01/31/2024 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

              HB 125-TRAPPING CABINS ON STATE LAND                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:31:59 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR  GIESSEL announced  the  consideration of  CS FOR  HOUSE                                                               
BILL NO.  125(RES) "An Act  relating to trapping cabins  on state                                                               
land; and relating to trapping cabin permit fees."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:32:21 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:32:47 PM                                                                                                                    
PETER BUIST,  Former President, Founding Member,  Alaska Trappers                                                               
Association (ATA), Fairbanks, Alaska,  testified in support of HB
. Forty years  ago as President of ATA, he  worked with former                                                               
Alaska  State   Representative  Red  Swanson  to   introduce  the                                                               
original  legislation  that  addressed   the  critical  need  for                                                               
trappers to  obtain critical  winter shelter  on state  land trap                                                               
lines. Later, as  a former Department of  Natural Resources (DNR)                                                               
employee,  he helped  administer the  first trapper  construction                                                               
permit. It has  been a popular permit,  experiences scarce abuse,                                                               
and helps  prevent trespassing cabin  issues. It is  supported by                                                               
both urban and rural trappers  among ATA members. There is common                                                               
support  around  the need  for  effective  and lifesaving  winter                                                               
shelter for all  long trap line trappers. Over the  years, it has                                                               
become known to  the trapping community and  DNR that legislative                                                               
changes are  necessary. ATA worked  in concert with DNR  to craft                                                               
legislation  to address  most administrative  problems that  have                                                               
recently  impacted  the  program.   Almost  ten  years  ago,  DNR                                                               
determined that statute  would not allow the  renewal of trapping                                                               
permits, creating a  web of problems. The  new legislation allows                                                               
renewals, increases the yearly permit  fee, and recovers security                                                               
to  the  permitting  system. Concerns  about  the  unfairness  of                                                               
recreational use during off-cabin season have been expressed.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:35:50 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. BUIST  stated that trapper  shelters contain  firewood, food,                                                               
gear, and other life-saving materials  during the winter trapping                                                               
season.  Allowing  recreational  use   could  put  the  permitted                                                               
trapper in  a bad situation  and result in liability  issues. The                                                               
use of cabins for trapping  is already established in statute, so                                                               
allowing alternative uses would create  an increase in demand and                                                               
a plethora of problems.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:36:46 PM                                                                                                                    
AL  BARRETTE, Member,  Alaska Board  of Game,  Fairbanks, Alaska,                                                               
testified in  support of HB 125.  He noted that although  he is a                                                               
member  of the  Alaska  Board  of Game,  his  testimony does  not                                                               
represent  the  agency.  Southcentral  and  Interior  Alaska  are                                                               
experiencing below-freezing  temperatures, but a great  number of                                                               
trappers depend on  a warm and dry place to  stay during trapping                                                               
activities. The expansion of urban populations has pushed                                                                       
trappers to more remote areas.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:38:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL closed public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:38:23 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL held HB 125 in committee.