Legislature(2021 - 2022)ADAMS 519
05/10/2022 09:00 AM House FINANCE
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB204 | |
| HB220 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 204 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 66 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 111 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 220 | TELECONFERENCED | |
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 204(RES)
"An Act relating to auctions or raffles for hunting
harvest permits and big game tags; and providing for
an effective date."
9:04:19 AM
SENATOR JOSH REVAK, SPONSOR, thanked the committee for
hearing the bill. He read the sponsor statement (copy on
file):
Since its passage in the 1997, the Governor's Auction
and Raffle Tag program has successfully and
substantially increased funding for the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). In 2021, gross
revenue was just over $1.2 million. SB 204 seeks to
build on this success and expand the department's
ability to bring in revenue, which will support
wildlife conservation and protection programs and
education across Alaska.
Foundationally, Senate Bill 204 adds three species to
the available harvest permit list and standardizes the
number of game harvest permits that ADF&G grants each
year to qualified organizations for fundraising
auctions or raffles. By doing so, the department will
have the flexibility to issue up to four permits for
each species, taking into account the health of the
game population and recommendations of department
biologists when determining the actual number that
will be issued each year.
The increased revenue from this moderate expansion of
available harvest permits will ensure two important
outcomes. First, it allows the department to maintain
sufficient funds to continue critical conservation and
wildlife protection measures that have been the
mainstay of wildlife management for decades. Second,
with the large increase in firearms and ammunition
sales and approximately $18 million in new Pittman-
Robertson (PR) grants coming our way, ADF&G will need
sufficient matching dollars to prevent these new PR
funds from reverting back to the federal government.
Modern, effective wildlife management is becoming more
expensive. For example, an increase of a couple of
dollars to aviation fuel has a major impact on survey
and inventory operations which, in turn, are a key
element in setting game population and harvest
objectives. Without accurate objectives, for instance,
the Board of Game cannot make well-informed decisions
on yearly hunting seasons and bag limits.
In sum, SB 204 will allow more federal revenue to be
leveraged for critical sustainable wildlife education
and management programs and the proactive work needed
to prevent new listings under the Endangered Species
Act. Senate Bill 204 directly supports sustainable
wildlife populations, outdoor traditions, hunters, and
outdoor recreation users.
Co-Chair Merrick indicated the committee had been joined by
Representative Thompson.
9:07:43 AM
Representative Josephson inquired about the impacts of the
aerial survey work the senator had mentioned. He asked
whether the aerial work would help prevent Endangered
Species Act (ESA) listings.
EMMA TORKELSON, STAFF, SENATOR JOSH REVAK, responded that
the work that the Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
supported with the funds was wide-ranging. She offered that
online testifiers could answer the question in more detail.
Representative Josephson would follow up with Mr. Eddie
Grasser on his question.
9:08:52 AM
EDDIE GRASSER, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION,
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME (via teleconference), supported
SB 204 and thanked Senator Revak for introducing the bill.
He had worked on the tag program since the 1990s. In 2014,
he strengthened the statutes to make fundraising easier. He
explained that the goal of the legislation was to make DFG
a self-sufficient operation. He provided some history
around the legislation. Hunters helped push through the
Wildlife Restoration Act in Washington D.C., which elicited
the Pittman-Robertson (PR) grants. He thought that hunters
seemed more willing to support wildlife conservation than
most other groups.
Mr. Grasser relayed there was a bill currently being
discussed by the United States Congress called the
Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA), and if it passed,
the department would receive an influx of money almost
equal to the money it received in PR grants. The bill would
provide money to states for the purpose of recovering
species listed as threatened or endangered. He emphasized
the importance of recovering these species in Alaska and
added that the failure to do so could negatively affect the
state's economy. However, RAWA would require funds to be
matched by the state in order to receive the funds, and it
would be very difficult for Alaska to match $32 million
under the current system. He thought SB 204 would help
bring financial stability to the state and would be a good
first step. He had been looking at other ways for the
department to be self-supporting and it was likely that he
would be back before the committee with additional
solutions in coming years.
9:17:25 AM
Senator Revak offered clarity on the suggestion that the
bill would prevent new listings under ESA. The bill was
essentially focused on effective wildlife management. If
hunters were educated and wildlife management was
effective, accidental over-hunting would be less likely.
Representative Josephson wanted to support the bill.
However, he was concerned that 70 percent of the profits
would go to the department and 30 percent would go to a
non-profit. He was worried that there would be
misconceptions about where the money was going. He asked
whether language could be added to ensure that the monies
could not be used for consumptive purposes.
9:20:07 AM
Co-Chair Merrick indicated Representative Rasmussen had
joined the meeting.
Senator Revak asked Mr. Grasser to comment on
Representative Josephson's concerns. He did not know if
specific funds could be directed to specific types of
management.
Mr. Grasser thought there was a way to direct the funds to
specific management. He thought it would fall under the
same statutes that provided for the non-diversion of funds
for the waterfowl and fur-bearing programs. He shared that
he had already compiled a team to put together another
piece of legislation in the following year that would
address some of Representative Josephson's concerns. He
reiterated that if RAWA passed, the state would need
matching funds to obtain federal dollars.
Senator Revak noted that it was his intent and the intent
of the department to use the funds for non-consumptive
purposes.
9:23:19 AM
Co-Chair Merrick OPENED public testimony.
Co-Chair Merrick CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Merrick provided an amendment deadline for the
following day.
CSSB 204(RES) was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
9:24:21 AM
AT EASE
9:25:42 AM
RECONVENED
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 204 Explanation of Changes 3.29.22.pdf |
HFIN 5/10/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 204 |
| SB 204 Sponsor Statement Version W 3.29.22.pdf |
HFIN 5/10/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 204 |
| SB 204 Sectional Analysis Version W 3.29.22.pdf |
HFIN 5/10/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 204 |
| SB 204 Supporting Document Action-Raffle Revenue by Year 2.28.22.pdf |
HFIN 5/10/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 204 |
| SB 204 Testimony APHA 3.2.22.pdf |
HFIN 5/10/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 204 |
| SB 204 Testimony DF&G 4.28.22.pdf |
HFIN 5/10/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 204 |
| SB 204 Testimony RHAK 2.14.22.pdf |
HFIN 5/10/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 204 |
| SB 204 Testimony SCI-AK 3.1.22.pdf |
HFIN 5/10/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 204 |
| HB220 - AK Stress Test Memo Cheiron 051222.pdf |
HFIN 5/10/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 220 |