Legislature(2025 - 2026)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/06/2025 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB80 | |
| SB109 | |
| SB73 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 80 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 109 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 73 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 113 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE BILL NO. 80
"An Act extending the termination date of the Big Game
Commercial Services Board; extending the termination
date of the Board of Massage Therapists; extending the
termination date of the Marijuana Control Board; and
providing for an effective date."
9:04:24 AM
Co-Chair Stedman relayed that it was the first hearing for
SB 80. The committee would hear the bill sponsor, invited
testimony, and public testimony.
9:05:02 AM
SENATOR JESSE BJORKMAN, SPONSOR, relayed that SB 80
extended the sunset dates of three boards: The Board of
Massage Therapists, The Big Game Commercial Services Board,
and The Marijuana Control Board. The bill backdates the
board extensions from SB 189, passed in the previous
session, and provided for an immediate effective date.
Co-Chair Stedman asked for more detail on the Big Game
Commercial Services Board.
Senator Bjorkman explained that the Big Game Commercial
Services Board was composed of 9 members who prepared and
issued guide licenses, adopted regulations, and assisted
the Department of Public Safety and the Department of
Commerce and Community Development in big game
investigations. The board provided guides with guidance,
and a voice, in regulating their profession.
Co-Chair Stedman opened invited and public testimony.
9:07:29 AM
CABOT PITTS, CHAIR, ALASKA PROFESSIONAL HUNTERS
ASSOCIATION, WASILLA (via teleconference), testified in
support of the legislation. He asserted that the board was
necessary for the long-term health of the guiding industry
in Alaska. He believed that it was in the best interest of
the state and the public to have well qualified hunting
guides and the board maintained that integrity. He said
that if the board were to sunset, oral testing would not be
possible and licensing standards would suffer. He stated
that the apprenticeship process of guide licensing was
particularly attractive to those in rural areas, and the
method of training guides through culminated in written
testing and oral boards, which were only possible with the
licensing board. He spoke to the board's previous debt,
which was zeroed out by licensing fees and was now in the
black.
9:09:32 AM
AT EASE
9:09:49 AM
RECONVENED
9:11:32 AM
LACY WILCOX, VICE PRESIDENT, ALASKA MARIJUANA INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION, JUNEAU (via teleconference),
9:11:10 AM
Co-Chair Stedman CLOSED public testimony.
9:12:00 AM
AT EASE
9:12:30 AM
RECONVENED
Senator Merrick MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee
substitute for SB 80, Work Draft 34-LS0416\N (Nauman,
2/17/25). There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
9:13:05 AM
LIZ HARPOLD, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, addressed the
Committee Substitute (CS). She explained that the changes
from Version A to Version N:
Title: Adds the Alaska Commission on Aging
Sections 5 and 6: Extends the termination date for the
Alaska Commission on Aging from 2024 to 2032
Sections 7 - 11: Previous sections 5 - 9, renumbered
Co-Chair Stedman announced that amendments to the bill were
due the following day.
SB 80 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.