Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120

04/25/2024 10:00 AM House FISHERIES

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= SCR 10 JOINT LEGIS SEAFOOD INDUSTRY TASK FORCE TELECONFERENCED
Moved HCS CSSCR 10(FSH) Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
+= HR 8 FISHERIES BYCATCH REGULATIONS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
         SCR 10-JOINT LEGIS SEAFOOD INDUSTRY TASK FORCE                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:23:12 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE  announced that the  final order of business  would be                                                              
CS FOR SENATE  CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 10(FIN)  AM, Establishing                                                              
the Joint Legislative Seafood Industry Task Force.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:23:16 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE opened public testimony on SCR 10.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:23:54 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ERNIE WEISS, Natural  Resources Director, Aleutians  East Borough,                                                              
gave public  testimony in support of  SCR 10.  He stated  that the                                                              
Aleutians East  Borrough include  the communities of  Akutan, Cold                                                              
Bay, King Cove,  Nelson Lagoon and False Pass.   These communities                                                              
are  heavily  dependent  on  commercial   fishing,  and  on  their                                                              
behalf,  he  expressed  support  of  SCR 10.    He  described  the                                                              
decline of the  fisheries in the borough, including  fishermen not                                                              
being paid  for last  year's catch and  the closure  of processing                                                              
plants.   He noted that the  King Cove plant would  reportedly not                                                              
open in the coming  year, which is devastating  for the community.                                                              
He stated  that the borough  supports an accelerated  timeline for                                                              
the  task force  and  the inclusion  of  representatives from  the                                                              
impacted fishing and processing communities.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:25:38 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE announced that public testimony would be kept open.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:26:30 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCABE  moved  to   adopt  Amendment  1  to  CSSCR
10(FIN) AM, labeled 33-LS1469\S.A.2, Klein 4/24/24, which read:                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, line 11, following "processors":                                                                                   
          Insert ", or their designees,"                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, line 13, following "processor":                                                                                    
          Insert ", or its designee,"                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, lines 15 - 19:                                                                                                     
          Delete all material and insert:                                                                                       
               "(B)  three independent seafood harvesters,                                                                      
     or their designees, who actively participate in state-                                                                     
      or federally managed fisheries off the coast of the                                                                       
     state;"                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:26:35 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE  explained  that  Amendment  1  would  clean  up  the                                                              
language around the members of the proposed task force.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:26:59 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 10:26 a.m. to 10:29 a.m.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:29:39 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE  clarified that  Amendment 1 was  labeled as  A.2, and                                                              
it regards the membership  of the proposed task force,  as seen on                                                              
page 3, line 11,  13, and 15-19.  She stated that  on lines 11 and                                                              
13,  the  language "or  designee"  would  be  added, and  this  is                                                              
because the  timeline is  short, taking  place during  the fishing                                                              
season.  She explained  that this would allow a  task force member                                                              
to be  a representative  of an owner/operator  or processor.   She                                                              
explained  that  the language  on  lines  15-19 would  expand  the                                                              
qualifications  for   commercial  seafood  harvesters   to  "three                                                              
independent  seafood harvesters",  and this  is so  owner-operator                                                              
Alaskan fishermen  who are actively participating in  the state or                                                              
federal fisheries, or their designee, could be included.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE  stated that  it is not  her intention to  consolidate                                                              
representatives, rather  this would make sure there  are different                                                              
representatives   of   the   fisheries  and   there   are   enough                                                              
representatives  participating.   Per  Representative  Carpenter's                                                              
request,   she   stated   that  now   the   amendment   highlights                                                              
independent privately  owned operators.  She added  that there was                                                              
a request to  expand the board to have representatives  from state                                                              
and federally  managed fisheries;  not just  state, as  this would                                                              
only represent about half of the fishermen.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:31:54 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES  questioned   whether  this  would  exclude                                                              
large processors.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE noted  that lines 15-19 only address  task force seats                                                              
for the  three independent  seafood harvesters.   She  stated that                                                              
lines 11-13 regard the processors.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:32:42 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT  expressed the hope that  individuals who                                                              
have actively  participated in fisheries,  but are  retired, would                                                              
still be  considered as applicants.   She noted that  if [retired]                                                              
