Legislature(2023 - 2024)ADAMS 519
02/26/2024 01:30 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview: Fy 25 Department of Fish and Game | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 268 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 270 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 268
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; making capital appropriations; making
supplemental appropriations; making reappropriations;
making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c),
Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the
constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for
an effective date."
HOUSE BILL NO. 270
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; and providing for
an effective date."
^OVERVIEW: FY 25 DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
1:37:20 PM
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND
GAME, introduced a PowerPoint presentation titled "Alaska
Department of Fish and Game: FY2025 Budget Overview," dated
February 26, 2024 (copy on file). He began on slide 2
titled "Constitutional And Statutory Mandates
The Constitution of the State of Alaska
Article 8 Natural Resources; § 4. Sustained Yield.
Fish, forests, wildlife, grasslands, and all other
replenishable resources belonging to the State shall
be utilized, developed, and maintained on the
sustained yield principle, subject to preferences
among beneficial uses.
The Alaska Statutes
Title 16. Fish and Game; Sec. 16.05.020. Functions of
commissioner.
(2) manage, protect, maintain, improve, and extend the
fish, game and aquatic plant resources of the state in
the interest of the economy and general well-being of
the state.
Mission Statement
To protect, maintain, and improve the fish, game, and
aquatic plant resources of the state, and manage their
uses and development in the best interest of the
economy and the well-being of the people of the state,
consistent with the sustained yield principle
Commissioner Vincent-Lang pointed to the sustained yield
principle that was included in the state constitution and
noted that no other state adopted the principle in its
constitution.
Co-Chair Johnson asked how the commissioner interpreted the
constitutional mandates of the department. Commissioner
Vincent-Lang replied believed that it was meant for the
Department of Fish and Game (DFG) commissioner to manage
for a yield that benefited Alaskans and the economy. He
elaborated that the philosophy was permeated through all
department divisions and all game and fish were managed to
benefit Alaskans under the sustained yield principle.
Co-Chair Johnson provided a scenario where prices were down
for fish, and wondered how he balanced market forces with
sustainability over time.
1:40:31 PM
Commissioner Vincent-Lang replied that the department
managed for a maximum sustainable yield level and often
closed fisheries well before harvesting could affect
viability. He emphasized that DFG would forego short term
yield for long term opportunity. He expounded that Chinook
salmon were depressed across the state, but it did not mean
their viability was at risk. They were working to rebuild
the stocks.
Commissioner Vincent-Lang discussed slide 3 titled "Core
Services:"
Management:
Provide hunting, fishing and trapping opportunities,
protect state's rights to manage its fish and wildlife
resources, conserve and improve habitat and access.
Stock Assessment and Research:
Ensure sustainability and harvestable surplus, improve
assessment and research capabilities, invest in new
technologies, anticipate changing conditions.
Customer Service and Public Involvement:
Make improvements to information and education
services, the Boards and other regulatory processes,
licensing and permitting.
1:42:38 PM
Commissioner Vincent-Lang turned to slide 4 titled
"Leadership. He listed the department's leadership team
and their duties. He reported that DFG had a Habitat
Section that dealt with Title 16 permitting. In addition,
the Subsistence and Research Section helped the board make
informed decisions on subsistence priorities.
Co-Chair Johnson appreciated the low turnover within the
department's leadership.
Representative Cronk asked if there was a Dividion of
Subsistence. Commissioner Vincent-Lang replied there was a
section for Subsistence. He explained that 5 years prior,
DFG cut the division directors for the Division of
Subsistence and the Division of Habitat due to a $200
thousand budget cut during a fiscal crisis. Both of the
director positions were open, and the divisions were small
therefore, he decided not to hire directors versus cutting
existing division employees. Representative Cronk asked if
it implied subsistence was not as important as other
department responsibilities. He believed someone should be
in the lead on subsistence due to the importance to
Alaskans. Commissioner Vincent-Lang answered in the
negative and added that statute directed that subsistence
was a priority. He felt that Subsistence was elevated
because he led the Subsistence Section.
1:45:43 PM
Representative Galvin relayed that she had heard from
constituents about the lack of directors in the Subsistence
and Habitat Sections. The individuals had a deep
relationship to subsistence. She expressed her concern over
the situation. Commissioner Vincent-Lang replied that the
department did not disagree with its importance and assured
her that subsistence remained a priority for the
department.
