04/10/2014 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 268(FIN)                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to big bull moose derbies and the                                                                         
     Snow Town Ice Classic; and relating to permits for                                                                         
     games of chance and contests of skill."                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:10:50 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:11:23 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   TAMMIE   WILSON,    presented   a   sponsor                                                                    
statement:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     House Bill 268 would allow the Tanana Valley Sportsmen                                                                     
     Association and the Advocates for Victims of Violence                                                                      
     to raise funds for their nonprofit organizations.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
    The big bull moose derbies would be managed by the                                                                          
     Tanana Valley Sportsmen Association and will operate                                                                       
     much like other contests already allowed under                                                                             
     statute. This will take place during the annual moose                                                                      
     season, by individuals that have acquired all the                                                                          
     proper documentation already implemented by the State                                                                      
     of Alaska to stay within the legal boundaries of the                                                                       
     moose season. Participants must purchase a derby                                                                           
     ticket prior to the open day of the season. Prizes are                                                                     
     awarded based on the size or spread of the moose                                                                           
     antlers. Anyone who enters a bull would, regardless of                                                                     
     the antler spread, be entered into a drawing for                                                                           
     prizes.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     The Tanana Valley Sportsmen's Association is a                                                                             
     nonprofit organization that hosts training and                                                                             
     completion events for the nationally ranked University                                                                     
     of Alaska Nanooks Rifle Team as well as the local high                                                                     
    schools. It is home to a multitude of community and                                                                         
     school events; NCAA tournaments, biathlon training &                                                                       
     competition, gun safety and personal protection                                                                            
     classes are among the many. House Bill 268 would allow                                                                     
     the raising of funds to further the use of the Tanana                                                                      
     Valley Sportsmen's Association club house and support                                                                      
     the efforts of the nationally ranked UAF Nanooks Rifle                                                                     
     team who has produced Olympic level competitors.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     The Snow Town Ice Classic will be operated and                                                                             
     administered by the Advocates for Victims of Violence.                                                                     
     Participants must purchase a ticket and guess the                                                                          
    total of snow accumulation in the town. Winners are                                                                         
     determined by the closest guess of what the total snow                                                                     
     accumulation.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     The Advocates for Victims of Violence is a nonprofit                                                                       
     organization that is committed to ending domestic                                                                          
     violence and sexual assault. Advocates for Victims of                                                                      
     Violence provide confidential services to victims and                                                                      
     their families and operates a safe shelter for woman                                                                       
     and their children. A total of 18 communities are                                                                          
     directly served by Advocates for Victims of Violence                                                                       
     including Chitina, Glennallen, McCarthy, and Valdez.                                                                       
    House Bill 268 would allow the raising of funds to                                                                          
    help serve the women and children that stay in the                                                                          
     shelter and allow the Advocates for Victims of                                                                             
     Violence to continue to strive to end domestic                                                                             
     violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:13:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson asked whether the bill had faced any                                                                              
opposition.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Wilson that there was one individual that                                                                        
had opposed the legislation on the grounds that the contest                                                                     
would draw too many out-of-state hunters.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:14:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer noted that public testimony on the bill                                                                          
would be taken at a later date. He discussed housekeeping                                                                       
for the following day and into the weekend.