03/12/2024 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB347 | |
| SJR13 | |
| HB12 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SJR 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 347 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 12, 2024
8:04 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative CJ McCormick, Chair
Representative Kevin McCabe, Vice Chair
Representative Tom McKay
Representative Thomas Baker
Representative Justin Ruffridge
Representative Rebecca Himschoot
Representative Donna Mears
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 347
"An Act relating to assessment of property, boards of
equalization, and certification of assessors; and providing for
an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13
Encouraging the United States Congress and the President of the
United States to pass and sign legislation amending the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act to release certain land held in
trust back to affected Alaska Native village corporations.
- MOVED SJR 13 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 12
"An Act relating to municipal regulation of trapping; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 347
SHORT TITLE: PROPERTY ASSESSMENT
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) COULOMBE
02/20/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/20/24 (H) CRA
03/12/24 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
BILL: SJR 13
SHORT TITLE: AMEND ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DUNBAR
01/26/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/26/24 (S) CRA
02/01/24 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/01/24 (S) Heard & Held
02/01/24 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
02/06/24 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/06/24 (S) Moved SJR 13 Out of Committee
02/06/24 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
02/07/24 (S) CRA RPT 2DP 1NR
02/07/24 (S) DP: DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON
02/07/24 (S) NR: BJORKMAN
02/14/24 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
02/14/24 (S) VERSION: SJR 13
02/15/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/15/24 (H) CRA
03/07/24 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/07/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/07/24 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/12/24 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 12
SHORT TITLE: MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF TRAPPING
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) JOSEPHSON
01/19/23 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/23
01/19/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/23 (H) CRA, RES, FIN
03/12/24 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE JULIE COULOMBE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 347.
ELEILIA PRESLEY, Staff
Representative Julie Coulombe
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sectional analysis for HB
347, on behalf of Representative Coulombe, prime sponsor.
BRENDA JOSEPHSON, representing self
Haines, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on HB 347.
JOE GELDHOF, representing self
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on HB 347.
DAVE HANNA, representing self
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on HB 347.
SANDRA MOLLER, Director
Division of Community & Regional Affairs
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on HB
347.
SENATOR FORREST DUNBAR
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave an overview of SJR 13, as the prime
sponsor.
REPRESENTATIVE ANDY JOSEPHSON
Alaska State Representative
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 12.
ALEXANDER SCHROEDER, Staff
Representative Andy Josephson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented a PowerPoint, entitled "HB 12:
Municipal Regulation of Trapping," on behalf of Representative
Josephson, prime sponsor.
LORRAINE TEMPLE, Director
Safe Trails Committee Cooper Landing
Cooper Landing, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on HB 12.
KNEELAND TAYLOR, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on HB 12.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:04:30 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK called the House Community and Regional Affairs
Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:04 a.m.
Representatives McKay, Baker, Ruffridge, Himschoot, Mears,
McCabe, and McCormick were present at the call to order.
REPRESENATIVE BAKER recognized March 12 as Ashley Johnson Barr
Day. He informed the committee that Ms. Barr was a child from
Kotzebue whose life was taken after being abducted and
mistreated. He added that she was one of many lost to the MMIP
crisis.
HB 347-PROPERTY ASSESSMENT
8:07:47 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 347, "An Act relating to assessment of
property, boards of equalization, and certification of
assessors; and providing for an effective date."
8:08:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JULIE COULOMBE, Alaska State Legislature, prime
sponsor, presented HB 347. She explained that in the original
version of the bill, the definition of "real and true value" was
inadvertently taken out. She added that the forthcoming
committee substitute (CS) would reinsert that definition.
8:09:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MEARS asked whether [the CS] is on par with the
companion bill in the Senate.
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE answered yes.
8:09:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked whether the bill sponsor had
reached out to the Alaska Association of Assessing Officers
(AAAO). She shared her belief that the bill would place a
burden on them.
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE asked Representative Himschoot to
clarify what burden she referred to.
8:10:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HB 347, Version 33-LS1430\B, Dunmire,
3/8/24, as the working document. There being no objection,
Version B was before the committee.