Representative Hannan asked how many people worked in the
Subsistence and Habitat Sections. Commissioner Vincent-Lang
estimated that they were both in the 20s.
Representative Ortiz stated that the work done by DFG was
particularly important to his district. He had also heard
some concern about the subsistence issue from constituents.
He asked how many people were currently dedicated to
subsistence issues compared to five years ago. Commissioner
Vincent-Lang replied that the number was about the same. He
reminded the committee that Subsistence was not a
management section, but a research section as defined in
statute. The section undertook community surveys regarding
meeting their subsistence needs, and the section was trying
to fund the research activities through federal grants,
therefore the Unrestricted General Fund (UGF) funding
remained stable.
1:49:27 PM
Commissioner Vincent-Lang reviewed slide 5 titled "FY 25
Budget Highlights:"
The Department will continue to provide an excellent
return on investment as we have in the past under the
Governor's proposed budget.
ADFandG turns $250 million-dollar investment, of which
$70 million is General Fund (GF), into a return of
over $14 billion dollars annually. No reduction in
services as a result of the proposed budget. The
proposed budget includes new funding for fisheries,
wildlife, and resource projects. This includes funding
for statehood defense, marine science and genetics,
restoration of commercial fisheries research, and
wildlife surveys and management.
Commissioner Vincent-Lang read from prepared remarks. He
reiterated that the fish and wildlife resources were
managed in an approach that provided substantial investment
in the state and local economies that produced more jobs
and economic value "than any other sector in the economy."
He listed the benefits to DFG's management approach. He
stressed that there were no reductions in services
anticipated in the proposed budget that included new
funding for fishery and wildlife research projects
(highlighted in later slides). He noted that slides 6 and 7
highlighted DFG's return on investment.
1:50:40 PM
Commissioner Vincent-Lang moved to slides 6 and 7 both
titled "Return on Investment."
Economic Value of Commercially Harvested Alaska
Seafood
62,200 jobs supported, more than any other industry in
Alaska
$200.7* million in taxes, fees, and self-assessments
contributed
$7.0* billion in economic output
Alaska exports 2.2 billion pounds of seafood each
year, returning over $3.7* billion of new money into
the U.S. economy
The Economic Value of Alaska's Seafood Industry,
January 2022 - Study by McKinley Reach Group
Economic Value of Sport Fisheries
15,879 Jobs supported
$373.9* million in taxes contributed
$828.4* million in income provided
$2.4* billion industry output
Economic Impacts and Contributions of Sportfishing in
Alaska, 2007 - Professional Publication by Southwick
Associates, Inc. in collaboration with ADFandG Return
on Investment
* Dollars were adjusted to account for inflation Jan.
2024
1:51:03 PM
Slide 7: Return on Investment Continued
Economic value of Wildlife
More than 27,000 Jobs supported
$2.1* billion in labor income
$5.2* billion spent by hunters and wildlife viewers
$5.7* billion economic activity statewide
The Economic Importance of Alaska's Wildlife in 2011 -
ADFandG contracted with ECONorthwest on a study to
quantify the economic importance of Alaska's Wildlife
Economic Value of Subsistence
Replacement value of the wild food harvest of
communities outside non-subsistence areas is estimated
between $215.9-$431.8* million and $288.3-$576.6*
million for all Alaska communities
Subsistence in Alaska: A Year 2017 Update ADFandG
Report
* Dollars were adjusted to account for inflation Jan.
2024
Commissioner Vincent-Lang briefly reviewed slide 8 titled
Budget Organizational Chart
Sport Fish
Sport Fisheries
Wildlife Conservation
Wildlife Conservation
Hunter Education Public Shooting Ranges
Statewide Support Services
Commissioner's Office
Administrative Services
Boards of Fisheries and Game
Advisory Committees
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council
State Facilities Maintenance
Anchorage and Fairbanks Hatcheries
Southeast Hatcheries
Habitat
Subsistence Research and Monitoring
Commercial Fisheries
Southeast Region Fisheries Mgmt.
Central Region Fisheries Mgmt.
Arctic Yukon Kuskokwim Region Fisheries Mgmt.
Westward Region Fisheries Mgmt.
Statewide Region Fisheries Mgmt.
Commercial Fish Entry Commission (CFEC)
1:52:30 PM
Commissioner Vincent-Lang discussed slide 9 titled "FY 2025
Operating Budget Comparison." He indicated that the FY 25
budget was approximately $250 million compared to $200
million in FY 23 actuals and was 2 percent higher than the
FY 24 management plan and a 4.4 percent increase in UGF. He
listed $68,385.9 UGF, $12.820 DGF, $76.906 Other $90.166
Federal Funds.
