Legislature(1995 - 1996)
04/03/1996 02:05 PM Senate FIN
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE BILL NO. 247
"An Act relating to the fish and game fund; amending
Rules 79(b) and 82(b)(2), Alaska Rules of Civil
Procedure; and providing for an effective date."
Senator Robin Taylor was invited to join the committee and
testified on behalf of the bill. He referred to CSSB 247()
work draft and explained the amendments that it contained.
He said these were significant changes but had assurances
from Department of Fish and Game they would not oppose these
amendments. Senator Frank asked that Senator Taylor
reiterate his advocation of the "preservation" feature.
Senator Taylor commented on his visit to the 4-H program
being put on in conjunction with the local gun club to
receive training and instruction on how to handle a firearm,
clean it, how to walk with it and carry it. Over seventy
youngsters showed up from the community with their families.
They had commented on the difficulties of getting a rifle or
pistol range constructed and then to make sure it was
protected in the future. He said the drafters had suggested
the use of the term "preservation".
Senator Rieger referred to another phrase used by the
sponsor "manipulation of habitat" and asked that it be
described for the committee. Senator Taylor said the best
example was the AWACS crash at Elmendorf. Because the
Department of Fish and Game and the Anchorage Airport
Authority failed to do anything about a significant known
risk of geese to aircraft, and had refused to do any habitat
manipulation at the end of the runway which had been
recommended over fifteen years before by both FAA and
pilots, when that flock of geese took off all those people
were killed. Habitat manipulation could very easily have
changed the make-up of that area immediately off the end of
the runway by making it an area not preferred by water fowl.
Habitat manipulation can be helpful for human beings and
also the animals.
Mr. Geron Bruce, Department of Fish and Game was invited to
join the committee. He said it was important to understand
the effect of this bill on wildlife in a whole. The Federal
Aid and Wildlife Restoration Act, passed in 1937 formed the
basis for all modern scientific fish and wildlife
management that the states conduct. It is a federal program
that collects money at the national level and then sends it
back to the states on a formula basis. As a requirement for
receiving that money the states have to dedicate their
revenues from their hunting and fishing licenses. The
primary motivation for this act was the wildlife in the
country was in a very depressed state due to unregulated
hunting and major habitat degradation. Therefore, the state
dedication of the license fees had to go to support a
management fish and wildlife agency. Two basic ideas behind
this legislation were to provide a stable and continuous
source of funding for fish and wildlife management, and to
put fish and wildlife management on a scientific basis by
setting up state agencies that were staffed by professionals
in the field. This has had a major impact resulting in
wildlife populations and sport fish populations that were
depressed at the time. This bill would have a major impact
on the way this act works. At this time budgets are built
based on scientific training and programs which are in turn
based on a multiple year goal. Each item would be a
separate appropriation with constituents and legislators
from different parts of the state competing for the
particular programs they wanted to see funded out of the
available monies. This would present many difficulties for
maintaining any consistent long term program that was trying
to achieve specific goals over a number of years. This also
causes a concern with the consequence of the budgeting
process. In addition there are major concerns about the
particular fiscal impacts to this legislation. He referred
briefly to the testimony presented before the House
Resources committee.
Kevin Brooks, Department of Fish and Game was invited to
join the committee. He said he was testifying particularly
on the impact to his division. It would seriously affect
the ability to provide centralized services for personnel,
accounting, budgeting and procurement. Another major item
would be administering the licensing program. This
legislation would not allow for the cost of administering
the licensing program. There is approximately $1.3 million
in fish and game funds of which over $700,000. is paid
directly to the vendors for selling licenses. Since FY 92
the division's entire budget was general funds. Presently
the division is one third fish and game funds, one third
federal funds and one third general funds. The licensing
program has been the most heavily affected. Rates for
administrative costs of running the programs, getting people
paid and paying the vendors are negotiated with the federal
government. There are a number of federal programs and
grants the division is involved with which are required by
statute. He said these were indirect by nature and would be
prohibited as the bill is currently written. The net effect
would be just under $1 million in lost federal receipts that
is collected and $1.3 million in lost fish and game funds.
Senator Taylor asked which form of the bill was being
referred to and Mr. Brooks advised it was the CS. Co-
chairman Halford advised Senator Taylor to be thinking of
either amendments that could be presented or possible
conceptual amendments.
Sarah Hannan, Alaska Environmental Lobby was invited to
join the committee and testified in opposition to the bill.
She said she was not opposed to hunting and fishing but
asked that one should consider what is implied in the bill.
A hunting or fishing license is not a user fee. It is a
regulatory permission to harvest a resource that is
collectively owned and belongs to all. There needs to be a
more comprehensive measure for equitable distribution,
including a series of user fees for non-consumptive users.
The majority of Alaskans that appreciate fish and wildlife
are not licensed sport fish/hunters. She said the sole
reason for this bill was because the sponsor did not agree
with management decisions made by the department of fish and
game and therefore wanted to intimidate them. This is
manipulative, short-sighted management that is bad public
policy. The issue of wolf management and predator control
comes in a variety of legislation this year and in all cases
this is strongly opposed. Fish and game management should
be based on science. She said this bill would only further
increase animosity between the legislature and the
department and encouraged the committee to not pass this
bill out.
Senator Taylor advised he would work with the department on
an amendment if one is necessary and would present it on the
floor. Senator Frank moved work draft CSSB 247() and it was
adopted for work purposes. He then moved CSSB 247(FIN) and
without objection it was reported out with individual
recommendations and zero fiscal note from the Department of
Public Safety, zero fiscal notes with fund sources changes
from the Department of Fish and Game, Administrative
Services, Wildlife Conservation and Sport Fish divisions.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|