
weight of the contents, and a disclaimer statement that
says not for commercial use. This section would also
direct the department to create a seed registry for
publication online.
Section 5 would [add] language about community seed
libraries to statute regulating plant materials centers
already in existence within the University of Alaska
system.
Section 6 would amend AS 44.37.[030] to include community
seed libraries in the information that the department must
publish online and in print.
Section 7 would amend [AS 44.37.030] to include a
subsection that allows the Department of Natural Resources
to advise people interested in starting a community seed
library on best practices and to submit information about
their library without a fee.
1:09:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH drew attention to the bill on page 2,
lines 2-6 which read:
assist prospective settlers and others [DESIRING] to
engage in the agricultural industry in the state by
providing [WITH] information about [CONCERNING AREAS
SUITABLE FOR AGRICULTURE AND OTHER] activities and
programs essential to developing the [DEVELOPMENT OF
THE] agricultural industry and areas in the state that
are suitable for agriculture;
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH said the bill seems to make a substantial
increase in the responsibilities of the commissioner of [DNR] by
adding, "areas that are suitable for agriculture."
MS. TASKER replied that she and Rob Carter, Manager, Plant
Materials Center, Division of Agriculture, DNR, have discussed
this and "suitable for agriculture" is wording that both DNR and
the sponsor like to specify whatever area a community garden
might take, whether that be someone's backyard or community
land. Also, she noted, the seed statutes haven't been updated
since the 1980's, so some language cleanup was done when she and
[an attorney from] Legislative Legal Services, Legislative
Affairs Agency, were going through the bill. She further
pointed out that the bill has a zero fiscal note.
1:11:08 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH referred to a letter from Representative
Talerico that he believed all committee members had signed, and
which stated a bridge should be built to an area that is
suitable for agriculture. Representative Parish said he doesn't
want the [Division] of Agriculture itself being an advocate for
bridge building because that is outside the [division's] main
area of purview. Yet, he posited, the aforementioned provision
would seem to add some responsibility to the [division] for
that.
MS. TASKER deferred to DNR.
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH returned attention to page 2, line 6 and
further inquired whether it is an increase in the responsibility
of DNR to assist all the regions of the state in developing
areas that are suitable for agriculture.
1:12:57 PM
ARTHUR KEYES, Director, Division of Agriculture, DNR, answered
that the Division of Agriculture sees the entire state as having
agriculture potential of some form or another. In further
response to Representative Parish, he said it is the
responsibility of the division to help all regions of the state
develop areas which are suitable to agriculture, but not
necessarily in regard to infrastructure.
1:13:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked about the definition of community
seed library and whether it is defined in statute.
MS. TASKER responded that the term "community seed library" does
not currently exist in statute. The bill would carve out a
space in the statute that says seed libraries can exist, and
provides the guidelines for labeling for seed libraries. Other
states going through similar processes ran into the issue where,
because of the way the statutes were written, every seed was
regulated as if it was a commercial seed, which requires
extensive labeling and testing. Nebraska and Minnesota went
through their statutes and specifically added the words
"community seed library" to carve out space for them so it is
very clear that community seed libraries can exist even if not
for commercial use purposes.
1:14:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND surmised that "community seed library"
is defined somewhere in the bill. She inquired whether a
community seed library includes the seed exchanges that
gardeners around the state conduct each spring.
MS. TASKER answered that [in the bill on page 3, beginning on
line 20], Article 1A. Community Seed Libraries, lays out the
guidelines for a community seed library. The issue the sponsor
has run into is that there are some community seed exchanges
happening around the state, Ester being the largest.
Unfortunately, she said, because of the way the statute is
written and based on the way the regulations are written, any
seed that is used for any capacity in the state must go through
that extensive testing germination percentages and labeling.
Technically speaking, any seed library existing today is in
violation of the code. However, she related, she has talked to
Rob Carter and DNR thinks seed libraries are a great idea and
therefore DNR is not assessing fees on current seed libraries.
The department likes this bill because it would give DNR the
authority to help and to promote seed libraries.
