Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
04/10/2024 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB272 | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| SB253 | |
| SB248 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 272 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 253 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 248 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 253-DNR BIG GAME HUNTING PRGRM/PILOT PROJECT
4:24:23 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of [SPONSOR
SUBSTITUTE FOR] SENATE BILL NO. 253 "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."
4:24:30 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP opened public testimony on SB 253.
4:24:59 PM
JACK REAKOFF, representing self, Wiseman, Alaska, testified on
SB 253. He stated that his father was a hunting guide and that
he had participated in guiding from the age of 13 until he was
32. He said his father held guide use areas established in the
early 1970s, but when those areas fell out of compliance, he
chose not to operate with a registered guide license due to
concerns about guiding in areas with high competition,
particularly on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. He
emphasized the importance of SB 253, especially given the
current challenges with sheep populations, which he noted are at
all-time lows since statehood, partly due to deep snow and rain
events. Federal lands, such as national parks and U.S. Fish and
Wildlife preserves, already have selection processes to limit
competition among guides, and he argued that guide use areas are
a superior solution to the current system. The central Brooks
Range, specifically units 24A, 25A West, and 26B West, are
problem areas where resident hunters face significant
competition from guides. He stated that the lack of a structured
selection process for guides results in unsustainable hunting
practices, as there is little incentive to conserve game when
multiple guides compete for the same resources. SB 253 would
address these issues by enabling the Board of Game and advisory
committees to better manage game resources for sustainability on
BLM lands. He added that the bill would benefit resident
hunters, non-resident hunters, and the guiding industry by
increasing credibility and acceptance in problem areas while
ensuring the conservation of quality animals. He proposed a
selection process for guide use area permits that would
prioritize Alaska resident guides and avoid a system where
permits can be bought or sold. He suggested the following
criteria for the selection process:
• Guides should be scored based on factors such as game
violations, employment of unqualified assistant guides, and
instances of taking sub-legal animals with clients.
• A five-year period should be considered for addressing any
violations.
• High-scoring guides meeting the same standards should be
entered into a draw to ensure fairness, similar to the
system used for hunting permits.
He opined that guide use permits should not be sold or
transferred to guides who fail to meet high standards, ensuring
that the system prioritizes sustainability and fairness.
4:29:34 PM
CABOT PITTS, representing self, Palmer, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 253. He stated that he is a registered contracting
guide holding three Federal National Park Service permits, as
well as state land authorizations and BLM permits. He compared
the benefits of a guide concession program on federal lands to
the current system on state lands, with a focus on how resident
hunters might benefit. Concession programs provide significant
advantages because concession holders are responsible for the
long-term management of their designated areas. This vested
interest encourages sustainable practices and collaboration with
local authorities, area biologists, and user groups. Concession
contracts often include plans to limit interactions with other
users in the field. When such interactions occur, concession
holders have established protocols to ensure appropriate and
respectful responses. Inappropriate actions or conduct can
result in severe consequences, such as permit revocation or
losing competitiveness in future concession renewals. These
responsibilities and oversight mechanisms provide a structured
framework that benefits resident hunters by reducing competition
with other commercial users and enhancing resource management.
Concession programs, compared to the current system on state
lands, offer overall benefits for both the resource and resident
hunters due to the vested interest and accountability inherent
in the program.
4:31:44 PM
LYLE BECKER, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 253. He stated that a guide concession plan would
address issues that a drawing system could not resolve. A
drawing system would not raise the standard of professionalism
among guides operating in a given area. Instead, it would allow
any licensed guide to submit applications for an area and
potentially increase the number of individual guides competing,
even with fewer hunters in the field. This approach would reduce
opportunities for training and recruitment into the guiding
industry, ultimately harming its long-term health. He noted that
a drawing system could increase competition among guides for
applicants without incentivizing higher professional standards.
It would fail to encourage guides to develop better operations
plans, reduce conflicts in the field, or maintain clean records
free of violations. A drawing system would instead motivate
guides to lower the cost of their hunts to attract more
applicants, resulting in clever marketing strategies rather than
sustainable practices. This, he argued, would diminish the
overall value of the resource. He highlighted the benefits of a
guide concession program, which would establish clear
professionalism standards that all participants must meet. A
concession program would allow guides to engage in long-term
planning for their businesses. In a drawing system, guides
cannot predict who they will be taking hunting in future
seasons, making long-term financial planning difficult. The lack
of long-term vision in a drawing system would reduce the value
of the resource, as guides might lower rates to attract
applicants, contrary to the state's values of maximizing the
resource's value. A guide concession program, by contrast, would
promote professionalism, sustainability, and better resource
management.
4:34:20 PM
MARK RICHARDS, Executive Director, Resident Hunters of Alaska,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified in opposition to SB 253. He stated
that the primary purpose of SB 253 is to limit the number of
guides on state lands. He explained that the intended results of
the legislation would include a reduction in the number of
guides and their non-resident clients in the field, a reduction
in non-resident wildlife harvests, and a decrease in crowding
and conflicts among user groups. The legislation, as it stands,
would have several unintended consequences. One such effect
would be a loss of revenue to the Division of Wildlife
Conservation due to reduced non-resident licenses, tag fees, and
matching Pittman-Robertson funds. He also highlighted the
potential for a reduction in viable guide businesses. While the
primary goal of the legislation is to reduce the number of
guides in the field on state lands and limit non-resident
hunting opportunities in problem areas, the bill would not
achieve these goals. SB 253 would mandate that the Board of Game
establish an initial concession area in a known problem area,
which would displace existing guides to other state land areas.
This would not reduce the number of non-resident hunters or
their harvest in the problem areas, as the board would still
allow unlimited non-resident hunting in other areas. The
legislation, as written, could exacerbate the problems in other
areas and would not guarantee those areas would be addressed.