8:10:54 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE paraphrased the sponsor statement for HB
347 [included in the committee packet], which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
Alaskans deserve transparency and fairness when it
comes to property taxes. HB 347 puts some baseline
requirements in place for Alaska municipalities, while
preserving the important principle of local control.
The bill has the State set baseline standards for
assessors to use so Alaskans know what the rules are
for figuring property values. It also lets
municipalities adopt their own by ordinance if state
or national standards don't fit.
It also changes the default for who hears tax appeals
to an appointed Board of Equalization instead of local
elected officials. It's important to keep those
separate because Alaskans can't talk freely about
problems with the assessment process with an elected
official who will later sit as a quasi-judge over
their appeal. Citizens shouldt lose access to their
representatives when they disagree with city hall.
Because some municipalities may be unable to fill
appointed seats, the bill lets them opt out of this
change by passing an ordinance.
HB 347 stops a municipality from raising the assessed
value during an appeal process. Government's bite at
the apple comes when it sends you a notice of assessed
value. Raising that value when a citizen disagrees can
chill taxpayers from exercising their rights.
The bill also levels the playing field for citizens
with a recent appraisal in hand by requiring any Board
of Equalization that doesn't agree with a fee
appraisal to explain its findings on the record.
Finally, HB 347 ensures assessors have the experience
and credentials to do the job well.
8:13:43 AM
ELEILIA PRESLEY, Staff, Representative Julie Coulombe, Alaska
State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Coulombe, prime
sponsor of HB 347, presented the sectional analysis [included in
the committee packet], which read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
Section 1: Requires local assessors to use published
standards. Default standards will be adopted by the
state, or a local governing body can adopt alternate
standards by ordinance.
Section 2: Requires the Department of Commerce,
Community, and Economic Development to adopt the
default assessment standardsbased on those published
by the International Association of Assessing
Officersby regulation.
Section 3: Requires a local assessor to have or be
supervised by someone who has a level 3 certification
from the Alaska Association of Assessing Officers.
Section 4: Says a local governing body must appoint a
Board of Equalization unless it adopts an ordinance to
set itself as the Board of Equalization.
Section 5: Prohibits local government from raising the
assessed value of the property during the appeals
process, unless requested by the appellant. Sec. 5
also requires a Board of Equalization to make specific
findings on the record if it disagrees with a fee
appraisal.
Section 6: Lets the Department of Commerce, Community,
and Economic Development adopt regulations setting the
default assessment standards.
Section 7: Sets an immediate effective date for the
department to put out regulations.
Section 8: Sets a January 1, 2025 effective date for
all other changes in the bill.
CHAIR MCCORMICK opened invited testimony.
8:15:44 AM
BRENDA JOSEPHSON, representing self, gave invited testimony
during the hearing on HB 347. She said she was passionate about
the need to codify assessment standards and best practices
because she had personally witnessed unjust actions that
occurred in Haines. Last year, the Haines Borough hired an
uncertified contract assessor who enacted a new hybrid
replacement cost new mass appraisal methodology, which ignored
actual market sales conditions by adding speculative costs for
replacing existing structures. The stated goal was to equalize
property values across large areas of the community. However,
the new replacement cost did not properly consider the specific
marketability of the parcels, nor did it give due weight to the
physical and functional obsolescence of the buildings, resulting
in excessive assessments. The approach resulted in what
appeared to be a regressive taxation scheme, she said, by
shifting a disproportionate burden of the tax to the lower and
middle value properties. She reported that over 200 appeals
were filed with the assessor's office, and many more went
unreported. The assessor refused to address the merits of many
appeals and property owners were faced with a confrontational
process, including unprofessional interactions, an unwillingness
to correct obvious errors, retaliatory increases, willful
misdescriptions, a lack of sufficient notice for hearing dates,
and failure to receive the assessor's staff reports, as required
by the borough's policy. She shared several examples of
wrongful conduct. She stated that HB 347 would establish needed
guardrails to bring trust to the assessment process and help
promote a transparent and professional approach by requiring
certification. Further, the bill would protect the ability to
redress the government by defaulting to an appointed Board of
Equalization and reduce the "chilling" effect of retaliatory
increases in assessments.
