Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
04/08/2024 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB164 | |
| SB253 | |
| SB248 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 164 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 253 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 248 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 248-BIG GAME COMMERCIAL SERVICES BOARD
4:47:26 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.
248 "An Act relating to an executive administrator for the Big
Game Commercial Services Board."
4:47:55 PM
SENATOR JESSE BJORKMAN, District D, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, noted that the board is highly active and
performs its duties well but requires additional support to
function efficiently. Currently, the board shares staff with
marine pilots, which creates challenges. The proposed Executive
Administrator would be dedicated to the board, bringing
expertise in Alaska's guiding industry to process paperwork,
complaints, applications, and other specialized tasks unique to
big game commercial services. He likened the necessity of this
role to the expertise provided by seasoned guides in their
specific areas, such as the Roher family, who are well-regarded
for their knowledge and commitment in Alaska. He emphasized the
importance of having a dedicated professional to ensure the
board can effectively fulfill its mission, much like how a guide
provides invaluable local knowledge to their clients. He noted
that the position was previously included in the budget as a
one-time item, and SB 248 seeks to make it a permanent statutory
role to ensure ongoing support for the board's operations.
[Original punctuation provided.]
SENATE BILL 248
SPONSOR STATEMENT
Big Game Commercial Services Board
Senate Bill 248 adds an executive administrator to the
Big Game Commercial Services Board. The addition of
such a position would support the Board as they look
at the licenses they oversee, including registered
guide-outfitters, master guide-outfitters, and
transporters. An Executive Administrator assigned to
this Board would be a complex job that requires the
employee to work with multiple departments, generate
reports, and assist Investigative Services and the
Department of Public Safety in investigations.
The lack of this position is felt whenever a new
individual comes in to fulfill these responsibilities
as a licensing examiner. Being a licensing examiner
has become a bit of a steppingstone position, and each
turnover requires training from the ground up. This
has led to some administrative errors that were
highlighted in the recent audit of the Board. While
the Board has been sharing an executive administrator
with the Board of Marine Pilots, it has not fully
resolved the issues, as both boards need much more
than half of that persons time. This bill seeks to
address those issues by providing a position that
would encourage consistency in support of the Board
and its functions.
The Big Game Commercial Services Board plays an
important role in the management of commercial game
hunters in the interest of the State's wildlife
resources. Thank you for your consideration of this
legislation.
4:50:59 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked for clarification regarding the current
arrangement in which the Board Administrator is shared with the
marine pilots. He inquired about the role and functionality of
an Executive Administrator in the current setup, noting that
this question might be better addressed by Sylvan Robb, Director
at the State of Alaska, Division of Corporations, Business and
Professional Licensing, who could provide insights into the
operations of various boards and commissions. He wondered about
the workload handled by the Big Game Commercial Services Board
compared to other boards or commissions. He questioned whether
the board processes a relatively small number of transactions
per day compared to others, which might handle significantly
more. He asked why this board warrants a dedicated Executive
Administrator, and why similar roles might not be justified for
other boards or commissions.
4:51:54 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN stated that he would provide some initial input
on the matter but encouraged the group to also hear from Chair
Bunch and Director Robb. He emphasized the unique nature of
guiding and the specific regulations governing the guide
industry. He explained that the most critical need for the
Executive Administrator position is for someone who is an expert
in these regulations and statutes. This expertise is essential
because the role may also involve investigative duties at times.
He reiterated that the position deserves its own dedicated role
due to the complexity of the guide industry.
4:52:55 PM
SYLVAN ROBB, Director, Division of Corporations, Business and
Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community, and
Economic Development (DCCED), answered questions related to SB
248. She explained that there are already six Executive
Administrators for other boards, as well as a Marine Pilot
Coordinator who is currently providing part-time staffing for
the Beginning Commercial Services Board. She highlighted the
need for an Executive Administrator for this board due to the
large volume of work and the unique nature of the tasks. The
board administers 29 different examinations, including those for
game management units and licensing requirements. The board also
works to keep these exams current and score them, which is a
significant amount of work. In addition, licensees under this
board have reporting requirements, such as submitting health
records and activity reports, which adds to the workload. This
board also oversees transporters, further increasing the amount
of work involved. The need for an Executive Administrator is to
provide professional-level support for these complex tasks,
which go beyond the capabilities of the Marine Pilot program and
require a higher level of board support.
4:55:04 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP asked Mr. Bunch whether he believes that the
proposed position under SB 248 is warranted.
4:55:14 PM
MR. BUNCH discussed the challenges of serving on a board,
particularly the Guide Board, where members often have limited
knowledge and must rely on each other to fill in gaps. Within
the Guide Board, the two guides and two transporters work
closely with the division, while the public seats and game
representatives provide checks and balances. However, with only
two guides and two transporters, it can be difficult to know
everything, which is why the Executive Administrator position is
so crucial. This position provides consistent support,
understanding the history and complex statutes and regulations
of the guide industry, which are reportedly among the most
complicated. He pointed out that the current position of License
Examiner, which was created two years ago, was a low-paying job
filled by people without knowledge of the statutes or
regulations. This role was essentially a steppingstone for other
state jobs, leading to frequent turnover. Over the five and a
half years he served, he personally trained six License
Examiners, despite his own limited knowledge, which added
considerable strain. He emphasized the need for an Executive
Administrator with expertise to prevent further inadequacies in
the program, as highlighted in board audits. After borrowing an
Executive Administrator from the Marine Pilot Program, the board
saw improvements in efficiency and accuracy. However, the Marine
Pilot Program is now overburdened, with its Executive
Administrator stretched too thin, so it's time for the Guide
Board to have its own dedicated Executive Administrator.
4:59:42 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP held SB 248 in committee.