Legislature(2005 - 2006)SENATE FINANCE 532
05/04/2006 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
HB307 | |
HB29 | |
HB446 | |
HB326 | |
HB57 | |
HB419 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
= | HB 307 | ||
+ | HB 29 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 446 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 326 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 41 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 57 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 419 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED |
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 307(RES) "An Act creating the Knik River Public Use Area." This was the second hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance Committee. Co-Chair Green announced that a Senate Finance Committee Letter of Intent was developed to address concerns raised by members during the bill's first hearing. Co-Chair Green moved to adopt the Committee Letter of Intent (LOI) and read it into the record as follows. Letter of Intent Senate Finance Committee CS HB 307(RES) It is the intent of the 24th Alaska State Legislature that the Department of Natural Resources evaluate instituting user fees to pay the long term costs for management and necessary facilities associated with the public use of the Knik Public Use Area established under House Bill 307. The department should consider such fees as a component of the Management Plan that will be prepared under AS 41.23.190. Senator Stedman spoke in opposition to the establishment of a user fee program and, therefore, objected to adopting the LOI. 9:07:07 AM Co-Chair Wilken pointed out that the inclusion of the word "evaluate" was key to his support of the LOI, as it would require the Department to develop a plan, which would then be presented to the Legislature for "some sort" of approval. Co-Chair Green characterized the Knik Public Use Area (KPUA) as an "unwieldy area" in which to institute a user fee program, as, rather than being a park at which money could be collected at the gate, this is "an open area" with many entry points. An appropriate user fee program must be developed. Options could include the purchase of a bumper sticker, card, or certificate. While a user fee program "would not be an easy thing to implement", it is worthy of discussion. 9:08:27 AM Senator Dyson, while appreciating the intent of the LOI, asked the sponsor's opinion of it. 9:08:35 AM BEN MULLIGAN, Staff to Representative Bill Stoltze, the bill's sponsor, noted that Representative Stoltze was comfortable with the language since it specified that the implementation of a user fee would be "evaluated". This language would allow any proposed fee structure to be reviewed by the Legislature. Senator Bunde noted that numerous user fee programs have been successfully implemented in the State. For example, the Anchorage Ski Club sells a pin to generate money to maintain their trails. While the purchase of the pin is voluntary, pressure is exerted on users to purchase one. The State has a snowmobile registration fee that generates money for snowmachine trail maintenance. Senator Bunde pointed out that this legislation would not have been introduced had users of the KPUA area been more responsible. Implementation of a user fee program would accomplish two things: people who paid the fee "would be less tolerant of the scofflaws" and the funds it generated would help "care for the area". 9:10:29 AM Senator Stedman was disinterested in establishing a user fee precedence for areas beyond the KPUA. The prospect of requiring people to pay user fees or to place identifying stickers on their boats or recreational vehicles to recreate, hunt, or fish on State or federal lands, such as the United States Forest Service managed land in Southeast Alaska, was unappealing. He was "adamantly opposed" to the language in the LOI. It could diminish the bill's ability to be adopted by the Legislature. 9:11:16 AM Senator Bunde pointed out that recreation in the State is already being paid for, as such things as small boat registration fees already exist. In order to support recreation programs, the State must either implement user fees or utilize the State's general funds. Co-Chair Green asked whether Senator Bunde could suggest any alternate funding source. Senator Bunde could not. 9:11:48 AM Senator Dyson noted that, for a long time, hunters and fisherman have willingly purchased fishing and hunting licenses, as the proceeds from those licenses are used to fund research and resource management activities. He did not believe that implementing a fee structure in the KPUA would set a recreational use fee precedent because the purpose of the fee would be to limit damage being done in the area and to pay for the cost of policing it. He agreed with Co-Chair Green that the area was difficult to work with. The proposal could either be considered "brilliant" or at a minimum "a well thought out first step" towards a solution. Co-Chair Green added that the difficulty in addressing the concerns about the area is compounded by the fact that it is "in such close proximity to where people live". The "great deal of interest" in how the area should be managed has increased the conflicts. Senator Stedman maintained his objection to adopting the LOI. 9:13:31 AM Senator Olson, who was unfamiliar with the area, asked whether implementing a user fee would assist in deterring "nuisance behavior", specifically "the discharging of firearms in an unwise manner". Co-Chair Green responded that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) might hire "caretakers" to police the area for illegal activities, particularly during evening and weekend hours when the use of the area is the heaviest. Additional funding might be required in the future to support policing efforts. While the State's general fund is not typically used to fund this type of activity, this might be "an exception because it is such a unique" and heavily used area. While the majority of people using the area are respectful and law-abiding, five to ten percent of the users are scofflaws. Peer pressure might have some affect were the implementation of a user fee to fail to alter deviant behavior. A roll call was taken on the motion to adopt the LOI. IN FAVOR: Senator Bunde, Senator Dyson, Senator Hoffman, Co- Chair Wilken and Co-Chair Green OPPOSED: Senator Stedman and Senator Olson The motion PASSED (5-2) The Letter of Intent was ADOPTED. Senator Dyson moved to report the bill and the Senate Finance Committee Letter of Intent from Committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal note. Without objection, CS HB 307(RES) and the Senate Finance Committee Letter of Intent were REPORTED from Committee with a new $356,800 fiscal note dated May 3, 2006 from the Department of Natural Resources. AT EASE 9:16:18 AM / 9:16:38 AM
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