Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
01/29/2024 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB190 | |
| Presentation(s): Overview Alaska Department of Fish and Game | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 190 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 190-BIG GAME HUNTING BY PERSON W/ DISABILITY
3:32:20 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.
190 "An Act relating to big game hunts for persons with physical
disabilities; and providing for an effective date."
3:33:15 PM
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish &
Game (ADFG), presented SB 190 on behalf of the administration
and answered questions. He stated that the Alaska Board of
Fisheries established a hunt for disabled hunters in Kincaid
Park in Anchorage, Alaska. The Department of Law (DOL)
thereafter declared there was no statutory framework built into
statute to create this type of hunt as established for youth
hunts, so it was disallowed. SB 190 would create the statutory
foundation to allow the Alaska Board of Fisheries to create a
hunt for disabled hunters that meet established criteria for
being disabled in state statute. To qualify, a person must be at
least 70 percent disabled and accompanied by a licensed hunter
capable of retrieving game. It would be a permissive statutory
change. Any proposal to establish this type of hunt would need
to go through an involved board process, requiring public notice
and public comment. Many other states permit these types of
hunts per state statute.
3:36:08 PM
JOE FELKL, Legislative Liaison, Alaska Department of Fish & Game
(ADFG), Juneau, Alaska, provided the sectional analysis for SB
190:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 190: BIG GAME HUNTING BY PERSON W/ DISABILITY SECTIONAL
ANALYSIS VERSION A
Section 1: amends AS 16.05.255 by adding a new
subsection that provides statutory authority for the
Board of Game to establish hunts limited to
individuals with physical disabilities.
Section 2: transition section to allow the Board of
Game to adopt regulations necessary to implement the
bill.
Section 3: immediate effective date for section 2.
Section 4: effective date of January 1, 2025, for all
other provisions of the bill.
3:36:41 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR asked if proxy hunting is excluded under the
bill's framework.
3:37:02 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG replied yes, an individual could
already proxy hunt under existing rules, but could not proxy
hunt under SB 190.
3:37:16 PM
MR. FELKL added that current board regulations require the
individual to meet the 70 percent disability threshold in order
to qualify for proxy hunting.
3:37:49 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR asked if one disabled person could assist another
disabled person through proxy hunting.
3:38:06 PM
MR. FELKL replied that the question may need to be answered by
the Alaska Board of Fisheries, but he would seek further
information.
3:38:17 PM
MR. VINCENT-LANG stated his belief that only one is allowed at a
time.
3:38:38 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR said that SB 190 would potentially impact Kincaid
Park. The municipality is the landholder and would have to
provide consent before the hunt is created. He asked if the ADFG
would support the legislature adding clarifying language and he
is not sure if that would be about landholders in general or
something specific to home ruled municipalities.
3:39:40 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG said he would prefer to confer with
the Department of Law (DOL) in light of existing home rule
issues.
3:40:03 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR invited Mr. Vincent-Lang to work with his office
and DOL. Some residents in Anchorage may express concerns about
SB 190 limiting community input.
3:40:31 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG suggested clarifying language stating
the bill does not intend to establish hunts in Kincaid Park.
There are currently bear hunts in Joint Base Elmendorf-
Richardson (JBER) in the municipality of Anchorage, so a broad
prohibition would be difficult in managing public safety
concerns.
3:41:08 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR concurred. He said the key difference is that the
municipality is not the land holder of JBER territory. There
were also concerns voiced about a potential bow hunt in Kingcaid
Park.
3:41:38 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG said there were unsuccessful
experiments with bow hunts in Anchorage.
3:41:48 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL added that the municipality of Fairbanks would
have some interest in ensuring no mandates for Creamer's Field
territory.
3:41:59 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG conveyed that there are waterfowl
hunts in the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge area.
3:42:21 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL clarified that SB 190 pertains to areas beyond
Kincaid Park. She asked about past constitutionality concerns
previously voiced by one group.
3:42:33 PM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG replied that he understands concerns
about constitutionality, however, the youth hunt has been in
statute for years and has remain unchallenged.
3:42:58 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL announced invited testimony on SB 190.
3:43:25 PM
IRA EDWARDS, representing self, Palmer, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 190. He has spent years working to create a hunt
in Kingcaid Park for physically disabled individuals. The hunt
was modeled after Delta Junction's veteran hunt, which SB 190
would also benefit. Alaska is currently the only state
prohibiting a hunt for physically disabled people. Last year,
DOL determined that a disability hunt, like youth hunts, would
require statutory authority. SB 190 would have a statewide
effect and allow the board to create disability hunts in Alaska
for disabled people who meet statutory definitions and would
establish a statewide effect. Anchorage has well-written code
regarding the discharge of firearms and permits hunts within the
municipality. He expressed appreciation for Governor Dunleavy
helping to make this effort possible.
3:45:41 PM
LOUIS CUSACK, Executive Director, Safari Club International
(SCI), Chugiak, Alaska, testified in support of SB 190. SB 190
allows disabled participants the same hunting opportunities as
DM795 veterans or Purple Heart recipients. The bill provides an
opportunity for Alaska to move forward in the right direction.
He reiterated that SB 190 is a statewide bill to allow the
opportunity for the hunt to be established. Within hunting
regulations, every unit has its own stipulations depending on
land ownership and resources.
3:47:58 PM
CO-CHAIR concluded invited testimony on SB 190.
3:48:19 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony on SB 190; finding
none, she closed public testimony.
3:48:35 PM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL held SB 190 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB190 Transmittal Letter Ver. A 01.29.24.pdf |
SRES 1/29/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 190 |
| SB190 Sectional Analysis Ver. A 01.29.24.pdf |
SRES 1/29/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 190 |
| SB 190 Fiscal Note ADFG 01.29.2024.pdf |
SRES 1/29/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 190 |
| ADFG Fisheries Update 01.29.24.pdf |
SRES 1/29/2024 3:30:00 PM |
|
| SB 190 ADFG Response to SRES Hearing 01.29.24.pdf |
SRES 1/29/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 190 |