05/08/2024 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE

           SB 182-EXTEND BIG GAME COMM SERVICES BOARD                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:49:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER announced  that the next order of  business would be                                                               
SENATE BILL  NO. 182, "An  Act extending the termination  date of                                                               
the  Big Game  Commercial Services  Board; and  providing for  an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:49:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 3:49 p.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER stated that the bill sponsor for SB 182 was                                                                        
currently unavailable; [therefore, the committee moved on to the                                                                
next order of business].                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
           SB 182-EXTEND BIG GAME COMM SERVICES BOARD                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:08:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER announced  that the next order of  business would be                                                               
SENATE BILL  NO. 182, "An  Act extending the termination  date of                                                               
the  Big Game  Commercial Services  Board; and  providing for  an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:08:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  JESSE  BJORKMAN,  Alaska  State  Legislature,  as  prime                                                               
sponsor, presented SB 182 and  reiterated the intent of the bill.                                                               
He  added that  it  reflected the  Big  Game Commercial  Services                                                               
Board's  efforts to  improve its  fiscal position.   He  said the                                                               
board had been  consistently working in the best  interest of the                                                               
public  and a  six-year extension  for the  termination date  had                                                               
been recommended.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER welcomed invited testifiers.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:10:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AARON  BLOOMQUIST, Chair,  Big  Game  Commercial Services  Board,                                                               
spoke to the commercial services  board and efforts around issues                                                               
individual licensees  and clients  have.   He confirmed  that the                                                               
budget  was in  good shape  and explained  investigative matters.                                                               
He further noted that the  department was understaffed, which can                                                               
create challenges,  but it continues  to do  its part.   He noted                                                               
that  in  the future,  the  board  would  bring requests  to  the                                                               
legislature surrounding survivorships,  emergency provisions, and                                                               
continuing education.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:13:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER observed  that  the  audit indicated  the                                                               
extension was  a maximum  of eight years  and questioned  why the                                                               
request was for six.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BJORKMAN clarified  that  the bill  was  written for  an                                                               
eight-year extension  being that the board  had been successfully                                                               
fiscally responsible.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:15:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report  SB 182 out of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.  There being no objection,  SB 182 was reported out of the                                                               
House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.