Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
03/01/2017 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB60 | |
| SB44 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 60 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 44 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 60-FISH & GAME: OFFENSES;LICENSES;PENALTIES
3:30:43 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced consideration of SB 60 and opened public
testimony. She said SB 60 was proposed by the State Troopers,
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, and Alaska Department of Fish and
Game. It would increase the fines for violations.
DICK ROHRER, representing himself, Kodiak, Alaska, supported SB
60. However he questioned if a violation in other countries like
Mexico and Canada should be included in section 2. He liked the
opportunity in section 3 for someone to be able to show their
license later when they don't have it on them. He fully
supported the increased fees in section 17 and especially the
qualifier in section 18 where if a person makes a mistake and
turns it in immediately they are not subject to those fines.
CHAIR GIESSEL thanked him and noted that the bill has another
referral to the Judiciary Committee, and three of those members
are on this committee and they will take his comments forward.
AL BARRETTE, representing himself, Fairbanks, Alaska, supported
SB 60, adding that all of his questions were answered by Major
Chastain. However, he asked the committee to consider removing
the taxidermy license requirement on page 2, line 6. He is not
opposed to licenses, but he is opposed to redundant licensing.
He has a business license for a fur tannery and now he is also
now being required to have this taxidermy license, which is a
duplicate of the ADF&G license and costs $100 a year. He doesn't
know where that money goes or what it is used for. He knows it
doesn't directly affect any taxidermist or the industry in this
state. He suggested they contact other taxidermists to get
support for that amendment.
CHAIR GIESSEL thanked him and said she hadn't heard from any
other taxidermists. She asked Mr. Dale to respond to the
comments about the taxidermy license.
3:35:04 PM
BRUCE DALE, Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Palmer, Alaska, answered
that they did some research on the taxidermy license and found
that the money goes to the general fund and is not directly
returned to the department for any special purpose. The
licensing requirement provides a statutory basis for regulations
relative to taxidermy and taxidermists. At this time those
regulations say that sale of game trophies is illegal. However,
licensed taxidermists can get a permit from the department - if
they can show they have tried to contact the owner if he hasn't
paid for it or picked it up after six months - to sell the
trophy which they otherwise wouldn't be able to do. This type of
permit is used 9 or 10 times a year by licensed taxidermists and
involves a pretty insignificant amount of time, about a day or a
day and a half.
MR. DALE said the taxidermist license is $200 every two years
and the program takes in about $13,000 annually (to the general
fund). The amount of the licensing is more than what it costs to
administer the regulations. But the license itself does provide
the basis by which the board or commissioner can make
regulations for taxidermy.
CHAIR GIESSEL thanked him and reiterated that the bill will move
to the Judiciary Committee where the chair, Senator Coghill,
would address the issue.
SENATOR COGHILL said he would probably look at it in the context
of what other places have a permit or licensing requirement and
still have to get a business license.
CHAIR GIESSEL, finding no further comments, closed public
testimony.
SENATOR STEDMAN said it seems like the double increase in fines
might be justified by inflation since they were last set in
1988, but doubling them will not stop commercial fishermen from
violating. It seems to be just another penalty added to a long
list of other actions that can be taken against them. He wanted
the Judiciary Committee to look at the impact of these fines on
everyone, especially commercial fishermen.
CHAIR GIESSEL said along with that issue, they talked about the
discretion given to the prosecutor in terms of the level of
discipline. That is also a Judicial Committee issue.
MAJOR BERNARD CHASTAIN, Deputy Director, Alaska Wildlife
Troopers, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Anchorage,
Alaska, said he would be happy to talk to the Judiciary
Committee about the commercial fishing strict liability
penalties and with Senator Stedman if he has additional
questions.
3:41:34 PM
SENATOR COGHILL moved to report SB 60, version A, from committee
with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
There were no objections and it was so ordered.