01/24/2024 01:00 PM House RESOURCES

House RES 01/24/2024 13:01

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Audio	Topic
01:01:50 PM	Start
01:02:53 PM	HB243
01:58:04 PM	HB201
02:56:37 PM	Adjourn

* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled

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*+	HB 243	BISON DRAW PERMIT APPLICATION FEE	TELECONFERENCED
		Heard & Held
*+	HB 201	RESIDENCY REQ: HUNTING, TRAPPING, FISHING	TELECONFERENCED
		Heard & Held
+		Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled	TELECONFERENCED

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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE January 24, 2024 1:01 p.m. DRAFT MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Tom McKay, Chair Representative George Rauscher, Vice Chair Representative Thomas Baker Representative Kevin McCabe Representative Dan Saddler Representative Stanley Wright Representative Jennie Armstrong Representative Donna Mears Representative Maxine Dibert MEMBERS ABSENT All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR HOUSE BILL NO. 243 "An Act reducing the draw permit application fee for bison to $5; and providing for an effective date." - HEARD & HELD HOUSE BILL NO. 201 "An Act changing the residency requirements for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing privileges; and providing for an effective date." - HEARD & HELD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION BILL: HB 243 SHORT TITLE: BISON DRAW PERMIT APPLICATION FEE SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CRONK 01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/24

01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

01/16/24 (H) RES

01/24/24 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 BILL: HB 201 SHORT TITLE: RESIDENCY REQ: HUNTING, TRAPPING, FISHING SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HIMSCHOOT 05/11/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 05/11/23 (H) RES, JUD

