Legislature(2013 - 2014)BUTROVICH 205
03/21/2014 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB160 | |
| SB28 | |
| HB161 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 28 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 161 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| = | SB 160 | ||
HB 161-AUCTIONS FOR BIG GAME HARVEST PERMITS
4:23:32 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced HB 161 to be up for
consideration.
4:23:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN GATTIS, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 161, said the bill
updates the governor's license program. This is an
economic process for the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game (ADF&G) to generate funds for management of the
state's wildlife resources. The department may donate
permits to non-profit organizations that are
incorporated in Alaska to hold big game permit auctions
or raffles. The sale of relatively few permits can
generate a large amount of money to fund the
department's conservation and protection efforts.
She explained that the governor's license program was
created in 1997 and since 2009 it has generated over
$450,000 to the Fish and Game Fund. The department can
issue up to 40 permits under HB 161; statute currently
allows up to 19 permits. Putting the numbers in
perspective, the department is issuing over 4,000
permits for big game species for 2014/15, and
historically around half of the available permits are
issued and of that half, 46 percent are utilized in a
hunt. This means that around 25 percent of the total
permits issued were actually used.
HB 161 has two sections that list permits available for
donation for raffle or auction just like the current
statute does: section 1 gives 100 percent of the
proceeds to a non-profit under the stipulation that
they use the generated funds to promote education in
outdoor traditions. This section permits up to 4 Etolin
Island elk, 1 bison, and 1 Dall sheep. The elk and the
bison are in statute already; the sheep permit is 1
additional under this bill.
Section 2 of the bill has permits for 2 Dall sheep and
two bison. These are already in statute. HB 161
increases the number of permits from 2 to 4 for musk
ox, brown or grizzly bear, moose, caribou, and wolf,
and adds 4 permits each for black bear, goat, and elk.
It also increases the percentage of revenues a non-
profit can keep from 10 percent to 30 percent. This is
necessary to incentivize groups to participate. The
entirety of the money that goes to the non-profit has
to be spent on outdoor education and conservation
projects in a manner approved by the department.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS explained that at 10 percent some
of the raffling groups were leaving permits on the
table and said that there was a certain cost to doing
business and if they could get 30 percent to do what
they would like to do under the department rules that
would make more sense. As the program is written now,
the group retains 10 percent of the proceeds and they
can spend it any way they want so long as it isn't for
political gain, which means that it can't be used for
referendums, initiatives, or to give to any candidate
to run.
With HB 161, a group actually retains 0 percent of the
proceeds and it is required to spend the entirety on
department-approved programs. Permits occupied by the
governor's license program are taken out of the draw
hunt. The program does not take permits directly from
Alaskan hunters. She explained that when a resident
hunter enters into the drawing for most hunts that
person has the same chance of winning a permit as a
non-resident hunter. Further, she said, this bill does
not allow for out-of-season special hunts in closed
areas and it does not allow for helicopters and other
advantages to be used in tracking and hunting or
transporting big game. If a permit is donated to a non-
profit under this program and the permit does not sell,
it is reentered into the drawing pool or, if it's late
in the season, sold over the counter. These sales are
mainly to resident hunters.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS said she and her staff have
worked closely with the department as well as a large
number of sporting groups to create the bill to benefit
hunters and to ensure that the department has continued
funding to manage this valuable resource well into the
future.
CHAIR GIESSEL asked if her staff had anything to add.
4:29:47 PM
REID HARRIS, Staff to Representative Gattis, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, answered no.
4:29:56 PM
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Director, Division of Wildlife
Conservation, Department of Natural Resources (DNR),
explained that HB 161 is an attempt to manage the
governor's tag program in a more efficient and
effective manner. Basically, they realized that if they
give a greater percentage of these program receipts
from the governor's tag program to a private non-profit
to keep, the hope is that a rising tide will lift all
ships including the contribution back to the
department. But most importantly, it forms really
foundational partnerships with the conservation
community in that they get to keep 30 percent of the
proceeds, which is focused on providing conservation
education programs that ensures a future foundation of
hunters and fishers across the state. They have to do
those projects in partnership with the department's
approval. Overall, this program would benefit the
department and the conservation community by ensuring
there is a steady source of funding for outdoor
education and conservation programs.