1:16:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked whether this means that seed
libraries currently in existence in Alaska are doing something
illegal and DNR supports the bill in order to control [seed
libraries]. She said the intent of the bill is unclear if there
are already community seed libraries springing up in an organic
local way.
REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER JOHNSTON replied that the bill would
strengthen seed libraries and would give them greater access to
doing what they do best. She warned [the state] "could be
getting into federal problems if we don't do this."
1:17:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND noted that her district has a farmers
market and she is getting lots of feedback from her constituents
about what this bill means for the already-existing informal
seed exchanges that gardeners hold around the state. She asked
what HB 197 means for existing seed exchanges.
ROB CARTER, Manager, Plant Materials Center, Division of
Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), explained
that the Plant Materials Center maintains and has the authority
to regulate seeds, their transportation, their sales, and seed
lot sales within the state of Alaska. In regard to what this
bill would do if seed exchanges are already there, he said that
technically seed libraries or any seed exchange in Alaska is
against the state's current regulations. However, he continued,
it is not in the best interest of plant diversity or food
security in the state for the division to spend time and money
harassing community-oriented folks who are sharing seeds and
providing opportunities for food security in a region to say
that they must follow these regulations that are really drafted
for commercial use. So, technically, he reiterated, the non-
commercial sharing of seed - under the prohibited acts section
in [Alaska's] seed regulations - is outlawed.
MR. CARTER pointed out that this bill, like many others around
the U.S., is identifying that non-commercial use is as important
as any issue that [the division] deals with in Alaska pertaining
to food security. Crop genetic diversity, one of the foundation
cornerstones of community seed sharing, is the most important
key to sustainable agriculture and to food security in any
region of the world, he added. The intent behind HB 197 is to
put in statute that this is a legal activity and ensure that
this non-commercial seed sharing activity is secured. Whether
this activity is through a garden club, a fair, or a seed
library, the bill is needed before other larger, non-state
entities come into Alaska and start pushing federal or state
regulations against these practices.
1:20:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND inquired as to how this will not cost
staff time and money for the Plant Materials Center to manage
these informal seed libraries that are already in existence.
MR. CARTER responded as currently written, the bill says DNR
"may" and does not direct the department to do anything.
Community seed library is the legal language, he said, and HB
197 just gives the department the opportunity to promote seed
libraries and have a place for them on the department's internet
site. As a seed consumer himself, he continued, he would love
to see a one-stop shop in the state that identifies all these
seed sharing activities.
1:21:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked how the division will contact
consumers in this regard.
MR. CARTER answered that it would be a multi-faceted front like
many of the things the department does. The department has
great resources, such as utilization of the Alaska Grown program
and all the individual gardeners and commercial farmers that the
department works with already. Once individuals identify that
the department has the ability to help support and promote their
activities, he said, a simple web page could be put out where an
individual could choose to be part of that web page. He related
that he talks to many individuals who participate in these non-
commercial seed sharing activities and the community is well
versed that this legislation is out there. Some of them, he
added, would be happy to contribute their location and contact
phone numbers and dates for community events.
1:23:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH inquired as to how this type of seed
collection would be different from commercial seed collection
for carrots in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley as to the source of
the seeds and how they are preserved and maintained.
MR. CARTER replied that there is very limited carrot seed
production in the state of Alaska because carrots are a biennial
plant and flower in their second year of growth. Commercially,
he explained, carrot seeds are grown in areas like the Skagit
Valley in Washington and other places around the world where
they are harvested with a combine like any other large-scale
seed production. They are cleaned and tested to meet both the
state and federal regulations, he said, and then they are sold
through brokers. Most of the farmers planting carrots on a
commercial scale in Alaska order the seeds from a very large
agri-business that sells tons of seeds at a time. Seeds that
are sold commercially, he continued, have very strict federal
and state guidelines to ensure that they follow both the state
regulations and Federal Seed Act.
1:25:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH surmised that when talking about regionally
adapted seeds harvested from plants grown in-state, it is not
necessarily a commercial operation. It would be a framework for
monitoring and permitting through the internet the exchange of
Alaska grown seeds.
