Legislature(2007 - 2008)HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/05/2008 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority | |
| HB315 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HB 315 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 315
"An Act extending the termination date of the Big Game
Commercial Services Board; and providing for an
effective date."
LINDA HAY, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE RALPH SAMUELS, described
House Bill 315 as an extension of the Big Game Commercial
Services Board to June 30, 2012, at the recommendation of
the Legislative Audit Division.
PAT DAVIDSON, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
AGENCY, explained that the Big Game Commercial Services
Board was reconstituted approximately two years ago.
Normally sunset extensions are around eight years. The Board
had only two years of activity under their belt at the time
of the review.
2:55:53 PM
Legislative Audit recommended a four-year extension. Most of
the other recommendations were administrative. Legislative
Audit recommended that fees be increased to cover the costs
generated by the Board.
2:57:48 PM
PAUL JOHNSON, PRESIDENT, BIG GAME COMMERCIAL SERVICES BOARD,
spoke in favor of the bill. He reported that the Board spent
the past two years getting up and running, and that its
members are volunteers.
Mr. Johnson said in response to a query by Representative
Kelly that his biggest concern was addressing complaints
that have come in after a ten-year lapse. He reported that
the Board now has a good investigator, great support from
the Department of Commerce and have been working on their
image.
ROBERT FITHIAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA PROFESSIONAL
HUNTERS' ASSOCIATION (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE) spoke in
support of HB 315. He believes the oversight board is vital
to the integrity of Alaska's guide and transporter
industries, to prudent wildlife conservation, and to
sustainable economy in rural Alaska. The Board also
represents a much needed buffer between Alaska's public
resources of wildlife and wild lands, and exploitation by
the professional guide and transporter industries.
Mr. Fithian said that six years ago Alaska had a blemished
image in relation to how the State managed guide industries
and wildlife, and the lack of consumer protection. He
described the three years of hard work re-creating the
Board. In a recent meeting with a worldwide group of guide
and outfitter association representatives, people from all
over the world requested the footprint for how Alaska
established the current guide and outfitting licensing
standards. He said the Board is working exceptionally well,
supported by all affiliated state and federal agencies. The
Board carries its own weight financially.
3:03:10 PM
Vice-Chair Stoltze observed that the United States
Department of Agriculture is in favor of this bill. He
wondered why the federal government is interested in the
issue.
Mr. Johnson explained that the Board has learned from
experience that cooperating with the federal agencies on
land use and other issues, then the State can make its own
laws and regulations with local input.
3:05:14 PM
Co-Chair Meyer opened discussion of the new fiscal note.
JENNIFER STRICKLER, LICENSING CHIEF, DIVISION OF
CORPORATIONS BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING,
DEPTARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
pointed out that the fiscal note before the Committee
reflects both direct and indirect costs to the Big Game
Commercial Services Board. She explained that all
professional licensing programs are responsible by statute
for covering costs through licensing fees. The Board's costs
are built into the standard operating budget.
Ms. Strickler explained that the Board is staffed by two
full-time occupational examiner positions. One of the
positions is currently vacant due to difficulties in
recruiting because of the pay ranges. The Board is receiving
the support of a dedicated investigator. Other costs are
indirect costs, for example, the supervisors that have been
sitting in with the licensing examiners to help staff the
Board and the regulations specialists that have helped to
promulgate the regulations and other management costs.
3:07:19 PM
Co-Chair Chenault wanted clarification regarding travel
costs which he thought looked high.
Ms. Strickler indicated that the Board meets twice a year.
Licensing examinations are given during the meeting because
the presence Board members and staff are necessary to
conduct examinations. The meeting lasts for a week and costs
around $35,000. Sometimes members are required to fly exam
proctors (professional licensees) to come and help with the
exams. If the proctors can drive, their mileage is covered.
Co-Chair Chenault asked if all the other costs were covered
in the $108,000 for contractual services. Ms. Strickler
answered that the contractual costs cover legal fees, expert
witnesses and also re-writes of the guide licensing
examinations. The examination is currently being re-written,
which is a major undertaking. Co-Chair Chenault asked if the
examinations would be re-written every year. Ms. Strickler
hoped not, but explained that the examination is extensive.
Co-Chair Chenault pointed out that the cost was projected
out through the length of the extension. He noted the Board
has nine board members.
3:10:11 PM
Co-Chair Meyer had further questions about travel costs. He
pointed out that if the Board meets twice each year, at a
cost of $35,000 each meeting, the total would be $70,000. He
asked what the other $30,000 on the fiscal note was used
for.
Ms. Strickler answered that the Board sends investigators to
conferences outside Alaska. The investigators also work with
other law enforcement agencies, such as Fish and Wildlife
Protection, and need to travel to hearings.
Co-Chair Meyer thought the justification sounded weak. Co-
Chair Chenault wanted to know how many investigators the
Board utilized. Ms. Strickler answered one there was one
investigator, with one position for investigator still open.
Representative Kelly wondered if the position that hasn't
been filled could be eliminated since the Board is
performing so well without it. Ms. Strickler answered that
currently a supervisor is filling in as much as she can.
However, there are major projects require much staff time,
including the guide scanning project. The Board is always
behind with requests from enforcement officers for these
records. Once that process is completed, she thought one
staff position to the Board could be reduced.
3:13:16 PM
Representative Kelly thought more information was needed and
that the vacancy rate was a budget issue. Co-Chair Meyer
thought the bill could be passed out of committee with the
current fiscal note and then changes could still be made in
the budget. Representative Hawker observed that as a
statutory board, the Board is separately accounted and not
part of the Department's general fund budget.
Representative Joule added that the absence of the Board for
about ten years created significant problems. He referred to
the effort taken to get the Board running again and noted
that part of the Board's success will depend on how well it
is maintained. He understood the need to scrutinize but did
not want the Board to fall behind again. Representative
Kelly thought any problems could be handled in committee.
3:16:07 PM
Representative Hawker asked if the fiscal note reflects the
increase in fee rates. He wondered how personal services
positions are acquired. Ms. Strickler answered that personal
services positions are not listed on the fiscal note because
they are not exclusively authorized through the budget
process. Occupational licensing examiner positions are
authorized through the Division's budget. Management assigns
the various licensing programs to the positions.
Representative Hawker discussed the difference between
contractual services to an agency and personal services.
3:18:42 PM
Co-Chair Chenault MOVED to REPORT HB 315 out of Committee
with individual recommendations and the new attached fiscal
note dated 2/4/08. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so
ordered.
HB 315 was reported out of Committee with a "no
recommendation" and with a new fiscal note by the Department
of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.
#
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 3:19 PM.
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