Legislature(1997 - 1998)
02/19/1997 01:40 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 19, 1997
1:40 P.M.
TAPE HFC 97 - 33, Side 1, #000 - #520.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Gene Therriault called the House Finance Committee
meeting to order at 1:40 P.M.
PRESENT
Co-Chair Hanley Representative Grussendorf
Co-Chair Therriault Representative Kohring
Representative Davies Representative Martin
Representative Davis Representative Moses
Representative Foster Representative Mulder
Representative Kelly was not present for the meeting.
ALSO PRESENT
Representative Jeannette James; Carol Carroll, Director,
Division of Administrative Services, Department of Natural
Resources; David Stancliff, Staff, Representative Scott
Ogan; Michele Drummond, Alaska Environmental Lobby (AEL),
Kodiak; Wayne Regelin, Director, Division of Wildlife
Conservation, Department of Fish and Game; Patrick Kalen,
President, American Congress On Surveying & Mapping,
Fairbanks.
SUMMARY
HB 17 An Act establishing the Department of Natural
Resources as the platting authority in certain
areas of the state; relating to subdivisions and
dedications; and providing for an effective date.
CS HB 17 (RES) was reported out of Committee with
a "do pass" recommendation and with a fiscal note
by the Department of Natural Resources dated
1/31/97.
HB 26 An Act relating to big game tags for wolves; and
providing for an effective date.
HB 26 was reported out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with a fiscal note by the
Department of Fish and Game dated 1/31/97.
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HOUSE BILL 17
"An Act establishing the Department of Natural
Resources as the platting authority in certain areas of
the state; relating to subdivisions and dedications;
and providing for an effective date."
REPRESENTATIVE JEANNETTE JAMES noted that last year HB 17
was HB 80 which died in the rush of adjournment. She
commented that work on the legislation over the last several
years has molded the bill into one that has no opposition.
Representative James advised that the proposed legislation
is supported by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR),
surveyors and all impacted classes of people.
HB 17 would bring all of the unorganized boroughs under the
purview of DNR as pertaining to platting of real estate.
The bill would also clean up the definition problems by
defining the word "subdivision" so that all agencies use the
same terminology. The Department has specified a time frame
in which the plat must be approved or disapproved. If the
review is not completed in a timely manner, the plat would
be approved by default.
Representative James proceeded to address the changes made
to the original legislation in the committee substitute.
Representative Grussendorf asked if the boroughs and
municipalities had been contacted regarding impact of the
legislation. Representative James noted that the process
would not affect the boroughs or municipalities because they
already have their own rules. The only ones affected would
be the ones with no platting authority. The law would be
relative to a new borough or municipality and the language
of the bill would include University lands. She concluded,
the purpose of the legislation would be to meet State
requirements for monumentation, review and legal access.
Representative Foster asked how the legislation would affect
patented mining claims. Representative James understood
that if at this time they are doing it, they would not have
to provide legal access. Under the DNR purview and the
proposed legislation, legal access would be required. She
advised that the legislation would cover all lands where
there is no other platting authority.
PATRICK KALEN, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN CONGRESS ON SURVEYING AND
MAPPING (ACSM), FAIRBANKS, spoke in support of the proposed
legislation. The original bill appeared before the
Legislature in 1976. ACSM initially forbade the Department
from implementing engineering standards. He commended
Representative James for creating a "good" piece of
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legislation and one which ACSM supports.
Representative Foster noted that the fiscal note indicates
that revenues raised would pay for the Lands Surveyor
Assistant II position. He voiced concern that living in an
unorganized borough, those funds would be going to the
General Fund. His fear was with future budget cuts, the
permitting process would be slowed down.
Mr. Kalen replied that a 45 day time limit for filing would
be installed. Co-Chair Therriault pointed out that Page #4,
Line #3, clarifies that language noting the 45 day filing
time limit and that, "the Commissioner 'shall' approve the
plat or return it".
Co-Chair Therriault asked the difference between last year's
fiscal note and the current one. Representative James
explained, last year's fiscal note had indicated $64
thousand dollars in receipts and expenses; the current
fiscal note requests $73.3 thousand dollars with a start-up
request of $21.3 thousand dollars.
CAROL CARROLL, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, added that the
difference between the two notes was directly related to
personal services and the funding of the Land Surveyor II
position. She was not aware of the position funding
requested last year. Representative James pointed out that
as the costs have risen, the permit fee was increased.
Representative G. Davis asked if the fee would be adjustable
depending on the actual costs. Representative James noted
that the fee would cover the expenses.
Representative J. Davies pointed out that the fees would be
received as General Fund receipts. If there were $70
thousand dollars General Fund receipts, under present budget
operations, a $70 thousand dollars would need to be cut
elsewhere in the budget. Representative James agreed,
although, countered that legal challenges addressing
subdivisions could "eat" that amount up quickly. She
believed that the legislation would provide a savings over
the long term.
