Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
04/03/2023 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Consideration of Governor Appointees | |
| HB103 | |
| SB78 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 103 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 78 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 78-HUNT/FISH LICENSE FOR NONRESIDENT STUDENT
3:46:42 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.
78 "An Act relating to hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses
for certain nonresident postsecondary students; and providing
for an effective date."
He invited the sponsor to introduce the bill.
3:47:05 PM
SENATOR DAVID WILSON, District N, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 78 introduced the legislation
speaking to the sponsor statement:
Senate Bill 78 adds a new non-resident student
hunting, fishing, and trapping license. Upon passage
of this legislation, a non-resident student enrolled
in classes part time, as determined by their school,
can purchase a license at resident cost. This does not
change any regulations or the cost of tags.
Research shows hunting and fishing have declined since
the 1960s. As the percentage of the population that
hunts, fishes, and traps declines, so does our
conservation funding. Conservation funding by federal
statutes (Pittman-Robertson Act, Dingell-Johnson Act,
Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, etc.) is directly
tied to excise taxes on things like ammunition,
firearms, archery and fishing equipment. These taxes
are then distributed to the states' fish and game
departments for conservation and management efforts.
To access these federal dollars, the states must match
the funding, Alaska does so by utilizing the revenue
from hunting and fishing licenses. The direct
correlation between our hunters and our conservation
ability cannot be overlooked. It is critical that we
encourage younger generations to participate in these
wonderful outdoor activities. While COVID saw an
uptick in licensees due to indoor activity closures,
we cannot rely on a pandemic to increase
participation.
Though hunting and fishing may not be easy hobbies to
pick up, an additional financial burden may make it
even harder. Many younger students who might be
interested in learning how to hunt and fish are also
trying to pay for college life. Lowering the license
cost non-resident students pay may encourage them to
go hunting and fishing with their fellow residents.
3:51:33 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL asked him to clarify that these students would
be enrolled in Alaska post-secondary institutions.
SENATOR WILSON confirmed that the students would be enrolled in
a postsecondary school in Alaska. He directed attention to the
language in Section 2, page 2, line 5 that identifies an
individual who is enrolled as a student either half- or full-
time at a postsecondary institution described under AS
14.43.830(a). This statute identifies a qualified post-secondary
school for purposes of qualifying for a state loan.
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL asked for confirmation that the license program
would apply only to students enrolled on the ground in Alaska.
SENATOR WILSON confirmed they would need to be enrolled in
Alaska's higher education system.
3:53:41 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI offered his understanding that if the bill were
to pass, a non-resident student who is enrolled at UAF would be
entitled to a hunting, fishing, or trapping license at the
resident price, so the cost would be less.
SENATOR WILSON said that's correct. A resident hunting and
fishing license costs $60, whereas the cost is $260 for a non-
resident.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked whether these students would be entitled
to a fishing and hunting license under the indigent
circumstances provision in statute.
SENATOR WILSON offered his understanding that those exceptions
only apply to residents.
CO-CHAIR BISHOP suggested he follow up with the specifics.
SENATOR WILSON said the ADF&G webpage that talks about the cost
of licenses does not list an income-based hunting and fishing
license for non-residents.
3:55:37 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked whether the proposed license for non-
resident students would qualify them to become a personal use
fisher in the dipnet fishery.
SENATOR WILSON said no; these individuals would not be eligible
for those activities.
SENATOR CLAMAN expressed concern about including half-time
students. He said he periodically hears about individuals taking
a surprisingly small number of classes and still receiving
student status.
SENATOR WILSON said he and the commissioner discussed that
possibility and that's the reason half-time student is
specified. Somebody couldn't qualify by enrolling in a "quick
online class." He paraphrased the definition for financial aid
programs for post-secondary students.
3:58:51 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked how half-time student and fulltime student
are defined in AS 14.43.160.
3:59:39 PM
At ease
3:59:46 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP reconvened the meeting.
SENATOR WILSON read the definition of half-time student in AS
14.43.160:
(4) "half-time student" means an undergraduate,
graduate, or career education student who, during the
semester, is enrolled and is in regular attendance at
classes at one or more public or private institutions
of higher education for six to 11 semester credit
hours or an equivalent of six to 11 semester credit
hours, and includes a career education student
enrolled and in regular attendance in classes for 15
hours a week or a graduate student who is enrolled and
is in regular attendance at classes for the equivalent
of six to eight semester hours of credit or the
equivalent;
4:00:43 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the intent was to include half-
time students who live out-of-state and enroll in online courses
or if there's a requirement for the students to live in Alaska
while attending school.
SENATOR WILSON referenced the definition that specifies that the
individual has to be enrolled in a school or university that is
physically located in Alaska.
CO-CHAIR BISHOP observed that that definition didn't say the
individual must be domiciled in Alaska.
SENATOR WILSON agreed then added that the idea was that the
individual would not live in Alaska fulltime. Maintaining their
out-of-state residency may be required for their scholarship or
other financial benefit. They are still contributing to this
state by living here part-time and going to school.
4:02:21 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked whether a student had to be enrolled in
an Alaska post-secondary institution at the time that they apply
for a license.
SENATOR WILSON answered that the individual would need to be
enrolled at the time they apply for the license.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked whether foreign students would qualify.
SENATOR WILSON said no.
4:04:06 PM
GINA ESKOLA, Staff, Senator David Wilson, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the sectional analysis
for SB 78 on behalf of the sponsor.
Section 1: Amends the section to include the new
nonresident postsecondary student license.
Section 2: Adds a new subsection allowing for
nonresident students who are enrolled half-time or
part-time in postsecondary education to purchase a
special nonresident postsecondary student license for
sport fishing, hunting, or trapping at the same cost
as a resident license.
Section 3: Provides uncodified law that allows the
Department of Fish and Game to adopt regulations to
implement to the new license.
Section 4: Provides for an effective date.
Section 5: Provides for an effective date.
4:05:02 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP opened public testimony on SB 78; finding none,
he closed public testimony and held the bill in committee.