4:31:22 PM
SENATOR BISHOP asked if helicopters are going to be
allowed for harvest of sheep.
MR. VINCNENT-LANG answered no; the intention is to
basically put the same conditions as the Board of Game
puts on these hunts for these species in those areas.
4:32:24 PM
FORMER-SENATOR CON BUNDE, representing himself,
Anchorage, Alaska, supported HB 161. He related that he
was the original author of the governor's TAGS bill. He
had the good fortune of knowing some hunting
"philanthropists" who return substantial financial
support to the sport, and the TAGS program was a
vehicle to do that. It met some resistance, but has
been generally accepted as a good idea and it has
worked very well in other states. But like all
legislation, after some trial and error and time it can
stand some tweaking and he supported that and HB 161.
He said the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)
and its management of the state's hunting opportunities
are supported by license fees and various taxes.
Expanding TAGS in this manner will provide needed
support for the ADF&G. He was personally aware that the
original proposal to give 10 percent to these non-
profits that promote outdoor education was not adequate
to meet their cost of doing business and have enough
left over to have any significant impact on their
program.
4:36:28 PM
BRIAN JUDY, Alaska State Liaison, National Rifle
Association (NRA), Sacramento, California, supported HB
161. It is a win-win for Alaska non-profits and Alaska
sportsmen and women. It increases from 19 to 42 the
number of permits available for auction, which should
generate more money for department and non-profits to
use for education in outdoor traditions and
conservation, and wildlife protection programs in
partnership with the department. This bill won't
benefit NRA, but it could potentially benefit the
Friends of the NRA non-profit program. Examples of some
of the programs that have received their money in past
are the Used Shotgun League, Small Game Hunting
Clinics, Scholastic Clay Target Program, the Women on
Target Program, the Youth Education Summit, and the
Becoming an Outdoors Woman Program.
4:38:45 PM
ELAINA SPRAKER, Clinic Director, Kenai Peninsula Women
on Target/Teens on Target, Kenai, Alaska, supported HB
161. She said their program started about six years ago
when they took 8-10 teenage girls and trained them in
firearms which included shotgun, pistol and rifle. From
there, the mothers wanted to also learn firearm
training and that is what inspired the Women on Target
Program, which is in its fourth year. She related the
successes of clinic activities. She supported HB 161
because it will make these programs doable. Women are
charged $35 to join these clinics and they will shoot
up to $900 worth of ammo per clinic.
SENATOR MICCICHE thanked her for all the program did
for his 18 year old.
4:41:38 PM
MIKE CRAWFORD, President, Alaska Kenai Peninsula
Chapter of Safari Club International, Soldotna, Alaska,
supported HB 161. He said of the Club has 200 chapters
worldwide and two of them are in Alaska. He related
that these two are both award-winning and are
considered leaders. He said the national part of Safari
Club International spent over $1 million in last year's
ADF&G projects that included Kenai moose research,
chronic wasting disease on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Brown
Bear studies, and the reintroduction of the wood bison.
Some of the things they have supported are the Alaska
Outdoor Heritage Foundation, National Archery in the
Schools Program, the Women on Target and Teens on
Target, and other youth-shooting sports. They also give
a $4,000 college scholarship each year. They have a
very successful and popular women's and kid's pheasant
hunt every fall where sportsmanship and gun safety is
taught.
MR. CRAWFORD said they are good at raising funds to
fulfill their mission and understand the need for funds
for conservation of our wildlife. They are not being
greedy but want to further conservation of wildlife
working with ADF&G on their projects.
