Legislature(2009 - 2010)
04/16/2010 10:47 AM House FIN
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 294(FIN)
"An Act amending the termination date of the licensing
of sport fishing operators and sport fishing guides;
and providing for an effective date."
SENATOR LESIL MCGUIRE, SPONSOR, explained that SB 294 would
extend the Sport Fish Guide License Program. The program
required sport fish guides to maintain a minimal level of
insurance and first aid training. The bill would also allow
for the collection and reporting of catch data, which would
benefits both commercial and sport fishermen alike. The
catch data collected as a result of the program was
important for the effective state management of the
resource. She noted the importance of the catch data when
figuring escapement levels. The Department of Fish and Game
urged support of the bill. She added that, were the program
to sunset, a federal existed, however it was in the states
best interest to maintain state management.
REPRESENTATIVE MARK NEUMAN commented that in 2009 the
program's efficiency had been improved under the sunset
review.
8:55:11 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze clarified that the CS SB 294 (FIN)
LS1546\R was the CS currently being discussed in committee.
Ms. McGuire stated that in the interest of compromise, the
one year extension suggested by Representative Newman would
be acceptable. She hoped that over the interim, continued
program efficiencies would be discussed.
Co-Chair Stoltze MOVED to ADOPT Conceptual Amendment 1:
Page 1, line 9 following "January 1,"
Delete "2017"
Insert "2012"
Renumber accordingly.
Co-Chair Hawker OBJECTED for the purpose of discussion.
Representative Doogan wondered if Legislative Budget and
Audit (LB&A) had offered information on the legislation.
Co-Chair Stoltze stated that sunset clauses did not require
input from LB&A.
Representative Fairclough requested more information on the
reason for the one year sunset. She voiced concern that the
recent sunset had been extended in order to end the "fish
wars" within the state. She wondered if time and money was
being wasted on the issue.
Co-Chair Stoltze responded that there were still unresolved
issues pertaining to the industry and the sunset extension
would allow for further resolution.
Representative Austerman understood that the issue was
complicated. He noted two different approaches suggested by
both bodies. He proposed that it would be wise to extend
the sunset another year, rather than allowing the bill to
die in committee.
Co-Chair Hawker withdrew his OBJECTION to the amendment.
There being no further OBJECTION, the Conceptual Amendment
1 was ADOPTED.
Co-Chair Stoltze opened public testimony.
9:00:25 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze closed public testimony.
Co-Chair Hawker informed the committee that the fiscal note
anticipated the board being extended through 2012, and
would need to be adjusted to reflect a board extension
through 2011.
Representative Fairclough maintained confusion and
discomfort with the one year extension of the sunset.
CHARLES SWANTON, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF SPORT FISH,
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, stated that the department
supported the bill with the one year extension.
Representative Austerman commented that the legislation was
a reflection of the amount of confidence the legislature
had in the department and thought that the one year
extension was appropriate. He suggested that the program
should be re-evaluated every year.
Senator McGuire stated that the declining fish stocks had
made for contentious discussions. She insisted the
department that had worked with her to craft decent
legislation to manage the state's fish resource. She
pointed out that the department still used fish wheels to
ascertain stocks, and that the legislature should assist
the department with funding for technological upgrades.
Representative Gara interpreted that the department would
prefer a longer extension of the sunset, but would accept
the one year rather than nothing.
9:06:37 PM
Representative Kelly opined that the limited amount of time
left in the legislative session limited extended committee
debate on the issue.
Vice-Chair Thomas MOVED to report HCS CSSB 294(FIN) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
HCS CSSB 294(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with "no
recommendation" and attached new fiscal note by the
Department of Fish and Game.
AT EASE
9:14:15 PM RECONVENED
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