individuals  have recently  fished, and they  have the  knowledge,                                                              
they may have more time to actively participate.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:33:44 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
TIM   LAMKIN,   Staff,   Senator  Gary   Stevens,   Alaska   State                                                              
Legislature, on  behalf of Senator Stevens, answered  questions on                                                              
CSSCR 10(FIN)  AM.   He noted  that setting  up and staffing  task                                                              
forces could  be "tricky."   He  stated that  the intent  would be                                                              
that  the  task  force  is  fair,   broadly  represented,  and  as                                                              
balanced  as  possible,  and  he noted  the  time  constraints  in                                                              
setting up the task force.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:34:32 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:34:42 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE  questioned  the intent  of  the  language  "actively                                                              
participate" in the proposed resolution.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. LAMKIN  explained that  individuals who  are actively  fishing                                                              
would  be  those  who are  "getting  dirty"  and  directly  vested                                                              
stakeholders.  He  added that this would not  necessarily preclude                                                              
retired  fishermen.   He  offered  the  advice to  reconsider  the                                                              
language  on line  10 of  Amendment 1,  which refers  to "off  the                                                              
coast", as  this could exclude  setnetters, who potentially  could                                                              
be stakeholders in the project.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE  responded  that  the   intent  is  not  to  preclude                                                              
setnetters.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:36:46 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARPENTER moved  to adopt  Conceptual Amendment  1                                                              
to Amendment  1.  He  stated that  the conceptual amendment  would                                                              
strike the  words "off the  coast of the  state" and add  the word                                                              
"Alaskan" before the word "fisheries".                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:37:04 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE,   hearing  no  objection,  stated   that  Conceptual                                                              
Amendment 1 to Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:37:11 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCABE expressed  the opinion  that the  amendment                                                              
would  make the language  on line  9 of  the proposed  legislation                                                              
redundant.     He  argued   that  the   language  concerning   the                                                              
representatives  of processors  is broad;  therefore, it  could be                                                              
virtually anyone.  He questioned the "designee" language.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE  explained that if the  owner of the  processor cannot                                                              
be available at  the time, a company representative  could be sent                                                              
to speak on his/her  behalf.  She stated that the  intention is to                                                              
make sure someone could speak on the owner's behalf.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   MCCABE   argued   that  the   amendment   already                                                              
expressed this on line 9, paragraph (8).                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE concurred with the observation.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:39:11 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES expressed  the  opinion that  now would  be                                                              
the opportunity to clean up the language.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE  expressed  the  desire  that  the  language  in  the                                                              
proposed  amendment  be  cleaned  up  during  the  meeting.    She                                                              
recommended that  the committee adopt Amendment 1,  and then amend                                                              
the language with  a conceptional amendment that  would remove "on                                                              
behalf of",  and this  is because having  "or designee"  after the                                                              
word   "processor"    would   be   clearer.       She   questioned                                                              
Representative Mcabe's preference.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   MCCABE  expressed  agreement   on  the   way  the                                                              
resolution  was  originally written.    He expressed  the  opinion                                                              
that the  committee is  attempting to  put "its fingerprints  into                                                              
it."   He suggested  that line  1 and  line 2  of Amendment  1, as                                                              
amended, be stricken.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:40:44 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE  moved to  adopt Conceptual Amendment  2, to                                                              
Amendment 1,  as amended.  He  stated that Conceptual  Amendment 2                                                              
would strike line  1 and line 2 of the amendment.   There being no                                                              
objection, Conceptual Amendment 2 was adopted.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:41:02 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARPENTER confirmed  that  Conceptual Amendment  2                                                              
would address  lines 1  and 2  but would  not change the  language                                                              
"designee" on line  5 of the amendment.  He pointed  out that line                                                              
5 contains  the same grammatical  error [as the  first occurrence,                                                              
which was stricken from lines 1 and 2].                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:41:39 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE  questioned whether  Conceptual Amendment 3  should be                                                              
entertained.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:41:41 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE moved to table Amendment 1, as amended.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER objected.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:42:04 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 10:42 a.m. to 10:44 a.m.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:44:40 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCABE  moved  to  withdraw the  motion  to  table                                                              
Amendment 1, as  amended.  There being no objection,  Amendment 1,                                                              
