04/20/2004 09:14 AM Senate FIN

     CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 303(RES)                                                                                            
     "An Act relating to  the Big Game Commercial Services Board and                                                            
     to   the  regulation   of  big   game  hunting   services   and                                                            
     transportation services;  and providing for an effective date."                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This was  the second  hearing for  this bill in  the Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Wilken  stated this  bill,  sponsored by  the Legislative                                                             
Budget and Audit Committee,  "sets up a board system for the guiding                                                            
industry,  much as  the same  has been  set up  in the  past. As  it                                                            
stands  now, the  seven  member  board consists  of  two  registered                                                            
guides,  one licensed  transporter,  one Board of  Game member,  two                                                            
members as private landholders and one public member."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken  reminded that at the previous hearing  on this bill                                                            
he  directed members  to  alert him  of any  issues  that should  be                                                            
addressed. He informed that none were reported.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Amendment  #2:  This amendment  increases  the  number  of  licensed                                                            
transporters from one member  to two who would serve on the Big Game                                                            
Commercial  Services Board  as established  by Section 08.54.591  in                                                            
Section  3 of  the  bill on  page 2,  line  6. This  amendment  also                                                            
decreases  the number of  members who represent  private  landowners                                                            
affected  by guided hunting  activities  or transportation  services                                                            
and who do not  hold a transporter license, from two  to one member,                                                            
on line 9.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken moved for adoption.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman  objected  and spoke to his  objection, stated  that                                                            
subsistence users should  be represented on the board. He noted that                                                            
Native corporations  hold  the majority of  privately owned  land in                                                            
Alaska, and  therefore the number  of landholder members  should not                                                            
be reduced. He supported the current proposal.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
A roll call was taken on the motion.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Senator  Bunde (changed vote from nay to  yea), Senator B.                                                            
Stevens, Co-Chair Green and Co-Chair Wilken                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
OPPOSED: Senator Dyson, Senator Hoffman and Senator Olson                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The motion PASSED (4-3)                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
The amendment was ADOPTED.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RALPH SAMUELS sponsor  of the bill, stated  that the                                                            
issue  of contracts  could  be addressed  later in  the legislative                                                             
process. He explained that  current language provides that the board                                                            
may  require  that guide  outfitters  and  transporters  enter  into                                                            
written   contracts  with   clients,  and   he  proposed  that   the                                                            
legislation  stipulate that the board  be compelled to require  such                                                            
contracts.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Wilken  recalled  discussions   of  the  previous  hearing                                                            
pertaining  to information dated April  5, 2004 [copy not  provided]                                                            
regarding "past  experiences." He informed that the  sponsor's staff                                                            
has addressed  each item outlined in the memorandum  and would share                                                            
their  findings with  the House  of Representatives.  He  summarized                                                            
that most issues are addressed in this legislation.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Samuels affirmed.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green ascertained  that the board process could require one                                                            
to two years  to resolve the issue  of contracts. She asked  whether                                                            
another method could be  implemented until the board is operational.                                                            
She did  not want to delay  this legislation  but wanted the  matter                                                            
addressed.  She   stressed  the  importance  of  providing   written                                                            
documentation of contracts for guides and clients.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Samuels  responded   that  changes  could   not  be                                                            
implemented  for the upcoming hunting  and guiding season  but could                                                            
be for the following season.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Dyson  stated for record a  potential conflict of  interest,                                                            
as he operates a charter fishing boat in Prince William Sound.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken so noted the declaration.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman  asked what  section of the  bill provides  that the                                                            
Board members  would be appointed  by the governor and confirmed  by                                                            
the legislature.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Samuels indicated  such a  provision would  be added                                                            
later.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Green offered a  motion to report  SB 303 as amended  from                                                            
Committee with  individual recommendations and accompanying  and new                                                            
fiscal notes.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There was  no objection  and CS  SB 303 (FIN)  MOVED from  Committee                                                            
with fiscal  note #1 for  $30,000 from the  Department of  Community                                                            
and Economic  Development, zero fiscal  note #2 from the  Department                                                            
of Fish and Game, and a  new zero fiscal note dated 3/11/04 from the                                                            
Department of Public Safety.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green chaired the remainder of meeting                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
AT EASE 9:24 AM / 9:25 AM