Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/24/2008 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB234 | |
| SB214 | |
| SB259 | |
| SB260 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 214 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 234 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 259 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 260 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE BILL NO. 214
"An Act relating to big game hunting by nonresident
members of the military service and their dependents;
and providing for an effective date."
Senator Huggins MOVED to ADOPT Committee Substitute 25-
LS1261\K as the working document before this Committee.
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion purposes.
Jody Simpson, Staff, Senator Huggins, remarked that the
Committee Substitute adds to the legislation the individual
listing of the United State Coast Guard into the document.
It was learned that, due to a language change, the United
States Coast Guard must be listed individually.
Co-Chair Stedman WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO
further OBJECTION, Committee Substitute 25-LS1261\K was
adopted as the working document before this Committee.
Ms. Simpson remarked that Senator Charlie Huggins goal was
to waive the twelve month waiting period currently required
for military members, the United States Coast Guard, and
their dependents, to qualify for resident rate hunting
licenses and Big Game tags.
10:09:17 AM
Ms. Simpson disclosed that forty-five states have reduced
the resident rate for stationed military personnel and
Alaska currently has the longest waiting period. She
continued that waiving the twelve-month waiting period would
allow military personnel and their dependents to purchase
Big Game tags at a reduced rate. Ms. Simpson referred to a
$40,000 fiscal note reflecting lost revenue from the
Department of Fish & Game. Ms. Simpson emphasized that this
legislation would not affect residency eligibility for
receiving the Permanent Fund Dividend or serving on jury
duty. She also declared this would not affect personal use
and subsistence which would still require the one year
residency. Ms. Simpson revealed that SB 214 would not take
effect until January 1, 2009 because of the time needed to
reprint the forms and provide additional training.
10:13:06 AM
Senator Elton referred to line 7, "on active duty who are
permanently stationed in the state, and their dependents,"
and asked if this would preclude those here on temporary
duty assignment. Ms. Simpson agreed it would not apply to
military here on temporary assignment. She added this would
cover military personnel who are stationed in Alaska but
shipped overseas.
10:14:29 AM
Senator Elton referred to a letter of concern from the
Alaska Professional Hunters Association. Non-residents are
required to be guided on Big Game hunts based on the belief
that non-residents may not have the skills or the
understanding of the Alaska hunting experience. Senator
Elton questioned if there had been any resolution indicating
that military person have this hunting expertise. Ms.
Simpson revealed that the bill retains the requirements for
an Alaska Professional Hunters Association guide for the
three Big Game hunts and, with this provision, the hunters
association now approves this bill.
Senator Huggins expressed the need to acknowledge the good
work of the military for the state and the country, and he
believed that this bill, which would involve little money,
would make Alaska a "good host." He emphasized that
professional hunters have no problem with this bill and it
would in no way affect the residency requirements for the
Permanent Fund Dividend.
10:19:37 AM
Senator Thomas believed there could be the appearance of
treating the military differently from other individuals
coming to the state with the intention of establishing
residency. Ms. Simpson responded that the question of
residency was worked out through several hearings in Senate
Resources. She believed that Senator Huggins's comment of
"being a good host" to the military best describes the
intent of the bill.
10:20:48 AM
Senator Huggins revealed that young people in the military
are often subjected to many strange provisions.
10:21:47 AM
Senator Dyson commended his colleague for bringing this
forward and helping to make Alaska one of the military's
more attractive deployments.
10:22:51 AM
ROBERT FITHIAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA PROFESSIONAL
HUNTERS ASSOCIATION testified via teleconference in support
of SB 214.
10:23:55 AM
Senator Huggins concluded that this bill captured the
essence of Alaskan's attitude toward the military especially
during a time of war.
10:25:05 AM
Senator Huggins MOVED to REPORT CSSB 214 (FIN)\K from
committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CS 214 (FIN)\K was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and an accompanying previously
published fiscal note from the Department of Fish and Game.
10:26:18 AM
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