as amended, was back before the committee.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:44:58 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCABE  moved  to  rescind  action  on  Conceptual                                                              
Amendment  2  to  Amendment  1,   as  amended.    There  being  no                                                              
objection, Conceptual Amendment 2 was rescinded.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:45:22 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE  stated  that  Amendment  1,  as  amended,  to  CSSCR
10(FIN) AM, was before the committee.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARPENTER removed  his objection  to Amendment  1,                                                              
as amended.   There  being no further  objection, Amendment  1, as                                                              
amended, was adopted.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:46:07 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCORMICK  moved to  adopt  Amendment  2 to  CSSCR
10(FIN) AM, labeled 33-LS1469\S.A.1, which read:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 31:                                                                                                           
          Delete "16"                                                                                                           
          Insert "19"                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, line 24:                                                                                                           
          Delete "and"                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, following line 24:                                                                                                 
          Insert a new paragraph to read:                                                                                       
               "(3)  three members who are enrolled                                                                             
     citizens  of  a  federally   recognized  tribe  in  this                                                                   
     state,  appointed  jointly   by  the  president  of  the                                                                   
     senate    and   the    speaker   of    the   house    of                                                                   
     representatives; and"                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Renumber the following paragraph accordingly.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:46:14 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCORMICK stated  that  the amendment  would be  a                                                              
way  to enhance  the  task  force, and  it  would  respond to  the                                                              
request  for more Tribal  representation  on the  task force.   He                                                              
expressed  the  opinion  that these  three  representatives  would                                                              
enhance  the task force  and bring  a perspective  that might  not                                                              
otherwise be presented.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:46:50 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES suggested that  adding three  members would                                                              
possibly  be too  many, and  she  questioned why  this number  was                                                              
chosen.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCORMICK responded that  this number  matches the                                                              
number  of  the  other representatives,  which  would  give  equal                                                              
balance on the task force.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES moved  to adopt Conceptual  Amendment  1 to                                                              
Amendment [2].   She stated  that this conceptual  amendment would                                                              
add three members  from the Senate, appointed by  the president of                                                              
the  Senate,  of  which  one  would  be  in  the  minority.    She                                                              
continued that  there would also  be three members from  the House                                                              
of  Representatives  appointed,  of  which  one would  be  in  the                                                              
minority.  She  expressed the understanding that the  maker of the                                                              
document  is supportive,  as this  would allow  the task force  to                                                              
continue working  while vested members are out  fishing and unable                                                              
to attend.   She added that  with the legislative  members working                                                              
on the task  force, those out fishing  would know that  there is a                                                              
complement, with a robust discussion continuing.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:48:36 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCABE pointed out  that the conceptual  amendment                                                              
would add 5 members  to the 16-member task force.   He argued that                                                              
this would  be a "huge" task  force.  Reconsidering,  he suggested                                                              
that this would actually add 9 members, equaling 25 members.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES clarified  that Conceptual  Amendment  1 to                                                              
Amendment 2  would add  three members by  each body,  totaling six                                                              
members.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   MCCABE   clarified  that   this   would  be   the                                                              
equivalent of six  legislators.  He questioned  whether adding six                                                              
members would be an issue.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:50:09 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. LAMKIN  stated that he is  neutral on this issue;  however, he                                                              
added that  allowing one member of  the minority for each  body to                                                              
participate would  be consistent with previously  established task                                                              
forces.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:50:47 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER  clarified that before the  committee was                                                              
Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 2.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:51:20 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCORMICK  requested clarification  on  Conceptual                                                              
Amendment 1.   He expressed  the opinion  that to be  substantial,                                                              
the proposed conceptual amendment would need to be in writing.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES stated  that Conceptual  Amendment 1  would                                                              
add two  additional members  to Amendment 1,  one from  the Senate                                                              
minority and one from the House minority.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:52:13 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  C. JOHNSON  questioned  what  would be  considered                                                              
the  "Senate  minority."   He  expressed  the  understanding  that                                                              