8:27:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked whether the assessor works for the
mayor.
MS. JOSEPHSON explained that the assessor was hired by the
administration and directly reported to the borough manager. In
response to a follow up question, she explained that there was a
community petition for the contract assessor's removal on the
basis that he was uncertified. The petition was signed by
nearly 600 people. Ultimately, she explained that his contract
was not renewed.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked what happened to the money that was
collected from the over-assessments.
MS. JOSEPHSON confirmed that the money was spent by the borough.
8:32:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked whether citizens appointed to the
Board of Equalization would be required to avoid talking about
the cases in the same way the assembly members were.
MS. JOSEPHSON agreed that at any quasi-judicial hearing, any
[board member] cannot have ex parte communication with
appellants.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT sought to confirm that if the board was
composed, at least partially, of regular citizens, the assembly
could then speak with them about these issues without violating
any confidentiality rules.
MS. JOSEPHSON said, "That is correct."
8:37:25 AM
JOE GELDHOF, representing self, gave invited testimony during
the hearing on HB 347. He stated that this is a statewide
problem driven by local governments deciding that they need more
money. He opined that the bill is grounded in fundamental
fairness and would eliminate potential for abuse. He explained
his support for allowing local governments to opt out because
not all municipalities need the full "belt and braces."
Nonetheless, he stressed that the standards in HB 347 should be
a floor. He described the three methods of assessing property:
sales comparison approach, income approach, and cost replacement
approach.
8:44:24 AM
DAVE HANNA, representing self, gave invited testimony during the
hearing on HB 347. He stated that there is no reason not to
pass the legislation because it would assign no cost to the
state and force the municipalities to do that which they claim
to already do. He shared his experience attending 70-80 Board
of Equalization meetings, characterizing many of those as
"horror stories." He pointed out that assessors are not
required to show their work or justify their assessments;
further that no assessor certification is required. He shared
several anecdotal examples of wrongful conduct.
8:52:07 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE recalled an instance in Juneau in which
the value of the property was being shared on public record to
allow the assessor to tax the property on the cost of the
property, versus its actual value.
MR. HANNA responded, "That's true." He discussed the disclosure
rules in Juneau and characterized them as a double-edged sword,
noting that they were eventually removed by an initiative.
Nonetheless, he pointed out that the sales data is easy to find.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT highlighted the assessor certification
on page 2 of the bill. She asked who would keep track of [the
certification requirements].
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE said did not anticipate a large increase
in workload.
8:56:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked how often property assessments are
required.
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE answered every five years.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked whether there would be a way to
encourage the borough to follow those guidelines or a way to
self-report.
CHAIR MCCORMICK shared her understanding that there are no
penalties at the local level. She pointed out that conducting
assessments on a regular basis is in the best interest of
municipalities to avoid under-assessments.
8:59:56 AM
SANDRA MOLLER, Director, Division of Community & Regional
Affairs, Department of Commerce, Community & Economic
Development (DCCED), stated that it's up to the municipality to
decide when to conduct assessments.
9:00:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE questioned the difference between
assessors and appraisers.
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE indicated that there are different
standards used by assessors versus appraisers.
CHAIR MCCORMICK sought closing remarks from the bill sponsor.
9:04:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE concluded that the bill would help fix the
cracks in the system and retain local control.
CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that HB 347 would be held over.
SJR 13-AMEND ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT
9:05:14 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that the next order of business would
be SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13, Encouraging the United States
Congress and the President of the United States to pass and sign
legislation amending the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to
release certain land held in trust back to affected Alaska
Native village corporations.
9:05:42 AM
FORREST DUNBAR, Alaska State Legislature, prime sponsor, gave an
overview of SJR 13. He explained that SJR 13 supports the
Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023,
sponsored by all three members of Alaska's federal delegation.
The joint resolution seeks to fix an issue with Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) section 14(c)(3) that set aside
land, held in state trust, for future municipalities that will
never come to be. SJR 13 would restore the lands to Alaska
Native village corporations to be used, among other things, for
housing.
