Legislature(2013 - 2014)BUTROVICH 205
04/05/2014 09:00 AM Senate RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearings: | |
| Board of Game | |
| HB268 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 268 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 268-BIG BULL MOOSE DERBIES; SNOW TOWN ICE CL.
CHAIR GIESSEL announced HB 268 to be up for consideration [CSHB
268(FIN), version 28-LS0851\P was before the committee].
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON, sponsor of HB 268, explained that this
bill is a big bull moose derby that started with the Tanana
Valley Sportsmen's Association and the UAF Rifle Team to be able
to earn funds to a competition based on what is already in
statute for hunting. You would still have to get all the same
permits and follow the regulations in the area you are hunting,
and this would allow them to have a derby.
As most bills go, it picked up a "little sister" and that is the
Snow Town Ice Classic in Valdez that would help those who
advocate for victims of violence. The City of Valdez has offered
to help them do this ice classic that would be very much like
the one in Nenana.
The reason this is in front of them is that all derbies and
classics by statute must go through this process. Resources are
decreasing and so they are asking the state's non-profits to
find other ways of getting funding. The Tanana Valley
Sportsmen's Association (TVSA) had a fire several years ago and
has been rebuilding since then. They provide shooting for not
just the UAF Rife Team, but most of the high schoolers, and have
clinics for the youngsters. This would be another way for them
to be able to finish their facility without coming to the
legislature for funds.
CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony.
10:31:18 AM
ROWENA APLOMAR, Advocates for Victims of Violence (AVV), Valdez,
Alaska, supported HB 268. She related how they need $25,000 more
to meet their needs. She said AVV is one of the 20 programs that
provide services to victims of domestic violence and sexual
assault. They serve 18 communities from Glennallen to Valdez;
their shelter and main office is also located in Valdez. For
FY13/14 their basic operating costs have risen over $20,000 with
increased transportation for victims from villages, shelter
utility, energy, and insurance costs. At the current state
funding level, they would need an additional $25,000 to continue
to meet victims' basic needs. Unfortunately, the current
proposed increment in the state's funding of about $285,000 will
be divided among 20 programs throughout Alaska. AVV will need to
make up for the difference or be forced to cut services. They
hope that being eligible to receive funding from this classic
would make up the projected shortfall.
10:33:03 AM
DAN JORDAN, Head Rifle Team Coach, University of Alaska
Fairbanks (UAF), Fairbanks, Alaska, supported HB 268. He
explained that UAF has had a very successful rifle team and
shooting programs going all the way back to 1925; they have won
10 national championships and have had multiple all-Americans
and Olympians come out of the program. Being a university
program, they are subject to state funding and are already
planning on a 3 percent decrease in their budget next year, if
not more, and as a result, are looking for other funding
options. This big bull derby is one way they think could take
them a long way to being self-sufficient.
MIKE TINKER, Tanana Valley Sportsman Association (TVSA), Ester,
Alaska, supported HB 268. He said his family including his
grandchildren are members and he has looked for funding support
for that organization and the UAF Rifle Team for a long time.
He said they talked about the big bull moose derby with the UAF
and the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development (DCCED) about how they might expand their raffle
permit into the derby concept. Representative T. Wilson looked
into it and found two avenues to choose from: one was to try to
fit under the concept of animal classics, but the DCCED said
that would require an amendment and recommended adding specific
language and they picked up the Valdez Snow Derby along the way.
MR. TINKER said questions had been raised about whether this
would create a demand for new hunters in the state, because
people would run out and try to make a lot of money off the
biggest moose. In their discussion with hunters and with the
ADF&G, no one forecasts that would be a problem. He explained
that the prizes would be set up so that there would a prize for
the biggest moose antler of the year and a drawing where
everyone would have a chances to win something.
SENATOR DYSON asked the sponsor if she knew of any opposition.
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON responded that one person believed that
someone would go out and shoot a moose and it wouldn't be large
enough and go shoot another one, but she said these hunters must
go through the same permitting process and are subject to the
same regulations as other hunters. Some areas even require a
certain size of antlers.
10:39:41 AM
SENATOR BISHOP asked Mr. Tinker if the TVSA will provide a
measuring station and officials who perform actual measurements
and if they will use Boone and Crockett measuring standards,
because there are different ways of measuring moose antlers.
MR. TINKER replied that they hadn't come up with a formula for
measuring antlers, but it will be simple and one that everyone
will understand, within the derby rules.
10:41:19 AM
AL BARRETTE, representing himself, Fairbanks, Alaska, supported
HB 268. He was glad both organizations got together to
brainstorm for ways of solving budget issues for both
organizations. He assured them that no more moose tags will be
issued; this is just a raffle. However, he stated that already
in two-thirds of all the moose units you can hunt moose in you
have to shoot a 50-inch or larger moose.
GRANT LEWIS, President, Tanana Valley Sportsmen's Association
(TVSA), Fairbanks, Alaska, supported HB 268. Their emphasis has
been on safe fire arms education. All of the local high schools
are using their facility, but they had a fire in 2007. They are
still working on their new building on a week-to-week basis with
volunteers. With the money they get from this classic they hope
to finish their facility and continue hunter education programs.
CHAIR GIESSEL thanked him saying that she had seen the facility
that is lovely and a wonderful asset to Fairbanks.
VIRGIL UMPHENOUR, representing himself, said he had been a
member of TVSA since 1971 and supported HB 268. His whole family
were competitive rifle shooters and learned hunter safety and
hunter education at TVSA. UAF has one of the best rifle teams in
the country. It will raise money for things that are truly
unique to Alaska.
10:46:16 AM
GEORGE PIERCE, representing himself, Kasilof, Alaska, opposed HB
268. He said the moose belong to Alaska and not the non-profits
to make money on or for non-residents, 85 percent of whom take
only the horns and donate the meat. Stop using our game to make
money especially in areas with low game numbers, he urged.
10:48:44 AM
DARRYL VERFAILLIE, Director, Parks, Recreation and Cultural
Services, Valdez, Alaska, informed them of the city's
participation in the ice classic. He explained the City of
Valdez would not receive any revenues from the ice classic; they
would simply coordinate the event on behalf of AVV, assist with
the advertising and provide monitoring of the event. In short,
they would act as a force multiplier for AVV moving towards
self-sustainability of the programing.
CHAIR GIESSEL found no further testimony and closed public
testimony.
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON closed in saying this is going with
what ADF&G does currently. What happens if one of the gaming
areas is closed? It will be closed. This will not give any more
permits and not manage anything. It will use the rules that
already exist.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if this is any different in concept than
the silver salmon derbies where you get a prize for catching the
biggest fish.
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON replied that it is exactly like halibut
and salmon derbies and should be approximately the same way.
SENATOR DYSON moved to report CSHB 268(FIN), 28-LS0851\P, from
committee with attached zero fiscal note and individual
recommendations. There were no objections and it was so ordered.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SRES Fisheries Appointment - Jeffrey.pdf |
SRES 4/5/2014 9:00:00 AM |
|
| SRES Fisheries Appointment - Morisky.pdf |
SRES 4/5/2014 9:00:00 AM |
|
| SRES Fisheries Appointment- Jensen.pdf |
SRES 4/5/2014 9:00:00 AM |
|
| SRES Game Appointment - Hoffman Jr.pdf |
SRES 4/5/2014 9:00:00 AM |
|
| SRES Game Appointment- Spraker.pdf |
SRES 4/5/2014 9:00:00 AM |
|
| SRES Game Appointment - Brown.pdf |
SRES 4/5/2014 9:00:00 AM |