Any guide concession program needs to address all known problem
areas simultaneously. He also pointed out that the legislation
lacks detailed provisions on how the program would operate and
criticized the vague language regarding the transferability of
concessions, which he argued could lead to unconstitutional
practices. He highlighted the added burden SB 253 would place on
the Board of Game, as it would require extending meetings and
increasing the responsibilities of board members to regulate
guides, a task not currently within their purview. He stated
that the current fiscal note does not accurately reflect the
real costs, and there is no plan for how the state will recover
startup costs. As written, SB 253 fails to address the root
problems and continues to allow the Board of Game and the Big
Game Commercial Services Board to neglect their duties. He
expressed hope to work with Senator Kaufman and staff to address
these concerns.
4:37:36 PM
ROBERT FITHIAN, representing self, Hollis, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 253. He stated that he has a long history of
personal involvement, including leadership roles within Alaska's
professional guide, mining, ranching, conservation, and
subsistence arenas. As a professional guide with over 40 years
of experience conducting family-operated hunts in the upper
Kuskokwim region on state lands, he emphasized his strong
support for SB 253. He also served as a chair for the Federal
Concession area for several years. He said from 2008 to 2013, he
chaired the DNR Land Subcommittee within the Big Game Commercial
Services Board, where they held numerous hearings and work
sessions throughout Alaska. He explained that the bill reflects
the historic efforts aimed at accomplishing what should have
been done many years ago. He outlined several key benefits of SB
253:
• The bill provides a conservation-based framework.
• It ensures consumer protection and enhances the
effectiveness and stability of ADFG and the Board of Game.
• It reduces enforcement costs and provides more effective
law enforcement.
• The bill will not create long-term costs for the state, as
it will be self-funded through user fees.
• It promotes long-term sustainability for the guide industry
and offers new entry opportunities without reducing them.
• It mandates stewardship of state lands and reduces social
conflicts among subsistence hunters, resident hunters, and
non-consumptive users.
• It provides better accountability for the activities
occurring on DNR-managed lands and promotes economic
stability and job growth.
He urged the committee to move forward with SB 253, stating that
it is a proven program compared to existing federal models and
will provide positive revenue for the state. He opined that this
important action should have been taken years ago.
4:40:31 PM
JOHN STURGEON, President, Safari Club International Alaska
Chapter, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 253. He
stated that the program proposed under SB 253 is a pilot
initiative that will eventually be expanded across the state. He
noted that the federal government has a similar program, which
he believes is beneficial for the guiding industry, as it
provides certainty for guides and their clients, particularly
out-of-state clients. This program is a good business move for
the state of Alaska, as it offers guides and clients the
assurance of when and where hunting is possible. He also
expressed support for the program's potential benefits for
resident hunters, as it will reduce the number of guides
operating in certain areas, thereby reducing conflicts. The
program could lead to higher quality hunting experiences, as
guides working in designated areas will have a vested interest
in managing the land carefully. He compared the program to the
federal system, stating that similar programs are successful in
ensuring that guides treat the land responsibly and adhere to
laws. Additionally, these guides take a personal interest in
preventing overhunting to ensure the sustainability of game for
future years. He expressed hope that it will eventually be
implemented statewide.
4:42:07 PM
PHILIP SHOEMAKER, representing self, King Salmon, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 253. He stated that he has been
guiding for 44 years, beginning in an era when the state
regulated guide access. He noted that while the system was not
perfect, it effectively managed and limited the number of
guides, regulating their impact on wildlife. However, a recent
decision dismantled that system, which led to an influx of
guides, many from out of state, who were less concerned about
the resources or local residents. This situation resulted in
guides rapidly depleting game in certain areas, only to move on
to new regions without regard for sustainability. SB 253 is a
reasonable attempt to address these issues. He emphasized that
SB 253 would require guides operating on state-managed lands to
adhere to high personal standards and be restricted to specific
areas. This, he believes, would both preserve and protect
wildlife resources while providing better hunting opportunities
for clients, as well as local and subsistence hunters. The
legislation aligns with proven guide concession programs already
managed by federal agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, National Park Service, and BLM. These programs
encourage guides to form strong relationships with local
communities, including village councils and subsistence hunters,
and to take responsibility for the areas in which they operate.
4:43:46 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP closed public testimony on SB 253.
4:43:48 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP held SSSB 253 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Support Letters Jim Baichtal, Board of Game Appointee.pdf |
SRES 4/10/2024 3:30:00 PM |
|
| HB 272 Transmittal Letter Ver A 01.16.24.pdf |
SRES 4/10/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 272 |
| HB 272 Ver A.PDF |
SRES 4/10/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 272 |
| HB 272 Sectional Analysis Ver A 01.19.24.pdf |
SRES 4/10/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 272 |
| HB 272 Fiscal Note ADFG 01.12.24.pdf |
SRES 4/10/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 272 |
| Support Letters Jake Garner, Board of Game Appointee.pdf |
SRES 4/10/2024 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Letters of Support Curtis Chamberlain, Board of Fisheries Appointee.pdf |
SRES 4/10/2024 3:30:00 PM |
|
| HB 272 Amendment #1.pdf |
SRES 4/10/2024 3:30:00 PM |
HB 272 |
| SB 253 Public Testimony 04.10.24.pdf |
SRES 4/10/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 253 |
| Board of Game Appointee Jake Garner Resume.pdf |
SRES 4/10/2024 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Board of Game Appointee James Baichtal Application and Resume.pdf |
SRES 4/10/2024 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Board of Fisheries Appointee Curtiss Chamberlain Application and Resume.pdf |
SRES 4/10/2024 3:30:00 PM |