03/25/2010 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

            SB 294-SPORT FISH GUIDE LICENSES-SUNSET                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:17:51 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE  announced the  next order  of business  to come                                                               
before the committee was SB 294.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL  PAWLOWSKI, aide  to Senator  McGuire, said  that if  the                                                               
program  sunsets, professional  standards and  minimum levels  of                                                               
liability  coverage  for  sport  fish operators  and  the  guides                                                               
themselves  will   be  eliminated.   For  example,   the  current                                                               
requirements  that a  sport fish  operator have  a small  general                                                               
liability  policy and  a guide  must  be CPR  certified would  go                                                               
away. Given that  sport fishing is a visitor  industry, a minimum                                                               
level of  professional standards garnered  a lot of  support when                                                               
this legislation was first debated [HB 452].                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  MCGUIRE  said  that  while  some  people  do  not  want                                                               
regulations, looking  after the resource  and people who  come to                                                               
Alaska expecting a  safe and knowledgeable guide  is important. A                                                               
network has built up with  this licensing system and regulations:                                                               
groups meet for  training and discussing new  policies. She noted                                                               
that the committee did not  resolve the issue of possibly setting                                                               
a  different  fee for  an  out-of-state  guide license.  However,                                                               
ADF&G said it has that ability.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:21:09 PM                                                                                                                    
JENNIFER YUHAS,  legislative liaison,  Alaska Department  of Fish                                                               
and  Game (ADF&G)  said the  department has  that ability  as the                                                               
fees are not set in statute.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS asked if the  committee can be assured that ADF&G                                                               
will look at it the issue of a differential fee.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. YUHAS said ADF&G is  already looking into the issue. Seventy-                                                               
three  percent  of  the  guides   are  in-state  guides  and  the                                                               
remainder could  have a  differential fee.  The Carlson  case can                                                               
serve as a road map.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS asked about a letter of intent.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  MCGUIRE replied  that  one will  circulate through  the                                                               
committee to Senator Stevens.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WAGONER  moved to  report  SB  294 from  committee  with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  attached  fiscal note(s).  There                                                               
being no objection, the motion carried.