there is not [an organized] minority in the Senate.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR.  LAMKIN  explained that  one  seat  would  be dedicated  to  a                                                              
member of  the unrecognized  minority in the  Senate and  one seat                                                              
would be dedicated to the recognized minority in the House.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:52:50 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE expressed  opposition  to Conceptual  Amendment 1  to                                                              
Amendment  2.   She suggested  that  its intent  is  not clear  to                                                              
members.   She added  that the existing  language in  the proposed                                                              
resolution  would   not  preclude  the  presiding   officers  from                                                              
appointing  a minority  member from  either body.   She  expressed                                                              
the hope  that any member of  the task force would  best represent                                                              
people  in the  seafood  industry  who are  experiencing  economic                                                              
peril,  whether  these  representatives  are  harvesters,  members                                                              
from  the  legislature,  seafood processors,  Tribal  members,  or                                                              
community members.   She noted that  because the task  force would                                                              
only meet  for a very short  timeframe, those who can  best engage                                                              
should  be members.    She  argued that  this  would  be "a  quick                                                              
sharpshooting thing"  with the best members.   She reiterated that                                                              
the  language would  not  preclude  minority members  from  either                                                              
body being appointed.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:54:06 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCORMICK  requested clarification  on  Conceptual                                                              
Amendment 1.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   STUTES  restated   Conceptual   Amendment  1   to                                                              
Amendment 2,  explaining that the  conceptual amendment  would add                                                              
to  the  task force  one  House  minority  member and  one  Senate                                                              
member in  the unorganized minority.   As the meetings  would take                                                              
place  during the  fishing industry's  busy  summer, she  reasoned                                                              
that having  the extra  members  would allow  the business  of the                                                              
task  force to  continue.   She expressed  the understanding  that                                                              
the maker of the document is in full support of this idea.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:55:37 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HIMSCHOOT  expressed  the understanding  that  the                                                              
conceptual amendment  would be  added on page  3, lines 3-6.   She                                                              
expressed  support  for this,  as  the quorum  would  be a  simple                                                              
majority of the  task force; however, she added  the qualification                                                              
that she would  only support [Amendment 2] if  Tribal members were                                                              
appointed, as too many legislators would be "top heavy."                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE  remarked  that expressing  support  for  legislation                                                              
does not work in this way.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:56:46 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  LAMKIN,  per   Legislative  Legal  Services,   expressed  the                                                              
understanding  that Conceptual Amendment  1 is  in regard  to page                                                              
3, lines  2-6, and it  would add six  members of the  legislature,                                                              
two from  the majority of  both bodies  and one from  the minority                                                              
of both bodies.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:57:12 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   MCCORMICK  argued   against  having   [Conceptual                                                              
Amendment 1 intertwined  with Amendment 2].  He  expressed support                                                              
for  the  conceptual   amendment  but  not  as   an  amendment  to                                                              
Amendment  2.     He  expressed  the  fear  that   the  conceptual                                                              
amendment  might cause  members not  to support  Amendment 2.   He                                                              
suggested a motion to split the question.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   STUTES  withdrew   Conceptual   Amendment  1   to                                                              
Amendment 2.   There  being no objection,  Conceptual  Amendment 1                                                              
to Amendment 2 was withdrawn.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE stated  that  Amendment  2 to  CSSCR  10(FIN) AM  was                                                              
before the committee.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:58:07 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCABE questioned  whether this  would preclude  a                                                              
Tribal  member from  being a  member in  a seat  designated for  a                                                              
seafood   processor,   salmon  harvester,   whitefish   harvester,                                                              
shellfish  harvester,   or  another  representative   of  fishing-                                                              
dependent coastal communities.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. LAMKIN  verified that Representative  McCabe was  referring to                                                              
Amendment  2.   He noted  that there  was an  earlier question  on                                                              
adding  three  members,  stating  he would  answer  this  question                                                              
along with the current question.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE interjected  that  the  committee is  currently  only                                                              
addressing the Tribal question.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR.  LAMKIN  referenced  page  3,  lines  9-24,  as  amended,  and                                                              
pointed  out  that  among  these  groups  there  would  likely  be                                                              
someone  who is  a member  of a  federally  recognized Tribe  that                                                              
would  qualify.     However,  as   a  "friendly   compromise,"  he                                                              
suggested that  on page 3, line  7, after "9 public  members", the                                                              