MR. CRAWFORD said that recently a Tok sheep tag sold
for over $160,000; these funds will go a long way for
ADF&G. This bill will not eliminate other organizations
that now qualify to get these tags.
4:44:12 PM
MIKE TINKER, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Association,
Fairbanks, Alaska, supported HB 161. He related their
fish and wildlife conservation issues saying that some
of their products resulted in the passage of Alaska's
intensive management law that got Alaskans out of the
competition business for the last moose and into
producing more wildlife for their use, and most
recently a clarification on the use of the referendum
process for allocation where they hope to get the state
out of wolf and anti-hunting type of referendums.
MR. TINKER said the Association also fights some of the
battles that government cannot fight from the
standpoint of anti-hunters who use Alaska management
principles to raise money for their various causes.
They do not have any problem with the concept of
raising more money for the ADF&G or for spending in
some of the ways this proposal focuses on.
Attracting people by offering them more money is a
pipedream, he said, and money earmarked for education
programs can't be matched by the federal Robertson
Pitman Funds. So, that might not be getting to the
desired intent of putting money where the department
would like it to go next. A consistent approach to fund
raising for the department needs to be worked on by the
department, the boards, the public and the legislature.
MR. TINKER said he hears the legislature voicing
support for additional funds for the ADF&G, but they
are a little concerned when the department says this
program won't cost anything. Putting these agreements
together will have administrative and management costs.
So, the cost of HB 161 is not zero. He urged caution
and having at least another hearing for more input.
In the sectional analysis, Mr. Tinker said number 4
says "the donation program will be healthier as its
appeal has been broadened," but he doubted that
offering 42 permits versus 19 would broaden appeal.
4:51:02 PM
SENATOR BISHOP asked for his written comments to be
forwarded to the committee.
MR. TINKER said he would be glad to prepare those
comments.
4:52:02 PM
DANA FALLUCCA-LINGOFELT, member, Board of Directors,
Outdoor Heritage Foundation, Anchorage, Alaska,
supported HB 161. It is an important component in
funding outdoor education opportunities for Alaskans.
Funds generated from the governor's license proceeds
will directly provide opportunities to more Alaskans to
become educated ethical users of the state's natural
resources.
She had participated in the Becoming an Outdoor Woman's
(BOW) workshop, hunter information and training
clinics, and had earned her hunter education mother
loader certifications through the ADF&G. She said the
department's program sponsored in conjunction with
organizations such as the Ruffed Grouse Society, Rocky
Mountain Elk Foundation, Alaska Bow Hunters
Association, Safari Club, National Rifle Association
(NRA), and the Outdoor Heritage Foundation have
provided ladies liker her the knowledge and the
confidence to spot and stalk big game, fly fish in the
best rivers on Earth, shoot proficiently with a variety
of firearms and archery equipment, survive out in the
Alaskan wilderness, the skills to field dress and care
for her own animals, and how to cook it up on a
campfire built by her.
In addition to developing a deep appreciation for the
science and biologists that keep it all in balance, as
a result of these programs she said she had become a
purchaser of fishing, trapping, and hunting licenses
and tags, all of which contribute to revenues to the
ADF&G. She had personally contributed over $47,000 to
the Alaskan economy since taking her first BOW workshop
in 2004.
Countless women have told her that these programs have
changed their lives. Many use their education and
skills to teach their own sons and daughters the joys
of outdoor pursuits. She volunteers to teach outdoor
skills at the workshops. Alaskan educational
opportunities supported by the Governor's license
proceeds would include outdoor use camps in Fairbanks
and Anchorage, the National Archery in the Schools
Program statewide, Becoming an Outdoor Woman, and
fishing clinics for ladies and families, small and big
game hunting clinics, and additional certification
programs to address Alaskan hunters' needs. She
believes that outdoor education produces caring,
conservationists and responsible users of Alaskan
resources ensuring everyone's enjoyment for generations
to come.
4:55:00 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL stated that she would hold HB 161 in
committee and keep public testimony open.