Legislature(2007 - 2008)HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/19/2008 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB65 | |
| HB193 | |
| HB267 |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 267 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 193 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 65 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 267
"An Act relating to authorizing the state to join with
other states entering into the Wildlife Violator
Compact and authorizing the compact to supersede
existing statutes by approving standards, rules, or
other action under the terms of the compact; and
directing the initiation of civil actions to revoke
appropriate licenses in this state based on a resident
licensee's violation of or failure to comply with the
terms of a wildlife resource citation issued in another
state that is a party to the compact."
3:12:07 PM
JEANNE OSTNES, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG JOHNSON, said HB
267 was patterned after the driver's license compact which
all other states in the nation have entered into. If a
person's driver's license is revoked in one state in the
country, that person cannot get a license in another state.
In 1985, states began making a similar compact in relation
to wildlife violators, and it was quickly recognized as a
valuable tool to deter serious wildlife violators everywhere
in the nation. Twenty-six states are currently compact
members. She referred to a photograph (On File) of a poacher
who had been fined and jailed in Alaska, but was able to
return to his home state and obtain another hunting license.
The biggest reason for the compact is to stop inter-state
travel of serious poachers. Second, the compact provides for
the issuance of citations to nonresidents, which is a big
issue in Alaska; currently the violator must be immediately
taken before a magistrate to prevent them from fleeing
across state lines to avoid citation consequences. Third,
the compact provides a strong deterrent for serious fish and
wildlife crimes.
Ms. Ostnes listed the provisions of the Wildlife Violator
Compact (Copy on File).
3:15:34 PM
Co-Chair Meyer referred to two zero notes.
Representative Thomas wondered if the poacher she had
referred to lost his license in Alaska. Ms. Ostnes said his
Alaska license was revoked.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG JOHNSON, SPONSOR, referred to the map
of member states (Copy on File) and pointed out that a
violator in any of those states would either go to Texas or
Alaska to poach. He related Committee testimony about
hunters telephoning the Department of Fish and Game and
asking if Alaska were a member of the compact, an indicator
that people who have violated in their own states are
looking for an open place to hunt.
3:17:09 PM
Vice-Chair Stoltze observed that some of the non-compact
states, including Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Alabama and Texas,
are some of the biggest hunting states. He wondered if
Representative Johnson was aware of why those states are not
part of the compact. Representative Johnson replied that
Texas has many private reserves. Vice-Chair Stoltze
mentioned regulations in California, which is a compact
member, and worried that Californian regulations would
affect Alaskans if Alaska became part of the compact.
Representative Johnson replied that Alaska is still in
control of its own laws; HB 267 does not give up any
sovereignty. The State also has the right to review and
determine whether an individual would lose their license.
Vice-Chair Stoltze characterized HB 267 as preventing Alaska
from being the last refuge of scoundrels.
3:21:16 PM
ROD ARNO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA OUTDOOR COUNCIL
(TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), spoke in support of HB 267.
He said the bill deals mainly with nonresidents. In his
years of experience, the majority of violators are violators
everywhere. This is a tool that will help the wildlife
troopers in Alaska, especially given the vastness of the
state and the shortage of officers.
CAPTAIN BURKE WALDRON, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, ALASKA WILDLIFE
TROOPERS (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), spoke in favor of
HB 267 on behalf of the Department of Public Safety. He
thought the compact would deter poachers caught in Alaska
from failing to appear on their citations, and make wildlife
troopers more efficient in the field. Currently time is
wasted processing poachers who are arrested.
3:23:52 PM
Co-Chair Meyer closed public testimony.
Vice-Chair Stoltze MOVED report the CS for HB 267 (RES) out
of Committee with individual recommendations and with
attached zero note #1 by the Department of Fish and Game and
zero note #2 by the Department of Public Safety. There being
NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CS HB 267 (RES) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with zero note #1 by the Department
of Fish and Game and zero note #2 by the Department of
Public Safety.
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