02/29/2000 01:45 PM House FIN

HOUSE BILL NO. 206                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
An Act relating to the migratory game bird conservation                                                                         
tag, to a nonresident combined sport fishing and                                                                                
hunting license, to the nonresident military small game                                                                         
and sport fishing license, to applications for certain                                                                          
licenses, tags, and permits issued by the Department of                                                                         
Fish and Game, and to duplicate crewmember licenses.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MIKE TIBBLES, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE GENE THERRIUALT, spoke                                                                      
to the two modifications made in the work draft committee                                                                       
substitute.  The first change resulted from a conceptual                                                                        
amendment insertion of "annual", Page 3, Line 12.  Mr.                                                                          
Tibble advised the other change addressed the confusing                                                                         
wording in Section 5.  That language was removed and the                                                                        
specified amount for the non-resident military small game                                                                       
hunting license and the amount for the non-resident sport-                                                                      
fishing license.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Tibble's added that there was an error to Page 3, Line                                                                      
30.  The amount should read "$20".                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to adopt the work draft, 1-LS0858\M,                                                                      
Utermohle, 2/29/00.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                           
adopted.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to adopt Amendment #1, 1-LS0858\K.3,                                                                      
Utermohle, 2/28/00.  [Copy on File].  He explained that the                                                                     
amendment would allow for a reciprocal relationship with the                                                                    
Yukon Territory for a resident license fee.  He noted that                                                                      
the Yukon currently offers this option to Alaskans.  He                                                                         
suggested that to offer it back, would be in the "spirit of                                                                     
compromising".  Co-Chair Therriault OBJECTED.  He believed                                                                      
it would be more advantageous for residents of the Yukon to                                                                     
come into Alaska to fish than it would be for the Alaskan                                                                       
residents to go into the Yukon.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative Phillips noted that this issue had come up                                                                       
during the Subcommittee meetings.  She pointed out the many                                                                     
sport fishermen that go to the Yukon for hunting and                                                                            
fishing.  She supported the amendment, stating the timing                                                                       
was right.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder pointed out that the amendment addressed                                                                        
only the Yukon Territory, not British Columbia. The Yukon is                                                                    
not a large area, yet those residents have a mobile                                                                             
population that likes to come into Alaska to take advantage                                                                     
of these activities.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
GERON BRUCE, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND                                                                        
GAME, advised that there would be a fiscal impact with a                                                                        
negative impact to revenues.  He agreed with Co-Chair Mulder                                                                    
that it would be minimal. Mr. Bruce commented that the                                                                          
Department would need to do some analysis to determine the                                                                      
amount.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Bruce advised that the Department has not taken a                                                                           
position on the amendment at this point.  He pointed out                                                                        
that when Senator Donley enacted SB 7, it significantly                                                                         
raised non-resident fishing license.  The purpose of that                                                                       
bill was to reduce the impact on Alaska resident fishers                                                                        
from non-residents coming in and competing and the action                                                                       
did have that effect. He noted that HB 206 would run                                                                            
contrary to SB 7. Mr. Bruce stated that it is not clear that                                                                    
the suggested arrangement is currently offered to Alaskans                                                                      
going into the Yukon.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Vice Chair Bunde asked what type fisheries were in the                                                                          
Yukon.  Mr. Bruce could not speak to the type of fish                                                                           
traffic going into the Yukon.  Representative Grussendorf                                                                       
agreed that there would be more pressure for the Canadians                                                                      
to come into Alaska for fishing.  He noted that he would not                                                                    
support the amendment.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Vice Chair Bunde thought that the greatest impact would be                                                                      
to Southeast Alaska.  He asked the projected impact the bill                                                                    
would have to the tourist industry.  Mr. Bruce could only                                                                       
speculate on that traffic.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Phillips reiterated that the population in                                                                       
the Yukon Territory is small and that the legislation would                                                                     
bring "good will" between the two areas.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Discussion followed regarding the threat to the entire ferry                                                                    
fleet in Canada for only six fish.  Co-Chair Mulder                                                                             
corrected that was in British Columbia and not the Yukon.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault maintained his objection to the                                                                             
amendment.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Moses, Phillips, Bunde, G. Davis, Foster,                                                                             
Mulder                                                                                                                          
OPPOSED:  Williams, J. Davies, Grussendorf, Therriault                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Austerman was not present for the vote.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION PASSED (6-4).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault noted that the amendment would change                                                                       
the dollar amount.  He requested that the Department provide                                                                    
the new note before the bill would move from Committee.  Co-                                                                    
Chair Mulder commented that the fiscal note would affect the                                                                    
Department of Fish and Game and not the general fund.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
HB 206 was HELD in Committee for final approval of the                                                                          
fiscal note.