Representative Cronk asked who decided on projects funded
by the Pittman-Robertson Funds. Commissioner Vincent-Lang
answered that the Division of Wildlife leadership team
made recommendation to the commissioner, and he ultimately
decided in the funding. Representative Cronk stated that
residents wanted to know what agreements were made
regarding the Yukon River fish. The local residents felt
left in the dark. Commissioner Vincent-Lang answered that
there was a treaty involved with the Yukon Government. The
department was the lead negotiating agency, and it was the
Division of Fisheries and Oceans in Canada. He elaborated
that the Canada's Chinook salmon stocks were at risk and
severely depressed and they migrated through the United
States. The Canadians were asking for some assurances from
DFG about what it would do to help rebuild the stocks. Both
sides wanted to avoid any critical habitat or endangered
species designations. Therefore, both sides entered into an
agreement regarding the number of fish that could pass into
Canada while allowing US stocks that were meeting their
escapement to still be fished. The department agreed to a
pause on commercial, sport, and personal use fishing over
the next seven years. He did not agree to limit fishing on
stocks that were meeting escapement goals. However, DFG was
not going to put Chinook salmon stocks going into Canada at
risk by allowing gillnet fishing for chum salmon and other
gear types used to harvest chum. He added that there was a
complete closure of commercial fishing on both sides
because border passage goals were not reached. However,
very limited cultural camps were allowed to remain open.
The agreement also looked at things such as trawl bycatch
and interception.
1:58:09 PM
Representative Cronk asked if fish wheels were safer than
nets. Commissioner Vincent-Lang answered in the affirmative
and indicated that they worked better in the upper river.
He was considering the opportunity for very shallow gill
nets use. He informed the committee that the outlook for
summer chum was meeting escapement goals and to possibly
have a fall chum fishery.
Co-Chair Johnson asked members to ask general questions.
Representative Ortiz followed up on Representative Cronk's
question. He noted the commissioner would look at the
bycatch issue as having an impact on stocks. He heard a lot
about the impact of bycatch from constituents. He asked for
details. Commissioner Vincent-Lang replied that the council
established a Chinook bycatch limit based on projected
abundance. Currently, 6,000 sub-adult Chinooks was the
trawl bycatch limit. He stressed that the issues were
complex because of trawlers catching Russian hatchery chum
bycatch and he was proceeding with caution in order to
limit salmon bycatch.
2:01:38 PM
Commissioner Vincent-Lang added that regarding intercepted
fish, DFG successfully brought chum salmon bycatch down
from a high of 1.2 million to 200 thousand.
Representative Hannan asked about Yukon Chinooks. She asked
if the department had any ability to work to reopen a
closed hatchery in Whitehorse. Commissioner Vincent-Lang
answered that it was a mitigation hatchery and was still
operational due to a dam across the river. He described the
hatcheries methods and maintained that it was not an
optimal design and was damaging the genetic integrity of
the stocks. In addition, returns had been very low. He
informed the committee that Canada was interested in
building another program to keep the genetic integrity
preserved.
2:04:28 PM
Representative Tomaszewski read the following bullet point
from slide 6 " Alaska exports 2.2 billion pounds of seafood
each year, returning over $3.7* billion of new money into
the U.S. economy." He asked what amount the state received.
Commissioner Vincent-Lang was unsure and would follow up.
Co-Chair Johnson pointed to slide 9 and wondered why the
DGF had decreased in GY 25.
BONNIE JENSEN, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT
OF FISH AND GAME, replied that a future slide would show a
fund swap in the Division of Commercial Fisheries (DCF).
Commissioner Vincent-Lang reviewed slide 10 titled "FY 2025
Expenditures/Allocations He indicated that the chart
showed the differences between FY 23 Actuals, FY 24
Management Plan, the FY 25 Governor's Amended request, and
the FY 24 to FY 25 differences. Some of the differences
reflected budgetary realignments and needs. He pointed to
the significant amounts in the personal services line and
services items. He moved to slide 11 titled "FY 2025 Fund
Group Breakdown and provided a breakdown of the budget by
fund source. He reported that 36 percent of the budget was
in federal funds, 33 percent in UGF and DGF, and 30 percent
other funds.
