Legislature(1999 - 2000)
04/18/2000 03:00 PM Senate RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 206-FISH AND GAME LICENSES & TAGS
MR. JOHN MANLEY, legislative aide to Representative Harris, sponsor
of HB 206, said that Representative Harris introduced this bill at
the request of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) to
take care of some housekeeping measures needed to clean up their
statutes. The bill changes the word "waterfowl" to "migratory game
bird" in about six different sections. That change will bring into
the federal government's migratory game bird reporting program the
taking of snipes and cranes. This will give them a complete
picture of who is taking what birds in the state. Section 3 allows
disabled veterans and $5 license holders to register in the
national migratory game bird harvest program by one of two methods.
Because these people are not required to buy duck stamps, the
statute needed another provision to enable them to register into
the program. Section 4 creates a new combination seven day non-
resident hunting and fishing license. The $115 charge for that
license costs the same as a seven day fishing license and a non-
resident hunting license but it is more convenient to put both
licenses on one piece of paper. The bill also sets fees for
special non-resident military small game licenses. There was a
glitch when the price of resident hunting licenses was changed.
The cost of a license for a non-resident military person would be
more than the cost of a non-resident license. HB 206 straightens
that problem out. The House Finance Committee added a provision
that allows Yukon residents to obtain a non-resident fishing
license and a non-resident king salmon tag at the same rate that a
resident pays. That provision was added at the request of Senator
Phillips and it will not go into effect until the Yukon
reciprocates.
CHAIRMAN HALFORD said when the Yukon is willing to give 600,000
Alaskans the same treatment, Alaska will give their 35,000 people a
deal.
MR. MANLEY continued his explanation of HB 206. Sections 9 and 10
replace a requirement in current statute that sellers and
purchasers of licenses must take an oath. That requirement was
replaced with a notice that will be placed on licenses stating
there is a penalty for unsworn falsification.
CHAIRMAN HALFORD asked how much a resident sport fishing license
costs.
MR. MANLEY said it costs $15.
CHAIRMAN HALFORD asked if the non-resident military sport fishing
license will cost the same. He also asked the cost of the non-
resident seven day sport fishing and hunting license.
MR. MANLEY said a non-resident sport fishing license would cost $30
and the non-resident hunting license costs $85 for a total of $115
which is what the combined license would cost. He explained that
Sections 11 through 16 just add the word "registration" in various
parts of the statutes to comply with the change made in Section 3.
The final change will allow ADFG to issue replacement licenses for
commercial fishing crew members for $5. ADFG is already doing that
but needs statutory authority.
MR. MANLEY noted that an amendment to the bill was presented to him
today and that it is relatively innocuous. The amendment would
read as follows.
Page 2, line 16 after "birds" insert ", migratory game bird
hunting,"
After "and" insert "other"
After "public" delete "use" and insert "uses"
CHAIRMAN HALFORD questioned whether the phrase, "other public uses
of migratory game birds" covers the Alaska Outdoor Council's
concern.
MR. MANLEY thought it would.
SENATOR LINCOLN asked Mr. Manley how important the amendment is to
the bill because it might slow the bill down considerably.
MR. MANLEY said Representative Harris did not have a problem with
the amendment but at the same time it is not critical to the bill.
CHAIRMAN HALFORD noted the bill has a referral to the Senate
Finance Committee.
MR. DICK BISHOP, Vice President of the Alaska Outdoor Council,
stated that the Council supports this bill. ADFG and the sponsor
did a good job in cleaning up some of the loose ends with
licensing. The Council did suggest the amendment in view of the
fact that the only place in the bill, other than the title, that
hunting is mentioned is in the price tag. The Council felt it is
appropriate that some of the benefits of the price tag that hunters
pay be directed to their interests in particular. The Council
would like to see the amendment as well as the bill pass.
SENATOR LINCOLN asked Mr. Bishop whether he would rather see the
bill amended and take the chance that it will slow the bill down.
MR. BISHOP replied if the bill was slowed up enough to the point
where it cannot complete the process, he would be concerned. He
repeated that he would like to see the amendment entered into the
bill.
SENATOR TAYLOR moved the amendment proposed by Mr. Manley. There
being no objection, the motion carried.
SENATOR TAYLOR moved SCS CSHB 206(RES) from committee with
individual recommendations and its accompanying fiscal note. There
being no objection, the motion carried.
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