03/17/2016 10:00 AM House FISHERIES

        HB 241-NONRESIDENT SURCHARGE COMMERCIAL FISHING                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:05:41 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL NO. 241 "An  Act relating to the nonresident surcharge                                                               
for commercial fishing permits."                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:06:16 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT,  prime sponsor of HB  241, explained that                                                               
the intent  is to true-up  residency requirements  for commercial                                                               
fishing permits  by utilizing the  permanent fund  dividend (PFD)                                                               
residency  requirements.    She  reported  that  at  least  2,289                                                               
commercial  fishing permit  holders pay  a lower  Alaska resident                                                               
fee but  do not meet  the residency  requirements to be  issued a                                                               
PFD.     The   non-resident  fishermen   should  be   paying  the                                                               
appropriate fee, she stressed.   Alaska's statutes hold a variety                                                               
of  residency requirements  for different  applications, but  the                                                               
PFD  stipulations   are  perhaps   the  most  tried,   true,  and                                                               
enforceable.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:10:13 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
GRACE  ABBOTT,  Staff,  Representative Charisse  Millett,  Alaska                                                               
State Legislature, provided  the sectional analysis, paraphrasing                                                               
from a prepared statement, which read as follows:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Section One: Defines a  "non-resident" as an individual                                                                    
     who  is  not  eligible  to  receive  a  permanent  fund                                                                    
     dividend, and  that residency may be  proved by showing                                                                    
     eligibility for a permanent fund dividend.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section  Two: Amends  the duties  of the  Department of                                                                    
     Revenue   to   include   confirming  for   the   Alaska                                                                    
     Commercial   Fisheries   Entry   Commission   that   an                                                                    
     individual  is eligible  to  receive  a permanent  fund                                                                    
     dividend.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:11:44 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES  asked how the  bill addresses residents who  do not                                                               
qualify for a  PFD, such as a felons or  anyone whose dividend is                                                               
subject to garnishment.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS.  ABBOTT responded  that the  bill would  require amending  to                                                               
include  exceptions for  residents that  qualify for,  but cannot                                                               
benefit from, receipt of a PFD.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:12:37 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON  acknowledged that some residents  may have                                                               
personal reasons and choose not to  apply for a PFD, which should                                                               
also be addressed.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MILLETT indicated  that other  avenues are  being                                                               
explored for  proving residency,  which may  be presented  in the                                                               
form of an amendment will include an exceptions clause.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. ABBOTT  pointed out that whether  or not a person  chooses to                                                               
receive a PFD doesn't affect their eligibility.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
[HB 241 was held over.]