03/27/2008 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

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,  LB&A  COMMITTEE,   REPRESENTATIVE  RALPH                                                                   
SAMUELS, said  the bill  extends the sunset  date of  the Big                                                                   
Game  Commercial  Services  Board.    It  complies  with  the                                                                   
recommendation  of the Division  of Legislative  Audit, which                                                                   
recently reviewed the activities of the Board.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
PAT   DAVIDSON,  LEGISLATIVE   AUDITOR,   LEGISLATIVE   AUDIT                                                                   
DIVISION,   LEGISLATIVE   AFFAIRS   AGENCY,   explained   the                                                                   
recommendation to increase the  Board for four years based on                                                                   
the fact  that the Board has  only been in operation  for two                                                                   
years after being restarted.   There were also administrative                                                                   
difficulties that could be improved.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  asked if any  complaints had  been received                                                                   
from  hunters.   Ms.  Davidson spoke  of  the sunset  review,                                                                   
which looked  at investigations.   The Board is  dealing with                                                                   
the issues that come before it.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman asked  if the  oversight of  guides is  the                                                                   
same on federal lands as it is  on state lands.  Ms. Davidson                                                                   
explained  that  the  Board  licenses   individuals  who  are                                                                   
licensed  guides.   The differing  landowners have  differing                                                                   
requirements of the people that operate on their land.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:52:31 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Thomas asked  if it was possible for  someone to come                                                                   
back  and work  in the  industry after  having their  license                                                                   
removed.   Ms.  Davidson replied  that  there is  a range  of                                                                   
sanctions with any disciplinary action.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
PAUL  JOHNSON, CHAIR,  BIG  GAME COMMERCIAL  SERVICES  BOARD,                                                                   
said if a person  has had their license pulled,  they may not                                                                   
return as a transporter until  their restitution is done.  He                                                                   
commented on how permits were issued on various lands.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
JENNIFER STRICKLER,  CHIEF, PROFESSIONAL LICENSING,  DIVISION                                                                   
OF  CORPORATIONS,   BUSINESS,  AND  PROFESSIONAL   LICENSING,                                                                   
DEPARTMENT OF  COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT,                                                                   
testified  in support the  bill and  the continuation  of the                                                                   
Board.   She  noted  that the  Board has  made  an effort  to                                                                   
strengthen the licensing laws for guides.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Strickler described projects  the Board has been involved                                                                   
with.  She pointed out that the  fiscal note is not a request                                                                   
for new  funds.  It  is based on  an annual average  of costs                                                                   
because licenses are based on  a biannual period.  She listed                                                                   
expensed covered in the fiscal note.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:57:50 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ROBERT  FITHIAN,  EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR,   ALASKA  PROFESSIONAL                                                                   
HUNTERS  ASSOCIATION,  spoke   in  favor  of  HB  315.    The                                                                   
professional  guide  industry  is  very  important  to  rural                                                                   
Alaska.    It is  dependant  on  three  stewardship  factors:                                                                   
industry  stewardship,  prudent   wildlife  stewardship,  and                                                                   
public  land   access  opportunity.     The  Board   provides                                                                   
oversight and accountability in these areas.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  commented  about the  composition  of  the                                                                   
Board of Fish.   He inquired if there has been  discussion or                                                                   
issues regarding the composition of the Board of Game.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Johnson replied  positively about the composition  of the                                                                   
Board.    He  said there  was  a  recent  private  landholder                                                                   
appointment.    Co-Chair  Hoffman commented  on  the  largest                                                                   
private landholders,  Native Corporations.  He  asked if they                                                                   
were represented  as one  of the  two private landholders  on                                                                   
the Board.  Mr. Johnson said that was correct.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
11:00:21 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman MOVED  to REPORT  HB 315  out of  Committee                                                                   
with individual  recommendations and the  accompanying fiscal                                                                   
note.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HB 315 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"                                                                           
recommendation and with fiscal note #3 by Department of                                                                         
Commerce, Community and Economic Development.