2:07:10 PM
Commissioner Vincent-Lang addressed slide 12 titled "FY
2025 Fund Source Breakdown" that provided greater detail of
the data on slide 10 and 11. He reviewed slide 13 titled
FY 2025 Division Breakdown. He pointed out that the
Division of Commercial Fisheries was the largest division
at $86 million. The Division of Wildlife Conservation was
the second largest division at $70 million. The Division of
Sport Fish was the third largest division at $53 million
followed by Statewide Support Services. The Habitat Section
and Subsistence Section were the smallest sections.
2:08:42 PM
Representative Galvin cited the Differences column on slide
12 and observed that the receipt funds were lower. She
wondered if it was because of current market difficulties.
Ms. Jensen replied that in the DCF there was one GF fund
swap that was increased in prior years that will soon be
depleted.
Representative Galvin referenced slide 13 and saw that the
subsistence section was one of the smallest sections. She
thought it appeared that subsistence may not be a high
priority. Commissioner Vincent-Lang replied that it
reflected the amount of money the department was spending
on subsistence research to inform board decisions and did
not include subsistence management or the research on fish
and wildlife stocks. He furthered that a large amount of
funding for subsistence was embedded into other portions of
the pie chart.
2:11:04 PM
Commissioner Vincent-Lang turned to slide 14 titled "FY
2025 Budgeted Positions and History" that showed the PCN's
(Position Control Number) decreased over the years with a
recent increase over the prior two years. However, the
department had grown, and he was asking for additional
positions for the increased workload demands. The governor
added some PCNs to help the department.
Representative Ortiz pointed to slide 13 and 14 and asked
if there was a graph showing the resources allocated to DFG
to meet its constitutional mandates while accounting for
inflation. Commissioner Vincent-Lang asked if
Representative Ortiz was interested in stock management
assessment. Representative Ortiz answered in the negative
and clarified that he was asking whether the department had
the resources to fulfill the requirements for managing to
the maximum sustained yield and if the department could do
an even better job with more resources. Commissioner
Vincent-Lang believed the governor's budget accurately
reflected the right balance of funding to preserve scarce
resources. He believed that it was the legislature's
decision regarding funding levels for all departments. He
felt that he was "doing a fairly good job." He shared that
when he began the budget was $195 million and grew to $250
million. He along with the governor recognized the value of
added resources for the department. He thought that the
lower PCN count was still troublesome but that the
department was effectively meeting needs and carrying out
its mission.
2:16:10 PM
Ms. Jensen discussed slide 15 titled "Position Vacancy
History." She reminded the committee that roughly half of
the workforce for Divisions of Commercial Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Sport Fish and were permanent part-time
seasonal employees due to field work. She read from
prepared remarks. She delineated that 91 positions had been
deleted in prior years, many of the positions had been
vacant and an increase in positions was necessary to manage
resources effectively. She noted that there was a slightly
higher vacancy percentage due to the creation of new PCN's
that take time to fill. The vacancy rate was expected to
even out as positions were filled.
2:18:13 PM
Ms. Jensen addressed slide 16 titled "FY 2025 Operating
Budget Change Highlights Commercial Fisheries:"
Southeast Region Fisheries Management Total Amount
Add Administrative Assistant 1 (11-#033) to Support
Southeast Region Fisheries Management
$85.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Southeast Region Fisheries Management Inflation
$50.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Add Authority for Commercial Fisheries Project
$200.0 Other 1108 Stat Desig.
Central Region Fisheries Management
Central Region Fisheries Management Inflation
$100.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
AYK Region Fisheries Management
Add and Reclass Two Accounting Technicians (11-#038,
11-7019) to Support Arctic Yukon Kuskokwim Region
Fisheries Management $90.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Arctic Yukon Kuskokwim Region Fisheries Management
Inflation $75.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Ms. Jensen reported that the Southeast region requested the
position due to the increased workload from the Salmon
Treaty Project.
Commissioner Vincent-Lang interjected that there was an
internal survey performed within the department that
discovered the reasons employees were leaving was due to
lack of safety training and increased administrative
workloads for positions like biologists. He was attempting
to address the issue by hiring more administrative staff.
2:19:35 PM
Ms. Jensen continued with slide 16 and discussed the
increases due to inflation.
Commissioner Vincent-Lang added that the reality was that
costs were increasing, and DFG would lose almost $500,000
in management projects if inflationary costs were not
addressed.