MR. CARTER responded that the bill does not have any monitoring
requirements, nor does he think there is a need for any. Non-
commercial use tends to be relatively small scale, he explained.
It is individuals or a group of individuals who get together to
try to overwinter some carrots and then replant them and collect
the seeds to share amongst themselves. These normally are not
hybrids, but rather heirlooms or open pollinated varieties that
have been around for decades or longer. They are in small
quantities. The real key to it, he said, is individuals who
find a type or variety of seed, or a genus or species of a
vegetable that produces well in their region. In turn they
could harvest seed off that and legally share it amongst
themselves, with no ramifications from either the Federal Seed
Act or Alaska state seed regulations, and not impede the state's
commercial seed producers and sellers.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH said it sounds like a reasonable proposal.
1:27:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON related a story of working in a gift
store as a teenager and selling packages of Alaska seeds, with
the fireweed seeds being wildly popular. Then at some point
these seeds could not be sold anymore due to regulations and
that is why she was pleased to become a co-sponsor of the bill.
1:28:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH remarked a good proportion of the plants
grown in Haines came from his grandmother's garden. He asked
where in statute seed sharing is illegal.
MS. TASKER pointed out page 2, lines [12-14], establish that the
department is regulating seeds, plants, and vegetables whether
they are sold or not sold for use in the state.
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH observed that is in statute.
MS. TASKER responded yes. Continuing her answer, she noted that
on page 3, lines 1-7 pertain to the labeling requirements so
that any product that is being used, sold, or exchanged must be
labeled. Then, one must go to the Alaska Administrative Code,
Chapter 34, she said. This chapter has two pages of labeling
requirements and sets out the germination percentage and the
weight. Combining those two parts together, she pointed out, is
makes it almost impossible for a seed library to exist, which
she has confirmed with Mr. Carter. The statute is complicated
and needs some updating, she added.
1:31:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH observed that on page 3, lines 1-2, state
that the commissioner "may" adopt rules, regulations, and
procedures. He offered his understanding that the commissioner
has adopted rules and procedures which make all the seed
libraries in the state and all the individuals sharing seeds
right now, if not criminals, then at least engaged in extralegal
activities.
MS. TASKER answered correct and deferred to Mr. Carter for a
further response.
1:32:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH directed his question to Mr. Carter and
asked whether it is a regulatory hurdle that the past DNR
commissioner has put in place that makes seed sharing by private
individuals and seed libraries technically illegal.
MR. CARTER replied that the biggest hurdle in those states that
have come down hard on seed libraries and non-commercial seed
sharing is the interpretation of the regulations and definitions
of the words "offered for sale," "barter," and "trade". In
Alaska, he continued, what really hinders non-commercial use is
under 11 AAC 34.075, ["Prohibited acts"], which reads, "(a) No
person may sell, offer for sale, expose for sale, or transport
for use in planting in the state any agricultural or vegetable
seed that [in part] (5) has not been tested within the 18
months preceding the sale, offering, or exposure for sale, or
transportation". The seed libraries are not selling or offering
seed for sale, he said, but the key to this is the testing
within the 18 months preceding. So, technically, any individual
who is moving seed in the state of Alaska, whether it is one
seed or a million, who doesn't have the current labeling
requirement of testing within the 18 months preceding is
breaking the state's current regulations. In Alaska and around
the country, that language is utilized to ensure that seed being
moved around doesn't have invasive weeds in it and that is why
that testing requirement has always been followed. That is
really the tripping hurdle anyone who is transporting seed
with the intended use to plant that doesn't have testing, which
is required by the labeling requirements in Chapter 34, is
breaking Alaska's regulations.
1:34:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH inquired why the problem cannot be solved
by regulation. For example, he continued, regulation for
transportation of over 100 pounds of seed. He further inquired
why there isn't a lower boundary on the applicability of that
because people have been doing seed sharing for as long as there
has been agriculture.
