03/06/2024 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

         SB 168-COMPENSATION FOR WRONGFULLY SEIZED GAME                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
3:31:18 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR BISHOP  announced the consideration  of SENATE  BILL NO.                                                               
168 "An Act relating to wrongfully seized game."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:31:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR BISHOP announced public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:32:06 PM                                                                                                                    
ELIZABETH  THOMAS, representing  self, Juneau,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in support  of SB 168.  She recounted being cited  for harvesting                                                               
an illegal bull in 2021 and  was found not guilty. She noted that                                                               
the game  was donated  before her plea,  and despite  winning her                                                               
appeal, she is still awaiting the return of her property.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:33:37 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked who the appeal was made to.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:33:44 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. THOMAS  replied that the  Alaska State Troopers  appealed the                                                               
State's  decision,  which  was  made  by  Magistrate  Newport  in                                                               
Petersburg.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:34:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL asked whether she supports or opposes SB 168.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:34:14 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. THOMAS replied that she supports SB 168.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:34:25 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI acknowledged  having an extensive discussion                                                               
with Ms.  Thomas on this case.  He asked for confirmation  of his                                                               
understanding that the situation involved  hunting a moose with a                                                               
broken tine,  which was confiscated  by an Alaska  State Trooper.                                                               
The  moose weighed  approximately  1,000 pounds,  resulting in  a                                                               
loss of  1,000 pounds of  meat, and  has still not  been returned                                                               
after two years.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:34:56 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. THOMAS replied that is correct.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:35:11 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR  said that at  the last committee  hearing, Alaska                                                               
Department  of Fish  and Game  (ADFG) claimed  that efforts  were                                                               
made to  find a replacement  animal for  the lost meat.  He asked                                                               
whether  the department  attempted to  find a  replacement animal                                                               
for the lost meat and whether an alternative moose was offered.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:35:35 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. THOMAS replied  that there was a delay  in communication, but                                                               
recently, a  law enforcement  official reached  out to  her about                                                               
potentially  compensating  her  with   a  moose  from  Anchorage.                                                               
However, specifics  about the compensation  amount have  not been                                                               
provided, and there are still many unanswered questions.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:36:26 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR  BISHOP  closed public  testimony  and  held SB  168  in                                                               
committee.