Representative Hannan deduced that if the inflationary
increments were adopted, they would be embedded in the
budget as contracts or projects etc. She asked if
alternatively, the funding would be held in an inflation
line in the budget.
Co-Chair Johnson interjected that she did not want to see
an inflation line in the budget and thought it would be
unusual. Representative Hannan asked how the funding would
"disappear into the budget." Co-Chair Johnson was unsure
and thought it would be fairly easy to figure out where it
would appear in the budget.
2:22:45 PM
Representative Ortiz asked how increased costs were
affecting the budget. He asked if there was an opportunity
costs if the legislature did not increase the budget.
Commissioner Vincent-Lang had asked all of the DFG
directors what would happen if inflationary costs were not
addressed. He received a list of projects.
Co-Chair Edgmon observed that inflation affected the
various departments differently. He deduced that the
affects did not mirror what would typically be associated
with the technical definition of inflation and inflationary
costs varied within the state. He referenced slide 14 and
mentioned that as tier I and II employees vacated their
jobs it was still getting more expensive for the department
to do its job. He voiced that experienced workers were
exiting all departments. Commissioner Vincent-Lang
responded that the department also had significant costs in
performing field work and agreed that all across the board
costs were increasing.
2:26:47 PM
Co-Chair Johnson directed the subcommittee to look at the
additional costs of inflation.
Ms. Jensen continued reviewing budget highlights on slide
16. She turned to slide 17 titled "FY 2025 Operating Budget
Change Highlights Commercial Fisheries:"
Westward Region Fisheries Management Total Amount
Add Authority for Commercial Fisheries Projects
$100.0 Other 1108 Stat Desig
Westward Region Fisheries Management Inflation $ 75.0
UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Statewide Fisheries Management
Maintain Pathology Laboratory Services
$35.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Maintain Mark, Tag, and Age Laboratory Services
$50.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Statewide Fisheries Management Inflation
$50.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Add Authority for Commercial Fisheries Projects
$100.0 Other 1108 Stat Designated program Receipts
Alleviate Shortfall in Commercial Crew Member License
Receipts
$783.5 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
$716.5 DFG 1201 CFEC Rcpts
$-1,500.0 DFG 1005 GF/Prgm
Ms. Jensen reviewed the highlights on the slide. She 7
referenced an earlier question by Co-Chair Johnson and
pointed to the last item related to the change in GF
Program Receipts. She delineated that the item reflected a
request for a fund swap to decrease GF Program Receipts by
$1.5 million and increase UGF by $783 thousand and DFG
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) receipts by
$715 thousand.
2:30:55 PM
Commissioner Vincent-Lang added that an unsustainable draw
had been made from crew member licenses in a prior year and
would be drawn down to zero unless rectified.
Representative Hannan asked for clarification regarding the
draw on the crew member license fund. Commissioner Vincent-
Lang responded that the draw was unsustainable compared to
the amount collected. He reminded the committee that he had
cautioned that other funding sources would be necessary if
they wanted to move forward. Representative Hannan asked if
the state was in charge of what the crew member licenses
were sold for and whether he thought that the price of the
license should be adjusted. Commissioner Vincent-Lang
answered that prices were set via statute.
Co-Chair Johnson asked if there was currently a bill
establishing the fees. Commissioner Vincent-Lang answered
it had been discussed for a long time but not acted on.
Co-Chair Edgmon interjected that the last bill passed, HB
137[HB-137-Hunt/Fish/Trap:Fees;Licenses;Exemptions, Chapter
18 SLA 16, 06/13/2016] in 2016 was the most recent bill
that impacted DFG. Commissioner Vincent-Lang recalled that
the general fish tax and crew member tax had not increased.
2:33:27 PM
Ms. Jensen reviewed slide 18 titled FY 2025 Operating
Budget Change Highlights Sport Fisheries and Hatcheries:"
Sport Fisheries Total Amount
Replace Unnecessary Capital Improvement Project
Receipts to Support Existing Programs and Cover
Inflationary Costs:
$1,100.0 Other 1024 Fish/Game
($1,100.0)) Other 1061 CIP Rcpts.
Anchorage and Fairbanks Hatcheries
Sport Fish Hatcheries Utility Increases
**Due to increased utility rates and usage in both
Anchorage and Fairbanks, costs increased nearly $0.5M
between FY 2022 and FY 2023 (49.6% for the Anchorage
hatchery and 75.3% for the Fairbanks hatchery)
$350.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Ms. Jensen remarked that another reason for the fund swap
in the first item was federal dollars were expected to
decrease $1 million in the next fiscal year.