language "one  of which is  enrolled as  a citizen of  a federally                                                              
recognized  Tribe"  could be  added.   He  pointed  out that  this                                                              
would still provide for specific Tribal representation.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
11:00:02 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCORMICK expressed  the opinion  that this  would                                                              
not  be a  compromise, as  the voice  of Tribal  members would  be                                                              
disempowered.    He  explained  that  a  compromise  would  be  an                                                              
equally balanced  task force, and  he expressed opposition  to the                                                              
idea.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
11:00:19 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES  opined that none of the  other appointments                                                              
would prevent the individual from being a Tribal member.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. LAMKIN  expressed the belief  that this statement  is correct,                                                              
as Tribal member representation would not be precluded.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   STUTES  confirmed   that  there   would  be   one                                                              
designated  Tribal seat,  with  the potential  to  have more  than                                                              
one.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE  interjected  that  the committee  discussion  is  on                                                              
Amendment 2, which states that there would be three members.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES suggested that  without Amendment  2, there                                                              
would be  the potential  of having  six Tribal members,  depending                                                              
on the appointments.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR.  LAMKIN  expressed  the  understanding   that  this  could  be                                                              
possible.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
11:01:27 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE    HIMSCHOOT   spoke    to   the   importance    of                                                              
intentionally having  the voice of Tribal citizens,  as recognized                                                              
by both  the state  and federal governments.   She explained  that                                                              
these  are   coequal  governments,   and  the  discussion   is  on                                                              
something that "greatly"  affects Tribal communities.   She argued                                                              
that intentionally  asking for this voice would  be different from                                                              
"hoping  that maybe  somebody might  be  able to  speak from  that                                                              
perspective;" otherwise,  she suggested that the  individual would                                                              
be asked  to wear "two  hats."  She  maintained that  there should                                                              
be a  Tribal voice on  the task force, and  it should not  be left                                                              
to chance.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
11:02:20 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE  reminded members  that the intent  of the  task force                                                              
would  be  to  address the  current  economic  peril  the  seafood                                                              
industry  is facing.   She continued  that this  is not  a fishery                                                              
task  force, but  one that  regards the  seafood industry  itself.                                                              
She argued that this is a "big factor."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
11:02:54 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARPENTER, from  the  perspective of  living in  a                                                              
semirural  area,  pointed  out that  many  families  benefit  from                                                              
being on  the road system; however,  these families still  rely on                                                              
salmon as  part of  their food  source.   He opined that  families                                                              
who live  off the  road system  would consider  that going  a year                                                              
without salmon  as an economic hardship.   He continued  that in a                                                              
holistic approach  to the  economy, rural  communities who  do not                                                              
have access  to fish because  of state  policy would also  be part                                                              
of the economy and  a part of the economic problem  that the state                                                              
now  has.    He expressed  the  understanding  that  the  way  the                                                              
resolution  is now  drafted,  it  is looking  at  the economy  and                                                              
making  money with  the activities  of  processors and  fishermen;                                                              
however,  it does  not  consider  subsistence as  a  piece of  the                                                              
economy.   He argued  the importance  of having representation  on                                                              
the  board with  Alaskans whose  economic interest  is not  making                                                              
money,  but just  in surviving.   He  expressed the  understanding                                                              
that processing  and fishing  is necessary to  the state,  but the                                                              
others should  not be  "left behind."   He expressed  concern that                                                              
those who  are just  trying to  live do  not have  a voice  at the                                                              
table.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
11:05:22 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE expressed  disagreement  and pointed  out that  there                                                              
are   three    representatives   of   fishing-dependent    coastal                                                              
communities  outlined  in the  proposed  resolution.   She  stated                                                              
that this  would be  the communities  relying  on the income  from                                                              
the  seafood  industry,  which  would  represent  Tribal  members,                                                              
members  of  city  groups,  mayors,  or  anyone  impacted  by  the                                                              
seafood industry.   She maintained  that the focus should  stay on                                                              
the purpose of the  task force, as this is not  a broad discussion                                                              
on fisheries,  but a discussion on  those who rely on  the seafood                                                              
industry because  of market conditions.  She  suggested that after                                                              