MR. CARTER agreed and said [DNR] has full intent to review,
update, and modernize the regulations. He advised most people
do not realize that Alaska has a lot of commercial seed
production, and DNR would rather see those exemptions made for
non-commercial use than to modify things that may jeopardize
seeds being transported for sale or offered for sale within the
state that do not meet the state's regulation requirements, he
said. [The department] wants to avoid loopholes; seed
regulations are not there to stop someone from doing something,
he explained, but rather for consumer protection so that the
seed really is what the label says it is for germination and no
noxious weeds. Further, if he - in his role as plant materials
manager - changed the regulations so that non-commercial use and
seed libraries are not impeded, the regulations could be changed
again by another manager. Therefore, putting a policy into
statute protects this type of activity for generations to come.
1:36:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH suggested that perhaps Mr. Carter could
amend the {statue and regulation] by adding the word
"commercial" or "for commercial purposes" so someone wouldn't
have to go through a seed library to legally be able to share
seeds with neighbors. He then observed that the section of the
bill for community seed libraries states that someone cannot
give more than 100 grams of one variety to an individual within
12 consecutive months [page 3, lines 26-29]. He pointed out
that some seeds, such as cherry pits, would reach that weight
limit quickly.
REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER JOHNSTON responded she has forthcoming
amendments to offer.
1:38:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH commented that the labeling requirements
seem a bit stringent for what would normally be handed off in a
Ziploc bag.
MS. TASKER answered that the bill has five requirements for
labeling, which is a downgrade from the [current] two pages of
labeling requirements. Based on her talks with Mr. Carter about
the requirements, she said there is some wiggle room. For
example, someone could have a sign within the space with the
statement "not authorized for commercial use" rather than on
every package. The seller's name and address could be kept in a
binder and not necessarily be on the package of seed. Something
as simple as "purple flower" would be a reasonable request, she
continued, as well as the weight of the package for purposes of
tracking the weight limit requirement. She offered her opinion
that these requirements are limited but the sponsor will address
any issues.
1:39:28 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR related that the 100-gram limit and the labeling
were concerns expressed to her. She asked what the
differentiation is between someone collecting seed from his or
her own backyard and gifting it to a friend versus individuals
participating in a seed library.
MR. CARTER replied the intent of the bill, in his professional
opinion, is the bill pertains to community seed libraries
defined as a place where individuals can go and use those seeds.
The sponsor and her staff have identified that the bill doesn't
provide an exemption so that two persons could individually
share seeds with one another. That would be easy to put into
Article 1, he said, but the amendments need to be heard before
it can be discussed much further.
CO-CHAIR TARR urged that this differentiation be considered.
She pointed out that people who collect seed for contributing to
a seed library are going to want to include the genus, species,
or variety information. This type of person is one step up from
folks who just buy a few plants and have a pot in front of their
house, she said, and therefore the committee might want to
segregate that.
1:41:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON noted that some of the letters in the
committee packet state that the bill is alarming. She said she
thinks some of the concerns could be based on misinformation and
urged for further discussion of the concerns.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON responded yes and asked Ms. Tasker to
discuss the forthcoming amendments.
1:43:25 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR asked Ms. Tasker to address amendments about the
labeling concerns, the 100-gram limit, the requirement for being
grown in-state, and treated seeds.
MS. TASKER related that the sponsor is working on amendments in
response to talks with the seed libraries. She also noted that
some miscommunication about what the bill does has been brought
to the attention of the sponsors, so the sponsors are working
with stakeholders to explain what the bill really does.
MS. TASKER said one forthcoming amendment addresses seeds that
are grown outside Alaska. For example, seed libraries often
receive seed donations from The Home Depot or other entities and
the libraries have said they would like to be able to include
these seeds. This makes sense, she said, because the seeds
traveling from out of state have already undergone a labeling
process as part of the federal interstate commerce rules.
MS. TASKER stated the second forthcoming amendment responds to
the concern about the weight limit and would increase the limit
to one pound, which Mr. Carter has agreed is a limit that should
cover most seed.
MS. TASKER explained the third forthcoming amendment addresses
the marijuana seed issue. This amendment would prohibit
marijuana seeds from the seed library exchange.
MS. TASKER, in regard to Mr. Carter's discussion about a
personal exemption, said she would work with Legislative Legal
Services on language for an amendment to address those concerns.
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH requested an explicit [exemption] be given
for personal non-commercial seed sharing.