Representative Stapp looked at utilization on slide 18. He
asked if the hatchery in Fairbanks was utilizing more power
or if the 75.3 percent increase reflected increases in
utility costs. Commissioner Vincent-Lang replied that the
department had cut back on production at the Fairbanks
Hatchery a couple of years ago and had recently increased
production, which was reflected in the increase.
2:35:27 PM
Ms. Jensen turned to slide 19 titled "FY 2025 Operating
Budget Change Highlights Wildlife Conservation:"
Wildlife Conservation Total Amount
Add Two Natural Resource Specialists (11-#019, 11-
#020) for Statehood Defense in Federal Subsistence
Board Arena $300.0 Other 1007 I/A Rcpts.
Maintain Endangered Species and Marine Mammals
Programs $1,302.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Restore Authority for Pittman Robertson (PR) Match
**Maintains One-Time Increment from FY 2024
$5,001.0 Other 1024 Fish/Game
Representative Hannan asked what I/A Receipts (Inter
Agency) were and about the two new statehood defense
positions on slide 19. She asked for further descriptions
of the positions. Commissioner Vincent-Lang responded that
managing wildlife populations that crossed between federal
and state lands was critical for providing for a sustained
yield over time. The two positions would interact with the
federal subsistence board on how the federal regulatory
system worked and inform the federal board about the
wildlife data compiled by the state in order to foster
cooperation towards the goal of sustained yield of stocks.
Ms. Jensen added that IA stood for interagency receipts,
which would be paid by the Department of Law (DOL) for the
item on slide 19.
2:38:05 PM
Representative Josephson asked for an example of something
the federal subsistence board was regulating that the state
objected to. Commissioner Vincent-Lang replied that there
had been a federal subsistence board proposal restricting
deer hunting in Southeast to only federally qualified
users. The specialist would share deer population and use
figures to argue whether such a restriction was necessary.
Representative Josephson assumed that the subsistence board
had its own data and felt otherwise. He asked if that was
the point of contention. Commissioner Vincent-Lang answered
that in almost all of the cases the state was the primary
manager of the resource and had all the data. The
specialists would coordinate the information with the
federal subsistence board, which allowed the DFG biologist
to continue their work. He also exemplified proposed
hunting restrictions on the Northwest Alaska Artic Caribou
Herd.
2:41:03 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon asked what statehood defense meant.
Commissioner Vincent-Lang responded it meant to him that he
was defending the rights of Alaskan subsistence users to
participate in harvests when there was a surplus. Co-Chair
Edgmon stated that as far as he knew there was no
definition for statehood defense in statute nor regulation.
He characterized it as a term of art" or catchall phrase
and felt it had become a "trigger" term. He was concerned
with hiring biologists versus attorneys for statehood
defense. He thought it was beneficial for the legislature
to know how the statehood defense money worked its way from
one agency to another. Commissioner Vincent-Lang replied
that he thought statehood defense was a continuum.
2:44:12 PM
Co-Chair Johnson referenced statehood defense on slide 19.
She guessed that part of the funding was for gathering data
that DOL needed to make its case. Commissioner Vincent-Lang
responded in the affirmative. He provided some examples.
Co-Chair Edgmon stated that he was not trying to be
contentious regarding the issue. He mentioned SB 92 (State
Ownership Of Submerged Land) in the House Resources
Committee that expanded the definition of submerged lands
and thought it would meet opposition on the House Floor.
Commissioner Vincent-Lang mentioned an issue of defending
subsistence rights on the Kuskokwim River.
Ms. Jensen continued with the remaining items on slide 19.
Commissioner Vincent-Lang added that DFG received more
Pittman-Robertson funds and felt positive about using Fish
and Game Funds as a match to avoid reversion of Pittman-
Robertson funding.
2:49:24 PM
Representative Hannan asked if Pittman-Robertson funds
could be used for invasive species work for wildlife and
fisheries. Commissioner Vincent-Lang answered in the
affirmative for wildlife, but it was less clear for
fisheries.
Representative Hannan shared she continually heard concerns
that the state was not putting enough time and research in
invasive species. She asked if addressing invasive species
was included in the DFG budget in areas, she was not aware
of. Commissioner Vincent-Lang replied that fortunately they
were able to plug many of the holes with federal funds. He
stated that more could be done. He referenced a hatchery
surcharge bill from the previous year that did not pass. He
commented that DFG was finding unique ways of tackling the
issue.