CHAIR MCCORMICK opened public testimony on SJR 13. After
ascertaining that no one wished to testify, he closed public
testimony.
9:07:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE moved to report SJR 13 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, SJR 13 was reported from the
House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.
9:07:51 AM
REPRESENATIVE BAKER disclosed his affiliation with an ANCSA
village corporation.
9:08:01 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 9:08 a.m. to 9:13 a.m.
HB 12-MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF TRAPPING
9:13:17 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 12, "An Act relating to municipal regulation
of trapping; and providing for an effective date."
9:13:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDY JOSEPHSON, Alaska State Representative,
prime sponsor, presented HB 12. He paraphrased the sponsor
statement [included in the committee packet], which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
House Bill 12 seeks to make explicit the authorization
for home rule and general law municipalities to
regulate trapping for the limited purpose of
preventing injury to persons or property, including
domestic animals.
Stories of pets and people inadvertently caught in (or
simply triggering) traps are legion, and cause worry
and concern for many Alaskans who enjoy Alaska's
extensive outdoors. In a state as large as ours, local
government is often best-positioned to understand
local land-use issues, and this bill aims to guarantee
the ability of local municipalities to tailor specific
regulations to promote safe trapping practices within
their jurisdiction. Absent the passage of this bill,
local government may lack the ability to regulate
trapping under existing state law or the state
Constitution.
Drawing on provisions of Alaska statutes and the
Alaska Constitution, an Attorney General's opinion
from 1982 determined that municipalities cannot
directly regulate game but may enact ordinances with
an 'incidental effect' on game.
In effect, approximately fifteen cities or boroughs
within Alaska regulate trapping in some way already.
The scope of these regulations spans from prohibitions
on trapping of domestic animals, which is arguably
already illegal under the state's cruelty to animals
statute, to prohibitions on trapping within the entire
jurisdiction, which arguably is a direct regulation of
game.
HB 12 seeks to remove legal uncertainty over whether
existing or future municipal safe trapping ordinances
are direct regulations or merely have incidental
effect. It does so by: (1) stipulating the statutory
authorization of state game management in Title 16;
and (2) specifically authorizing municipalities to
limit trapping in certain ways (for example, trap tags
and signage) for a specific purpose (preventing injury
to people and domestic animals) in particular areas
(where injury is likely to occur) and allows for
exemptions (for example, to prevent the spread of
disease), in Title 29.
I urge you to support this legislation. Please feel
free to contact my staff Alexander at 465-4939 with
any questions.
9:21:47 AM
ALEXANDER SCHROEDER, Staff, Representative Andy Josephson,
Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Josephson,
prime sponsor of HB 12, presented a PowerPoint, entitled "HB 12:
Municipal Regulation of Trapping," [hard copy included in the
committee packet]. He began on slide 2, "Alaska Constitution,"
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Two constitutional sections pertain to trapping
• Article X, Section 11. Home Rule Powers: A home rule
borough or city may exercise all legislative powers
not prohibited by law or by charter
• Article VIII, Section 3. Common Use: Wherever
occurring in their natural state, fish, wildlife, and
waters are reserved to the people for common use.
• There is ambiguity as to whether
cities/municipalities can manage trapping within their
local boundaries.
MR. SCHROEDER continued to slide 3, which featured a chart of
the municipal codes in 15 municipalities that prohibit trapping
within their boundaries in some capacity.
9:24:28 AM
MR. SCHROEDER proceeded to slide 4, "Trapping Regulations,"
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Alaska trapping regulations are extremely permissive
regarding traps set near public-use trails
2023-2024 Alaska Trapping Regulations
• "Avoid situations where you might catch a domestic
dog or cat, such as near homes or trails frequently
used by hikers, skijorers, dog mushers, or other
people" (page 6)
• "Remember to act responsibly by trapping in ways
that minimize conflict between trappers and other
users. Failing to do so may jeopardize the future of
trapping in Alaska" (page 4)
• There is no clear penalty for failing to avoid
situations where a pet or child is caught in a trap by
a trail
Alaska Statute
• AS 16.05.790: Obstruction or hinderance of lawful
hunting, fishing, trapping, or viewing of fish or game
• Violation of this statute could result in a $500
fine and 30 days imprisonment
• Additionally, AS 16.05.791 allows civil penalties
for costs related to violation of AS 16.05.790
• There is a clear penalty for intentionally
obstructing or hindering a trap, even if it is near a
public-use trail
MR. SCHROEDER turned to slide 5, which featured the headlines of
articles reporting on animals caught in traps.