the completion  of the work of this  task force, there  could be a                                                              
long-term task  force focused on  the fisheries as a  whole, where                                                              
there would  definitely be  specific Tribal  representation.   She                                                              
opined  that the  task  force formed  by  the proposed  resolution                                                              
would only  be a short  step to address  a pertinent issue  in the                                                              
seafood industry.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
11:07:02 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   HIMSCHOOT  asked   Mr.  Lamkin  whether   Senator                                                              
Stevens' office has a position on this.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR.  LAMKIN responded  that this  amendment was  just received  by                                                              
the  office;  therefore,  there  is  a  neutral  position  on  the                                                              
matter.    He  reiterated  that  a  friendly  amendment  could  be                                                              
considered on  page 3, lines  20-21, by  adding, "at least  one of                                                              
whom is a member of a Tribe".                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
11:07:39 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE  commented that 20 percent of  the people in                                                              
Alaska  are  Alaska   Natives.    He  argued  against   the  point                                                              
Representative   McCormick   made    that   Tribes   are   coequal                                                              
governments.   He said, "That is  simply not true."   He expressed                                                              
the  agreement that  there would  need to  be representation  from                                                              
all  facets of  the industry,  but  he questioned  where it  would                                                              
end.    He  gave  the  example   that  cannery  workers,  such  as                                                              
Filipinos, could be  considered for a seat on the  task force.  He                                                              
reiterated Chair  Vance's comment that  the task force  is tightly                                                              
defined  for the  seafood industry.    He noted  that there  would                                                              
likely  be a  number of  Natives  based on  the representation  of                                                              
rural  areas.  He  expressed the  understanding  that it is  being                                                              
assumed  that  a   non-Native  is  not  capable   of  representing                                                              
Natives.   He  opined  that [having  seats  dedicated to  Natives]                                                              
would be  driving the board in  a political direction.   He argued                                                              
that this is a  task force very tightly designed  to do one thing,                                                              
and the  politics of this  should not be  involved.   He suggested                                                              
that the  resolution, as originally  written, should  be followed;                                                              
however, if more representation is needed, this should be done.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
11:09:17 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES   expressed  the  understanding   that  the                                                              
resolution is  more focused on  the issues of marketing  seafoods,                                                              
rather  than the  actual sectors,  such as  sport, commercial,  or                                                              
subsistence  fishing.   She continued  that  her understanding  is                                                              
for  the industry  to work  together  as a  whole, and  it is  not                                                              
limited  to Native  or non-Native  processors or  fishermen.   She                                                              
referred to Chair  Vance's statement that people  who are involved                                                              
in the  fisheries and  seafood marketing  should be involved,  but                                                              
the  focus  should not  be  on  subsistence.   She  expressed  the                                                              
opinion  that the  Native population  should be  involved, and  it                                                              
will be involved  because there are opportunities.   She expressed                                                              
agreement  with the  chair that  the  focus of  the resolution  is                                                              
being lost.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
11:11:06 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCORMICK said that  he has  "a mouthful  of blood                                                              
right  now  because  I'm  biting  my  tongue."    He  argued  that                                                              
factually inaccurate  information has  been stated on  the record.                                                              
He  stated  that  using "Tribe"  would  not  necessarily  indicate                                                              
Alaska  Native.    He  explained  that  a  Tribe  is  a  political                                                              
subdivision and  a government entity,  as this was the  purpose of                                                              
the  law passed  in  2018.   He  argued  that the  statement  that                                                              
["Tribe"] is  a racial designation  is inaccurate because  it is a                                                              
political subdivision.   Moreover,  he pointed out  the assumption                                                              
by some  members that including  Tribal representation  would make                                                              
this a  subsistence issue, but  Tribal governments also  engage in                                                              
the commercial fishing  industry.  As stakeholders  in the seafood                                                              
industry,  he  said,   these  entities  should  be   part  of  the                                                              
resolution.   He stated that  the intent  of [Amendment 2]  is not                                                              
racial;  rather, it  is about  including key  stakeholders in  the                                                              
discussion and  affording them the  opportunity to  make decisions                                                              
influencing the  industry where they  participate.  For  those who                                                              
do  not support  the amendment,  he  asked, "What  are you  afraid                                                              
of?"    He  maintained   that  these  entities  are   made  up  of                                                              
individuals who  are participating in  the economy, but  they have                                                              
been argued out of representation.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
11:12:51 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCABE concurred  that many  Natives are  involved                                                              