2:51:21 PM
Representative Cronk referenced Pittman-Robertson Funds. He
asked if the funds could be used to help purchase a
shooting range. Commissioner Vincent-Lang answered in the
affirmative and added that his approach was to work with
any entity that wanted a shooting range and finance it, but
not operate it. He did not want the department responsible
for maintenance or operation of the facility. In response
to a question by Representative Cronk he replied that it
could be an outdoor or indoor range, but it had to be open
to the public for public use.
Ms. Jensen turned to slide 20 titled FY 2025 Operating
Budget Change Highlights Statewide Support Services:"
Administrative Services Total Amount
Soldotna Lease Adjustment $100.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Add Part-Time Program Coordinator 2 (11-#026) for
Safety Program $326.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
$78.2 Other 1007 I/A Rcpts.
Add Three Information Technology Positions (11-#021,
11-#024, 11-#025) for Help Desk $91.4 UGF 1004 Gen
Fund $289.6 Other 1007 I/A Rcpts.
Boards of Fisheries and Game Board Support Travel
$ 15.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Ms. Jensen elaborated that the first item was for leasing a
building owned by the University of Alaska to house DFG
seasonal employees. The current lease was terminated due to
poor conditions in the building. She discussed the need for
safety programs due to the varied field work of the
department as well as the need for additional Help Desk
staff.
2:56:17 PM
Ms. Jensen highlighted slide 21 "FY 2025 Operating Budget
Change Highlights State Subsistence Research:"
State Subsistence Research Total Amount
Pittman Robertson Increased Projects
$100.0 Other 1061 CIP Rcpts.
State Subsistence Research Inflation (Governor Amend)
$205.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Support for Additional State Subsistence Research
Projects (Governor Amend) $210.0 Other 1061 CIP Rcpts.
Ms. Jensen addressed slide 22 titled "FY2024 Operating
Budget Supplemental Commercial Fisheries:"
Southeast Region Fisheries Management Total Amount Add
Authority for Pacific Salmon Commission Northern Fund
Projects $300.0 Other 1108 Stat Desig.
Statewide Fisheries Management Maintain Pathology
Laboratory Services $35.0 UGF 1004 Gen Fund
Align Authority for Commercial Fisheries Projects
$100.0 Other 1108 Stat Desig.
Co-Chair Johnson asked for the total amount for
supplemental items in the governor's amended budget. Ms.
Jensen responded that it was only the items listed on slide
22 and 23.
Commissioner Vincent-Lang interjected that the department
had a very modest supplemental request.
Presented slide 23 titled "FY2024 Operating Budget
Supplemental State Subsistence Research:"
State Subsistence Research Total Amount
Support for Additional State Subsistence Research
Projects $210.0 Other 1061 CIP Rcpts.
Moved to slide 24 titled "Issues/Concerns
Defending Against Federal Erosion of State Management
Authority
Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection
Act Challenges
Recruitment and Retention
Vessels and Aircraft Maintenance and Replacement
Maintaining Sustainable Fisheries and Opportunities
Bering Sea Crab Research Funding
Coastal Western Alaska Salmon Fisheries
Intercept and Bycatch
Federal Fisheries/Upper Cook Inlet Salmon Fishery
Implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty
Invasive Species
2:58:33 PM
Representative Josephson cited the Endangered Species Act
and Marine Mammal Protection Act challenges on slide 24. He
wondered whether the state ever concurred with a claim.
Commissioner Vincent-Lang answered in the affirmative and
indicated that the state agreed with the extremely low
population of North Pacific Right Whales and would never
question its listing as an endangered species.
Representative Josephson asked what the state was doing to
aid right whales. Commissioner Vincent-Lang answered that
the department was trying to work with the National Marine
Fisheries Service to get an accurate count of right whales'
sightings in the waters off the South Aleutians and the
Bering Strait in order to develop a reasonable and prudent
management regime to prevent interactions. He discussed
DFG's approach when dealing with endangered species
listings using research and working with agencies to help
them make reasonable and prudent decisions.
HB 268 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 270 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Johnson reviewed the schedule for the following
day.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| ADFG HFIN FY25 Budget Overview Presentation 02.26.24.pdf |
HFIN 2/26/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 268 |