Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
04/24/2024 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB396 | |
| HB195 | |
| HB114 | |
| SB161 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 114 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 396 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 161 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 195 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 396-DNR BIG GAME GUIDE PERMIT PROGRAM
[Contains mention of SB 253.]
2:09:05 PM
CHAIR MCKAY announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 396, "An Act establishing a big game guide
concession area permit program on land in the state; relating to
the duties of the Big Game Commercial Services Board, the Board
of Game, the Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of
Natural Resources; requiring the Board of Game to establish an
initial big game guide concession area; and providing for an
effective date."
2:09:20 PM
CHAIR MCKAY opened public testimony on HB 396.
2:32:22 PM
KEVIN KEHOE, President, Alaska Wild Sheep Foundation, testified
in support of HB 396. He said the Sheep Foundation is for
conservation and doesn't differentiate among types of hunters.
He said HB 396 promotes better stewardship of hunting areas. He
said currently all hunters are for themselves and do not have a
vested interest in the areas in which they hunt. He claimed
that HB 396 would prevent overcrowding in areas. He cited a
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) study stating that
overcrowding is the number one issue with resident hunters.
2:36:05 PM
ROB JONES, representing self, testified in support of HB 396.
He said he was a registered hunting guide. He opined that HB
396 is a "good start," as it would reduce congestion of hunters
in specific areas. He said harvest numbers should be managed by
ADF&G.
2:39:01 PM
LYLE BECKER, representing self, testified in support of HB 396.
He imparted that he is a registered guide on National Wildlife
Refuge Land and operates on land that has a guide concession
program in place. He said limited concessions on state lands
are vital to the longevity of the industry. He said HB 396 is a
good start, and over time there may be changes and adaptations.
2:41:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Mr. Becker what criteria one would
use to decide between working on federal or state concession
areas.
2:41:24 PM
MR. BECKER answered by listing a couple criteria: how onerous
regulations are in each area and the quality of game in each
area. He stated that federal regulations seem "excessively
onerous," and the hunting operation is only as good as the game
in the area.
2:43:15 PM
COKE WALLACE, representing self, testified in support of HB 396.
He identified himself as a hunting guide in Healy, Alaska, on
Game Management Units 13 and 28. He stressed resources are at
critical levels and there do not need to be as many hunting
guides in the field. He opined that the state is not doing a
good job of protecting its resources.
2:45:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE thanked Mr. Wallace for his testimony.
2:46:23 PM
CHAIR MCKAY, after ascertaining that there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 396 and went to
invited testimony.
2:47:06 PM
BEN MALLOT, Vice President of External Affairs, Alaska
Federation of Natives (AFN), began invited testimony in support
of HB 396 and its companion [SB 253]. He said that there are
currently no rules for hunting guides, creating a burden on
resources, resident hunters, and subsistence communities.
Additionally, he said that a concession program establishes a
vested interest in the guiding areas. He suggested improvement
of the bill by adding concessions for the unaffected areas of
Alaska Native corporations (ANCs). In response to Chair McKay,
he confirmed AFN supports HB 396 with the aforementioned
suggestion for improvement.
2:49:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether ANCs would have additional
consideration and involvement in the program or in developing
the program.
2:49:53 PM
MR. MALLOT reiterated that AFN is in support of HB 396, but with
some additional concessions to ensure protection of Native-owned
lands.
2:51:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER inquired about comments claiming that the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is not a land management
agency. He asked what role DNR would play going forward if HB
396 were to become law.
2:51:41 PM
CHRISTIANNA COLLES, Director, Division of Mining, Land, and
Water, Department of Natural Resources, responded that guides
are not directly managed by DNR. Guides go through DNR to
obtain permits and leases for state land on which guides would
like to hunt and build cabins and/or facilities. She said DNR
would have a large role in managing the guides in conjunction
with ADF&G.
2:53:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER called HB 396 a "hybrid program" between
DNR and ADF&G, with DNR managing the land and ADF&G managing the
animals on the land. He asked how DNR and ADF&G might cooperate
with each other upon passage of HB 396.
2:53:58 PM
RYAN SCOTT, Director, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, as an
invited testifier, answered that the primary role of ADF&G is to
provide biological data on species of interest and hunting data.
He believed other divisions, such as the Board of Game or the
Big Game Commercial Services Board, would use data to make
allocation decisions. Historically, he added, some of the
species they will be discussing have not required guides.
2:54:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for clarification regarding the
division of responsibilities between DNR, ADF&G, the Board of
Game, and the Big Game Commercial Services Board.
2:55:27 PM
CHRISTIANNA COLLES clarified that a proposal with land that
requires concessions would come from the public to the Board of
Game, which would decide in consultation with the Big Game
Commercial Services Board whether a concession should be
implemented in that area. Ms. Colles believed that the data
collected by ADF&G would be taken into consideration. After
deciding, the Board of Game would make a recommendation to DNR
on whether to implement a concession program. The department
[DNR] would execute the recommendation. She said that DNR would
need to develop a competitive application process for permits to
decide who would be awarded concessions. Those awarded would be
allowed to use state land for up to 10 years.
2:58:10 PM
CHAIR MCKAY set an amendment deadline for HB 396 for Thursday,
April 25 at 4 p.m.
CHAIR MCKAY announced that HB 396 was held over.