1:46:28 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR stated that this type of legislation has been
passed by California, Nebraska, Illinois, and Minnesota, and she
will post the California legislation on the web site for people
to view. She said the aforementioned amendments cover the
issues that she is concerned about. She asked Mr. Carter if he
would like to add anything about the forthcoming amendments.
MR. CARTER answered he doesn't see any issues with increasing
the weight limit. He related that he has heard concerns about
potatoes and root cuttings, but pointed out this is a formality
with the state's regulations because the regulations define
bulbs, straps, corms, and other such things as plants and so
those are not regulated under the state's seed regulations and
would have no weight restrictions. He said he feels the seed
weight limit could be in the one-pound area without directly
impacting anything and still providing the opportunity.
MR. CARTER pointed out that agronomically all seeds cannot be
produced in Alaska, so individuals get seed from friends or
family in other states, or purchase seed from outside of Alaska
that they want to use for non-commercial seed sharing
activities. That exemption is needed, he said, and Article 1A,
Community Seed Libraries, could easily be amended to provide an
exemption for non-seed library seed sharing activities to allow
for one person to give another person a package of seeds for his
or her garden.
MR. CARTER stated it would be up to the bill sponsor for the
language that is required on packaging. He said that, as he
reads the bill's current language, this could be done by a seed
library with a single sign written on cardboard [displayed]
above the library's seed sharing activities or within the
library's seed sharing opportunities that just states these are
seeds grown for non-commercial use and that would meet the
requirements of the bill.
MR. CARTER offered his opinion that this is important; Alaska is
lucky because it has isolation and does not have large
agriculture that tends to push a little heavier on these types
of regulations. The opportunity for non-commercial use and seed
libraries, he said, is what is going to provide for long-term
sustainability and self-reliance in the state because people in
both remote and non-remote areas may not have access to seed,
but they may have access to seed that has been grown in their
region. Having an agricultural system that is adapted to these
community environments to be self-reliant is a large portion of
sustainable agriculture in a state like Alaska, he advised.
1:50:44 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR opened public testimony.
1:51:06 PM
GRACE JOHNSTON testified in support of HB 197. She said she
feels passionately about this bill because she is invested in
Anchorage gardening and loves how a summer garden provides fresh
and nutritious food for her family. The longer that produce is
on the shelf, she explained, the more the nutrition decays, so
it is important to her to be able to pick directly from the
garden to table. She stated she is also firmly invested in the
future of gardening in Alaska through her young daughter. She
would like for her daughter to be able to grow up in a state
where the specialized seeds that can flourish in Alaska, those
that are cold- and sun-adapted, are readily available because
these seeds are not commercially viable for larger seed
producers in the Lower 48 or around the world. It is therefore
important to ensure that Alaskans can legally and widely share
these seeds throughout the state, she said. Explicitly allowing
for seed libraries will ensure that that legacy remains for the
present as well as future generations.
1:53:18 PM
PATRICIA TREYDTE testified in support of HB 197, but with
reservations as she has some concerns. She stated that if the
subject hadn't been brought up it wouldn't need to be done. One
of her concerns, she pointed out, is that the bill says "seller"
as the person giving out the seeds. She questioned whether
"seller" is the correct term or whether a term should be
invented, such as "exchanger" or "sharer".
CO-CHAIR TARR observed that "seller's name and address" is
included as one of the five [labeling] requirements [on page 4,
line 2]. She related that the sponsor and her staff are taking
note of this concern.
MS. TREYDTE reiterated that she doesn't know what the proper
term would be, but that she doesn't think it should be "seller".
MS. TREYDTE said another of her concerns is the 100-gram [weight
limit], which would not go far, particularly if someone wanted
to grow a quarter acre of grain for feeding to chickens. She
urged that this be addressed.
MS. TREYDTE pointed out that Alaska has a viable commercial seed
potato industry and expressed her concern that the bill does not
address potatoes in either start or seed form. She recognized
that seed potatoes would not be included in the bill, but warned
that potato, tomato, and eggplant seeds can carry late blight.