Representative J. Davies commented for the record that this
type of receipt should be categorized as designated program
receipts so that no other service would be cut from another
program.
Representative Martin MOVED to report CS HB 17 (RES) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and with the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
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so ordered.
CS HB 17 (RES) was reported out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with a fiscal note by the
Department of Natural Resources dated 1/31/97.
HOUSE BILL 26
"An Act relating to big game tags for wolves; and
providing for an effective date."
DAVID STANCLIFF, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT OGAN, noted
that HB 26 addresses the need to provide wildlife
specialists with the proper management tools in areas
identified as needing intense management. In light of
Ballot Initiative #3 being approved, he suggested that it
was more important to pass HB 26. Without sufficient
latitude, it would be difficult for the Department of Fish
and Game and the Board of Game to meet the requirements of
sustained yield management under Article VIII of the State
Constitution.
Mr. Stancliff continued, to maintain a healthy population of
moose, caribou, and sheep for both human and natural
harvest, the Department and Board of Game have few choices
once hunting has been reduced or eliminated. HB 26 would
provide increased incentives for non-resident hunters who
consider the purchase of a big game tag to harvest wolves.
Those hunters are generally under the supervision of a
professional guide which requires a more closely monitored
entry into the field. Together with more stringent
reporting requirements of animals both taken and shipped,
would provide the Department a well controlled tool in
attaining the scientifically established population goals
for a given area. He noted, of the 10,000 nonresident who
typically hunt in Alaska annually, less than 3% purchase
tags for harvesting a wolf. The main reason for low tag
sales is that the opportunity to harvest a wolf is remote.
Consequently, most hunters are unwilling to pay a large sum
of money with such poor odds. Mr. Stancliff thought that by
establishing a more reasonable price on tags, the Department
should see a significant rise in sales placing more dollars
into the Fish and Game Fund while also increasing the
incidental take of wolves.
He concluded that HB 26 would provide a wider latitude for
the Board of Game in making adjustments to meet the needs of
both human and secondary utilization of our important
ungulate resources while increasing the revenues for better
management. Mr. Stancliff urged the Committee's support of
the legislation.
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In response to Representative Therriault's query, Mr.
Stancliff responded that the fees would be applicable to
resident and resident non-aliens. The legislation would
reduce the fee for non-resident hunters from $175 to $30
dollars, reducing big game fee wolf tag fee for non-
residents from $250 to $50 dollars. He noted at this time,
there is no fee for residents.
Co-Chair Therriault asked how the fiscal note had been
calculated. Mr. Stancliff replied that last year, consensus
had been reached with the Department of Fish and Game, that
the requested level not be prohibitive for big game hunters
to pick up a tag. The Department attempted to calculate
revenues generated if 50% of the non-residents hunters
purchased tags.
Representative Grussendorf stressed that tags are necessary
in order to monitor the harvest of wolves within
relationship to the game management.
WAYNE REGELIN, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION,
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, stated that a count of how many
wolves had been harvested would be provided when having the
hides sealed. The hide can not be exported out of the State
without being sealed and at that time the information being
documented.
Representative Grussendorf asked if that would be true for
State residents. Mr. Regelin advised Representative
Grussendorf that there is good reporting of numbers of
wolves harvested. He reiterated that in order to export the
hides to have them tanned or to be sold, they must be sealed
by the Department. The hide can not be sold if it is not
sealed.
Co-Chair Therriault asked the Department's position on the
proposed legislation. Mr. Regelin stated that the
Department of Fish and Game supports the legislation. The
wolf population in Alaska is under-utilized and the
legislation would provide more opportunity to sportsmen to
harvest wolves without damage to that population.
MICHELE DRUMMOND, ALASKA ENVIRONMENTAL LOBBY (AEL), KODIAK,
spoke against the proposed legislation. She informed
Committee members that the reduction cost of tag fees for
hunting wolves would not increase revenue. She suggested
that the bill was clearly a voice against the will of the
people and their vote on Proposition #3.
Co-Chair Therriault countered that there could be an
increase in revenue because the fee would be lower and the
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tags would be easier to purchase. He added that in his
district, Proposition #3 failed.
Representative Grussendorf asked if there were any areas
within the State where a smaller wolf population exists.
Mr. Regelin confirmed that the wolf population throughout
Alaska is healthy with between 7,000 and 10,000 wolves in
the State. The average yearly harvest is 1,100 wolves. He
emphasized that the bill is not a predator control bill.
The legislation will provide more opportunity to harvest a
resource that is abundant. Mr. Regelin added, the only area
of concern would be on the Seward Peninsula. The wolf
population there is kept at a lower level because of the
reindeer industry.
In response to questions by Representative Grussendorf, Mr.
Regelin advised that 60-70% of the wolf harvest is taken by
trapping.
Representative Mulder MOVED to report HB 26 out of Committee
with individual recommendations and with the accompanying
fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
HB 26 was reported out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with a fiscal note by the Department of
Fish and Game dated 1/31/97.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 2:10 P.M.
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