Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
04/08/2024 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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SB164 | |
SB253 | |
SB248 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= | SB 164 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | SB 253 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | SB 248 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 248-BIG GAME COMMERCIAL SERVICES BOARD 4:47:26 PM CO-CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 248 "An Act relating to an executive administrator for the Big Game Commercial Services Board." 4:47:55 PM SENATOR JESSE BJORKMAN, District D, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, noted that the board is highly active and performs its duties well but requires additional support to function efficiently. Currently, the board shares staff with marine pilots, which creates challenges. The proposed Executive Administrator would be dedicated to the board, bringing expertise in Alaska's guiding industry to process paperwork, complaints, applications, and other specialized tasks unique to big game commercial services. He likened the necessity of this role to the expertise provided by seasoned guides in their specific areas, such as the Roher family, who are well-regarded for their knowledge and commitment in Alaska. He emphasized the importance of having a dedicated professional to ensure the board can effectively fulfill its mission, much like how a guide provides invaluable local knowledge to their clients. He noted that the position was previously included in the budget as a one-time item, and SB 248 seeks to make it a permanent statutory role to ensure ongoing support for the board's operations. [Original punctuation provided.] SENATE BILL 248 SPONSOR STATEMENT Big Game Commercial Services Board Senate Bill 248 adds an executive administrator to the Big Game Commercial Services Board. The addition of such a position would support the Board as they look at the licenses they oversee, including registered guide-outfitters, master guide-outfitters, and transporters. An Executive Administrator assigned to this Board would be a complex job that requires the employee to work with multiple departments, generate reports, and assist Investigative Services and the Department of Public Safety in investigations. The lack of this position is felt whenever a new individual comes in to fulfill these responsibilities as a licensing examiner. Being a licensing examiner has become a bit of a steppingstone position, and each turnover requires training from the ground up. This has led to some administrative errors that were highlighted in the recent audit of the Board. While the Board has been sharing an executive administrator with the Board of Marine Pilots, it has not fully resolved the issues, as both boards need much more than half of that persons time. This bill seeks to address those issues by providing a position that would encourage consistency in support of the Board and its functions. The Big Game Commercial Services Board plays an important role in the management of commercial game hunters in the interest of the State's wildlife resources. Thank you for your consideration of this legislation. 4:50:59 PM SENATOR KAWASAKI asked for clarification regarding the current arrangement in which the Board Administrator is shared with the marine pilots. He inquired about the role and functionality of an Executive Administrator in the current setup, noting that this question might be better addressed by Sylvan Robb, Director at the State of Alaska, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, who could provide insights into the operations of various boards and commissions. He wondered about the workload handled by the Big Game Commercial Services Board compared to other boards or commissions. He questioned whether the board processes a relatively small number of transactions per day compared to others, which might handle significantly more. He asked why this board warrants a dedicated Executive Administrator, and why similar roles might not be justified for other boards or commissions. 4:51:54 PM SENATOR BJORKMAN stated that he would provide some initial input on the matter but encouraged the group to also hear from Chair Bunch and Director Robb. He emphasized the unique nature of guiding and the specific regulations governing the guide industry. He explained that the most critical need for the Executive Administrator position is for someone who is an expert in these regulations and statutes. This expertise is essential because the role may also involve investigative duties at times. He reiterated that the position deserves its own dedicated role due to the complexity of the guide industry. 4:52:55 PM SYLVAN ROBB, Director, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED), answered questions related to SB 248. She explained that there are already six Executive Administrators for other boards, as well as a Marine Pilot Coordinator who is currently providing part-time staffing for the Beginning Commercial Services Board. She highlighted the need for an Executive Administrator for this board due to the large volume of work and the unique nature of the tasks. The board administers 29 different examinations, including those for game management units and licensing requirements. The board also works to keep these exams current and score them, which is a significant amount of work. In addition, licensees under this board have reporting requirements, such as submitting health records and activity reports, which adds to the workload. This board also oversees transporters, further increasing the amount of work involved. The need for an Executive Administrator is to provide professional-level support for these complex tasks, which go beyond the capabilities of the Marine Pilot program and require a higher level of board support. 4:55:04 PM CO-CHAIR BISHOP asked Mr. Bunch whether he believes that the proposed position under SB 248 is warranted. 4:55:14 PM MR. BUNCH discussed the challenges of serving on a board, particularly the Guide Board, where members often have limited knowledge and must rely on each other to fill in gaps. Within the Guide Board, the two guides and two transporters work closely with the division, while the public seats and game representatives provide checks and balances. However, with only two guides and two transporters, it can be difficult to know everything, which is why the Executive Administrator position is so crucial. This position provides consistent support, understanding the history and complex statutes and regulations of the guide industry, which are reportedly among the most complicated. He pointed out that the current position of License Examiner, which was created two years ago, was a low-paying job filled by people without knowledge of the statutes or regulations. This role was essentially a steppingstone for other state jobs, leading to frequent turnover. Over the five and a half years he served, he personally trained six License Examiners, despite his own limited knowledge, which added considerable strain. He emphasized the need for an Executive Administrator with expertise to prevent further inadequacies in the program, as highlighted in board audits. After borrowing an Executive Administrator from the Marine Pilot Program, the board saw improvements in efficiency and accuracy. However, the Marine Pilot Program is now overburdened, with its Executive Administrator stretched too thin, so it's time for the Guide Board to have its own dedicated Executive Administrator. 4:59:42 PM CO-CHAIR BISHOP held SB 248 in committee.