Tomato seeds, she continued, are one of the most precious and
often exchanged seeds because they are easy to save. She asked
whether this is something that needs to be addressed since the
potato industry needs to be protected.
CO-CHAIR TARR offered her understanding that the purchase of
certified seed potatoes is required. She requested Mr. Carter
to address Ms. Treydte's concern about potato, tomato, and
eggplant seeds.
1:56:20 PM
MR. CARTER replied that the purchase of certified seed potatoes
is required for commercial use.
CO-CHAIR TARR inquired whether Mr. Carter thinks tomato,
eggplant, and other seeds like that should be specifically
mentioned or differentiated in the bill.
MR. CARTER responded that if it the subject was live plants he
would say yes, but the bill is only talking about seeds and
therefore he doesn't think it is necessary. Within that family,
the easiest thing for seed savers is that they don't look for
plants that have disease or that biologically aren't in good
shape. They are allowing the fruit to go to maturity so that
the seeds mature. A late blight infected tomato plant, he
advised, would be a very poor performer and it would not be in
the best interest of anyone to maintain it or collect seed from
it. He said the department currently has registration for live
tomato plants being shipped into the state, as well as for
potatoes and within that family, but within this non-commercial
seed sharing use he doesn't feel it is necessary.
CO-CHAIR TARR observed that Section 6 discusses the department's
duties and gives DNR the ability to publish information about
seed libraries. She suggested that perhaps this information
could direct seed libraries to be careful in terms of the kind
of information that is shared with participants so things like
that could be prevented.
MR. CARTER answered that currently the department doesn't have
the authority to spend any time or effort working with the non-
commercial use of seed. He said he therefore believes HB 197,
and that section specifically, would provide DNR the opportunity
to not regulate, but to help promote and identify non-commercial
seed sharing activities, and he is very comfortable with that.
1:59:06 PM
DAVID OTNESS testified in support of HB 197. He stated that as
a gardener he wants to see anything that would facilitate the
transfer of seeds and provide agricultural awareness because
people growing their own food is something that has really taken
off. Anything to make [seed transfer] not illegal would be a
good thing, he added. Drawing attention to page 2, line 25, he
asked why the bill includes regulating the farming of elk.
CO-CHAIR TARR replied that that is an existing statute under the
current duties of the DNR commissioner and therefore it is not
something that is being added or changed by the bill. She
explained that when a section of statute is amended the whole
section shows up in the bill.
2:01:48 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR, after ascertaining that no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony.
2:01:57 PM
HB 197 was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 197 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HRES 4/10/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/12/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/17/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/26/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/28/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 5/1/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 197 |
| HB197 Version J 4.5.2017.pdf |
HRES 4/10/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/12/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/17/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/26/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/28/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 5/1/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 197 |
| HB197 Sectional Analysis ver J 4.6.2017.pdf |
HRES 4/10/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/12/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/17/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/26/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/28/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 5/1/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 197 |
| HB197 Fiscal Note - DNR-PMC 4.7.17.pdf |
HRES 4/10/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/12/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/17/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/26/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/28/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 5/1/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 197 |
| HB197 Supporting Document - Article. Seed Bill 4.9.17.pdf |
HRES 4/10/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/12/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/17/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/26/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/28/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 5/1/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 197 |
| HB 107 Sponsor Statement 2.8.17.pdf |
HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM HRES 4/26/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 107 |
| HB 107 Ver O 2.8.17.pdf |
HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 107 |
| HB 107 CS (FSH) WORK DRAFT version U 3.6.2017.pdf |
HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 107 |
| HB 107 CS (FSH) Explanation of Changes 3.6.2017.pdf |
HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 107 |
| HB 107 Sectional Analysis 2.8.2017.pdf |
HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 107 |
| HB107 Fiscal Note DFG-DCF 2.24.17.pdf |
HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM |
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| HB 107 Additional Documentation Egg to Fry survival rates.pdf |
HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM |
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| HB 107 Additional Documentation. Considerations for Salmon Restoration Planning.pdf |
HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM |
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| HB 107 Additional Documents - Fish Enhancement in AK History.pdf |
HRES 4/19/2017 1:00:00 PM |