Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/24/1993 08:00 AM House RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 232: BOW HUNTING STAMP & BOW HUNTING SAFETY Number 071 REPRESENTATIVE CON BUNDE, PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 232, explained that the bill had been introduced at the request of the Alaskan Bow Hunters Association. The intention was to impose fees upon the hunters to help support good management of game resources. Representative Bunde, a bow hunter himself, stressed the importance of education in the sport because of the skill level involved. He noted the need for proficiency in bow hunting because of the precision needed to shoot effectively and not just wound the prey. The bill sponsors education programs through a $7 tag fee, he said. Number 100 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE compared the program to the duck stamp program, and said the proceeds would contribute to wildlife management and enhancement in addition to education. Number 152 REPRESENTATIVE ELDON MULDER asked about the estimated costs of educational programs. Number 154 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE replied that there is currently an education program funded through general funds, and the revenues from the $7 fee proposed in HB 232 would supplement those expenditures. He noted that in FY 93, $45,000 had been budgeted for the bow hunting education program. He also noted that there are several areas in the state set aside for bow-hunting only, and in these areas, bow hunters have imposed self-regulations that require hunters to have completed a bow-hunting safety course. Number 211 STEVE PETERSON, SENIOR STAFF BIOLOGIST WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME (ADF&G), DIVISION OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, told the committee he was testifying on behalf of Dave Kelleyhouse, who was attending the Board of Game meeting in Anchorage. Mr. Peterson said his primary function at the ADF&G was federal aid work, associated with hunter education. House Bill 232, he explained, imposes a bow hunting fee over and above current hunting license fees. He said the intent was to raise additional revenue for hunter education and safety courses. Regarding the ADF&G fiscal note, he said it was based on an estimated 5,000 tags sold each year. MR. PETERSON said this figure was based on the number of individuals who have gone through a bow hunting course required for bow hunting in areas designated exclusively for that use. He commented that bow hunters may be able to justify proposals to the Board of Game requesting establishment of additional bow only hunting areas or seasons as a result of the additional fee. He stressed the importance of ethics in bow hunting and said educational programs are a good way to ensure sound practices. Number 301 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE referred to incidents where inexperienced bow hunters have caused damage to the public perception of bow hunters when they go out without knowing how to shoot and arrows are shot aimlessly, sometimes hitting animals but not killing them. He explained that the course teaches the complexities of the sport. Number 318 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS announced that testimony would be taken from teleconference sites. KEN VORISEK, GOLDEN NORTH ARCHERY ASSOCIATION AND ALASKAN BOW HUNTERS ASSOCIATION, testified by teleconference from Fairbanks in strong support of HB 232. He noted that an advantage of the bill would be that it would result in more accurate documentation of the numbers of bow hunters in Alaska, in addition to its primary purposes of expanding hunter education programs and supplementing the funding for game management. Number 360 DAN HASKINS, BOW HUNTER, testified by teleconference from Homer. He called HB 232 unsatisfactory because he felt there would be no guarantee that the additional revenues the bow hunting stamp fee brought in would be used specifically for the intended purposes. He felt the income generated might be absorbed into the state's general fund and not be used specifically for bow hunting safety and game management. He said he would support the stamp if the monies were deposited in a fund to be used for those purposes only. Number 373 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE responded to Mr. Haskins' remarks, and explained that in his conversations with the ADF&G, it was understood that the income would be used for the intended purposes, but because of constitutional provisions, the income could not be placed in a dedicated fund. They would instead be considered focussed on bow hunting education. Number 396 STAN PARKERSON, GOLDEN NORTH ARCHERY ASSOCIATION, testified by teleconference from Fairbanks. He said his association had about 300 members. The association's board members, he said, had voted to support the program proposed in HB 232. He explained that Alaska has taken a different approach to game management than other states. Alaska does not look at the number of recreational hours generated by the resource as other states do, he said. Bow hunting can be a source of additional recreational hours, he said, and the support shown for HB 232 is an indication that the bow hunters are willing to pay for that opportunity. CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked for further testimony, and heard none. Number 410 VICE CHAIRMAN BILL HUDSON made a MOTION to move HB 232 from committee with the ADF&G fiscal note with individual recommendations, and asked unanimous consent. CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked if there were any objections. Hearing none, the MOTION PASSED. Number 423 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS announced the committee would next take up HB 238.
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