04/15/2000 03:15 PM Senate FIN

     CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 204(RES)                                                                                             
     "An Act relating to elk farming."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
PETER FELLMAN, Staff,  Representative John Harris, clarified                                                                    
that the  legislation was an  attempt to move  the oversight                                                                    
of elk  farming out of  the Department  of Fish and  Game to                                                                    
the   Division  of   Agriculture,   Department  of   Natural                                                                    
Resources.   Currently, the regulations  of domestic  elk do                                                                    
not have statutory  authority in the Department  of Fish and                                                                    
Game.  The  Division of Agriculture are the  experts at such                                                                    
concerns.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
BILL WARD,  (Testified via Teleconference),  Delta Junction,                                                                    
urged  Committee  members to  support  the  legislation.   A                                                                    
licensing fee  would be paid  every two years in  the amount                                                                    
of  $250  dollars.   The  fee  would  be  used so  that  the                                                                    
Division  of  Agriculture  could   send  staff  to  maintain                                                                    
fencing for elk farms.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Donley  referenced to  Section 3.   He asked  if the                                                                    
permit would be a particular "brand".                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Fellman replied  that there  is a  brand permit  in the                                                                    
State of  Alaska.  That  brand must be registered  before it                                                                    
can be used.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green MOVED  to report HB 204 out  of Committee with                                                                    
individual recommendations and  with the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
notes.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HB 204 was reported out of Committee with a "do pass"                                                                           
recommendation and with fiscal notes by Department of                                                                           
Natural Resources and Department of Fish and Game.