Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/01/2000 02:21 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
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."
Co-Chair Therriault observed that the House Finance
Committee adopted amendments to HB 206 on 2/29/00, which
would change the fiscal note.
GERON BRUCE, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND
GAME discussed the department's fiscal note. He provided
members with a spreadsheet (copy on file). The spreadsheet
contains calculations on fishing licenses sold to residents
of the Yukon Territory in 1999 and 1997. There was a drop in
total license purchases after the fee increase. There were
1,589 licenses sold in 1999 and 2,061 sold in 1997. The
department took the number of licenses sold in the highest
year and estimated that if Yukon residents could buy King
Salmon and sport fishing licenses at the same rate as
Alaskans that there would be a reduction in revenues of $25
thousand dollars. The reduction would be in fish and game
funds.
In response to a question by Representative Grussendorf, Mr.
Bruce estimated that the largest use by Yukon fisherman
would be in the Haines/Skagway area.
In response to a question by Co-Chair Therriault, Mr. Bruce
noted that Alaskans cannot fish for free in the Yukon. The
non-resident fishing license rates in Canada are low. He
explained that the Canadian federal government, not the
territorial government, would need to take action to set a
reciprocal agreement in place.
Co-Chair Therriault questioned if there would be a $25
thousand dollar hole in the department's budget. Mr. Bruce
responded that the director of Sport Fish was not concern
with the immediate loss. He acknowledged that the Fish and
Game Fund has been under pressure and that there would be
less revenue into the fund if Canada enacts a reciprocal
agreement.
Representative Grussendorf stressed that there is a
relationship to King Salmon tags and the state's effort to
enhance the stock.
Co-Chair Therriault noted that there was a technical problem
with the adoption of Amendment 1.
MIKE TIBBLES, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE THERRIAULT spoke to
Amendment 1, passed by the Committee on 2/29/00. He
explained that Amendment 1, as drafted, would require the
Department of Fish and Game to establish a new license. The
intent was that residents of the Yukon would get the
existing license at the same price as an Alaskan resident.
Mr. Tibbles suggested that the amendment be amended by
deleting: "non" before resident, "for the fee charged to
residents under (a) of this section for a resident sport
fishing licenses," and "for the fee charged to residents
under (a) of this section for a resident anadromous king
salmon tag."
Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to rescind the Committee's action in
adopting Amendment 1. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so
ordered.
Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to ADOPT amended Amendment 1:
(h) Residents of Yukon Territory, Canada, may receive
(1) a resident annual sport fishing license; and
(2) a resident anadromous king salmon annual tag.
Co-Chair Therriault OBJECTED. He noted that there is no
reciprocal action with the Yukon. Representative J. Davies
noted that the legislation requires action before taking
affect. Co-Chair Therriault thought that the motivation was
to match the policy of the Yukon.
TAPE CHANGE, HFC 99 - 46, SIDE 2
A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Amendment
1 as amended.
IN FAVOR: Davies, Moses, Phillips, Foster, Mulder
OPPOSED: Bunde, Grussendorf, Williams, Therriault
The MOTION PASSED (5-4).
Representative J. Davies MOVED to report CSHB 206 (FIN) out
of Committee with the accompanying fiscal note. There being
NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSHB 206 (FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with two zero fiscal notes, one by
the Department of Public Safety and one by the Department of
Fish and Game, both dated 2/23/00; and one fiscal impact
note by the Department of Administration.
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