in the fisheries;  therefore, they will be part of  the board.  He                                                              
stated that  his question  to Representative  McCormick is,  "What                                                              
are  you  afraid  of?    Are  you  afraid  they  will  somehow  be                                                              
excluded?"   He opined that  if individuals  were a major  part of                                                              
the fishery,  they would  not be  excluded, regardless  of whether                                                              
they are part of a Tribe or not.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
11:13:46 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES  indicated  that  valid  points  have  been                                                              
made.  She discussed  the new, expanding processor  in Kodiak that                                                              
the Sun'aq Tribe  owns.  She continued that the  Tribe is involved                                                              
in  marketing the  product; therefore,  by  this participation  in                                                              
Kodiak's  fisheries, the  Tribe  would be  included.   She  voiced                                                              
that she has not decided on a stance on the amendment.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
11:14:41 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK  responded to Representative  McCabe that                                                              
he is  afraid of "our  state's history."   He pointed out  that it                                                              
has  taken until  2018 for  Tribal representation  to happen  when                                                              
Tribes have  been around since before  statehood.  He  said, "It's                                                              
history.  That's  what I am afraid of."  He  discussed the state's                                                              
precedent, in  that it  has not acknowledged  Tribes unless  it is                                                              
"on the  books."   He pointed  out that  there is  a history  that                                                              
indicates  that  the word  of  the legislature  concerning  Tribal                                                              
representation cannot  be [trusted], as there has  been a systemic                                                              
and  historical rejection  of Tribal  representation.   He  argued                                                              
that the  track record suggests that  the state intends  to do the                                                              
right thing,  but in the  end it  has not.   He stated that  he is                                                              
not trying to  exclude anyone and expressed the  belief that there                                                              
should  be more  stakeholders at  the table,  as it  would make  a                                                              
more democratic  process.   He concluded that  the state  would be                                                              
better with Amendment 2.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
11:15:47 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   VANCE  questioned   whether  Tribal   members  should   be                                                              
identified as  community members who  are actively engaged  in the                                                              
fisheries, or as Tribal members.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   MCCORMICK   responded    that   principally   his                                                              
intention is for Tribal representation.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
11:16:36 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 11:16 a.m. to 11:17 a.m.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
11:17:53 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES moved Conceptual  Amendment 2  to Amendment                                                              
2  to  CSSCR   10(FIN)  AM,  as  amended.     She  explained  that                                                              
Conceptual Amendment  2 would require that Tribal  members [on the                                                              
task force] must be involved in the fishing industry.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
[Although  not  stated  on  the   record,  the  committee  treated                                                              
Conceptual Amendment 2 as if there was an objection.]                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
11:18:11 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE announced  that Conceptional Amendment  2 to Amendment                                                              
2 was before the committee.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
A roll  call vote was taken.   Representatives McCormick,  Stutes,                                                              
Carpenter, and  Himschoot voted  in favor of Conceptual  Amendment                                                              
2 to Amendment  2.  Representatives McCabe, C.  Johnson, and Vance                                                              
voted  against   it.    Therefore,   Conceptual  Amendment   2  to                                                              
Amendment 2 passed by a vote of 4-3.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
11:18:51 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE  announced that  Amendment 2,  as amended,  was before                                                              
the committee.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
[Although  not  stated  on  the   record,  the  committee  treated                                                              
Amendment 2, as amended, as if there was an objection.]                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
A roll  call vote was taken.   Representatives McCormick,  Stutes,                                                              
Carpenter, and Himschoot  voted in favor of adopting  Amendment 2,                                                              
as  amended, to  CSSCR 10(FIN)  AM, as  amended.   Representatives                                                              
McCabe,  C.  Johnson, and  Vance  voted  against it.    Therefore,                                                              
Amendment 2, as amended, was adopted by a vote of 4-3.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
11:20:12 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARPENTER moved  to  report CSSCR  10(FIN) AM,  as                                                              
amended,  out of  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                              
the  accompanying  fiscal notes.    He granted  Legislative  Legal                                                              
Services the authority to make technical  and conforming changes.                                                               
There being  no objection, HCS CSSCR  10(FSH) was reported  out of                                                              
the House Special Committee on Fisheries.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
[Although not stated on the record, the committee treated public                                                                
testimony as closed.]                                                                                                           

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HR 8 - Proposed CS v.B (04-24-24).pdf HFSH 4/25/2024 10:00:00 AM
HR 8
CSSCR 10 - Amendment #1 (S.A.2) by Chair Vance.pdf HFSH 4/25/2024 10:00:00 AM
SSCR10
CSSCR 10 - Amendment #2 (S.A.1) by Rep. McCormick.pdf HFSH 4/25/2024 10:00:00 AM
SSCR10
HR 8 - Written Public Testimony (Uploaded as of 04-25-24).pdf HFSH 4/25/2024 10:00:00 AM
HR 8