9:27:15 AM
MR. SHROEDER concluded on slide 6, "HB 12 What does it do?"
Slide 6 read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
• Resolves ambiguity about home rule
cities/municipalities powers to regulate trapping
within their boundaries
• Allows them to do so "to protect persons and
property within its boundaries?"
• Nothing in bill prohibits exercising powers of DEC,
DF&G, or DPS
CHAIR MCCORMICK opened invited testimony.
9:28:15 AM
LORRAINE TEMPLE, Director, Safe Trails Committee Cooper Landing,
gave invited testimony during the hearing on HB 12. Shared her
experience with trappers in Cooper Landing, explaining that
trappers and recreational users are forced to occupy the same
areas causing at least 9 dogs and 1 child in the past 20 years
to have encounters with traps. She reported that a 50-yard
setback from campgrounds was enacted by the Board of Game after
the Safe Trails Committee submitted five proposals to establish
100-yard setbacks from specific trails, roads, campgrounds,
beaches, and recreational areas. She relayed anecdotes about
close encounters with active traps in Cooper Landing. She
opined that a safer scenario could be achieved and allow for all
users to have the benefit of wilderness in their rightful ways
with an updated form of management.
9:33:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MEARS sought to confirm that the bill would
support local governments in implementing their own rules.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON answered yes and cited Article 10 of
the Alaska Constitution.
9:35:06 AM
KNEELAND TAYLOR, representing self, gave invited testimony
during the hearing on HB 12. He provided historical context in
the way of court cases and public safety ordinances related to
trapping. He shared his understanding that first-, second-, and
third-class boroughs have the statutory authority to enact
ordinances that impact trapping; however, the state contends
that they do not, he said, which creates a jurisdictional
conflict. Therefore, the bill is needed to provide clarity. He
explained that commonly used traps used in Alaska can kill small
children and dogs. He opined that local governments are best
equipped at identifying the places that are inappropriate for
trapping. He reminded the committee that HB 12 would not
require municipalities to enact ordinances, and that doing so
would be at the discretion of each municipality.
9:42:55 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK sought questions from committee members.
9:43:02 AM
REPRESENATIVE BAKER asked whether any municipalities had made it
known to the bill sponsor that they could not manage this
proposal.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON answered no.
REPRESENATIVE BAKER asked whether there are any communities that
could not manage this issue without the passage of HB 12.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON responded yes. He reported that the
list of communities that want to take affirmative action is
growing.
9:45:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked how many dogs or cats are killed by
vehicles every year.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON did not know the answer.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE said he was struggling with the bill
because he felt for the animal owners and pets; however, he said
he blames the owners for not keeping their pets under control.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON shared his belief that municipalities
may want to grant people the privilege of walking their pets off
leash without having to worry about traps. Furthermore, he
opined that a 50- or 100-yard setback would not be burdensome to
trappers.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked whether it would be acceptable for
the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) to contract with a
local trapper to reduce an infestation of muskrats, for example.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON answered yes. He directed attention to
page 1, lines 9-10 of the bill, which speaks to municipal
exemptions.
9:50:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT referenced "Grubby" the opossum in
Homer. She asked how much of Alaska is available to trappers.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON suspected that it exceeds 99 percent
[of state land].
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked whether, by the bill sponsor's
estimation, that allowing municipalities to govern themselves by
setting aside areas free from trapping would have a minimal
impact on trappers' economic activity.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON agreed that trappers' objective would
not be seriously impeded.
9:52:14 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK said he wanted to bring the bill forward for its
applicability to rural Alaska.
[HB 12 was held over.]
9:53:27 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 9:53 a.m.