01/24/24 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 WITNESS REGISTER REPRESENTIVE MIKE CRONK Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 243. DAVE STANCLIFF, Staff Representative Mike Cronk Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions and offered information during the hearing on HB 243 on behalf of the prime sponsor, Representative Cronk. DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner Alaska Department of Fish & Game Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 243. REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, introduced HB 201 to the committee. THATCHER BROUWER, Staff Representative Rebecca Himschoot Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSTION STATEMENT: Provided a sectional analysis of HB 201. SCOTT NEWMAN, representing self Petersburg, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201, specifically for the residency requirement. LEIF WILSON, representing self Tok, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201. KURT WHITEHEAD, representing self Klawock, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: During the hearing on HB 201, urged the advisory council to address in the term "domicile". AARON FRENZEL, Deputy Director Division of Wildlife Troopers, Southern Detachment Department of Public Safety Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: During the hearing on HB 201, answered questions as to how law enforcement is handled by the wildlife troopers across the state. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:01:50 PM CHAIR MCKAY called the House Resources Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. Representatives Rauscher, Baker, Saddler, Wright, Armstrong, Mears, Dibert, and McKay were present at the call to order. Representative McCabe arrived as the meeting was in progress. HB 243-BISON DRAW PERMIT APPLICATION FEE 1:02:53 PM CHAIR MCKAY announced that the first order of business would be House Bill No. 243, "An Act reducing the draw permit application fee for bison to $5; and providing for an effective date." 1:03:35 PM REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CRONK, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, introduced the HB 243 which was crafted due to the extenuating circumstances from the bison die-off last winter. He contended that the community of Delta [Junction] consider bison their babies and the bison herd is very important to that community. He stated that the concerns of the citizens were not listened to by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) and a lot of the bison died last winter due to the heavy snow. He explained that the bison had to migrate to live on the highway because the snow was so heavy, which resulted in many vehicle collisions and death of bison creating a safety issue. He offered his understanding that if the herd grew too large, which and is the reason why there was a high number of bison mortality. He recollected former legislator Pappi Moss introduced legislation in the past to change the [permit] fee from $5 to $10 to provide one-tenth of a percent to go to a total fund to manage the bison herd but that has not happened; that is the reason for HB 243. He sited the source of revenue bison provide is important to many communities in addition to Delta Junction. He acknowledged the problem of keeping bison away from agricultural crops but returned to the 2021 starvation event when the easy fix would be to feed them [the herd] but the state did not. He insisted that bison provide a lot of meat and the 2021 loss accounted for a $1 million loss in revenue. He advocated for a special draw permit in those cases as a solution. He expressed the need for the Advisory Board to continue to be involved with those communities affected. He reasserted HB 243 is a measure to reduce fees on hunters. 1:10:05 PM DAVE STANCLIFF, Staff, Representative Mike Cronk, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Cronk, prime sponsor of HB 243, provided the background for adopting a bison hunt in Delta River. He indicated the legislature in 1979 established a bison hunt south of the Alaska Range. In 1984, the legislature appropriated $1.54 million for the bison range to be developed. He raised the question to management of what the sustainable population should be that would not cause starvation or destruction of agriculture. He cited a report from June 1988 that found 471 bison were counted last year and 15,000 permit applications were issued, and highlighted the need for more permits to be issued and better management practices by ADF&G. He further questioned the management goals by ADF&G to allow 250-350 bison to be harvested which exceeded the die-off rate in 2021. 1:13:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK believed there hasn't been a buy-in with farmers and ADF&G because they feel they have been shut out of the process. He professed the need to sustain the bison herd from the $400,000 profit received from permit applicant fees. 1:15:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER spoke to HB 243 regarding snowstorms and what ADF&G was doing to create a solution. He found the immediate solution was to contact the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) to place cautionary road signs. He pleaded for the answer to what the state was doing to manage that herd and if it is adequate. He also queried where the money comes from and where it goes to manage the herd. He proclaimed his support for HB 243. 1:19:06 PM REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG asked how the plan was created and if the legislature has the power to amend or collaborate with ADF&G. 1:19:27 PM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK thought management should be up to the professionals at ADF&G; but he insisted that local knowledge is essential to achieve management goals. He proclaimed ADF&G has not been managing the herd well enough and has not been truthful in reporting the number of bison and die-off. He implored the legislature to provide the money to allow the biologists to do their job. 1:22:05 PM REPRESENTATIVE MEARS identified she was unfamiliar with the Delta Advisory Committee and their demography and role. 1:22:21 PM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK explained there are a number of advisory committees across the state and the Delta Advisory Committee works with ADF&G to look at proposals and/or other functions similar to the legislative process but on a lower level. 1:23:26 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what the end-goal of HB 243 is with respect to management, hunting pressure, and the effect to the herd of [bison]. 1:23:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK said he hoped the end-game of HB 243 would be that bison are being properly managed. He maintained that the current permit fees are not being used appropriately to manage the herd. He related an anecdote about a cow bison that was struck on the road, laid in the ditch for 11 days, until it starved to death because ADF&G did nothing about it. 1:25:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER offered his understanding of the law of supply-and-demand would increase the hunting pressure if the fee was lowered. 1:25:24 PM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK informed Representative Saddler that the limited number of permits issued factors in hunting pressure on the herd, which would not be adversely affected. 1:25:40 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE said there is a larger problem of departments not being nimble enough to make management decisions. 1:27:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK replied that the purpose of HB 243 is to react more quickly during winter starvations. 1:28:23 PM REPRESENATIVE BAKER identified himself as a member of the Kotzebue Sound Advisory Council, which helps manage the Western Arctic Caribou herd, the largest in Alaska. He asked if there is a similar advisory council assisting management of the bison herd in Representative Cronk's district. 1:29:19 PM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK said he wasn't sure if there was an advisory council in Delta River. He continued that many people in Delta would help reenergize the group but there is a zero- confidence level with the group towards ADF&G. 1:30:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT questioned if the permit fees helped manage the [bison] herd while they were starving. 1:31:12 PM The committee took a brief at-ease. 1:31:52 PM CHAIR MCKAY announced the committee would hear invited testimony. 1:32:34 PM DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, offered an explanation of how bison are currently being managed. He provided the background of how ADF&G has been working with local farmers to manage the herd of approximately 375 bison. He explained that once the farmers learned they could charge people to hunt on their land, the herd size increased over the projected stable population. He admitted the 2021 snowstorm die-off caught ADF&G off-guard, and while the department tried to purchase feed, for many reasons, it did not happen. He informed the committee that ADF&G has purchased feed for future storms in the event of another starvation season. He also explained ADF&G tried to plow lands to provide a place for the bison to go in the winter. He agreed that it is time to reconvene the Delta hunting group to work with ADF&G, including the department's Conservation Division. He indicated an emergency hunt is hard to institute on a short basis, which is why it has not been initiated in the past. 1:37:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT asked if the fees from the permits helped the starving animals during that year. 1:37:43 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG replied that the fees did help the bison herd that year. 1:38:02 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER said there are inconsistencies from his recollection with what happened in 2021 regarding the bison herd starvation. He said there was hay available, but ADF&G told citizens they could not feed wild bison. He argued ADF&G was allowed to declare an emergency but did not. He ascertained that if an area had been plowed out, to allow the herd to eat hay, the herd may not have starved to death. 1:40:06 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG emphasized that ADF&G was unaware of hay resources available at that time. He advocated for reforming a work group to address this issue in the future. 1:40:59 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked how ADF&G will address and cooperate with farmers if the situation happens again. 1:42:01 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG agreed that the Delta Management working group should get back together with all players at the table and have a plan moving forward. 1:42:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER addressed feeding bison in the future and what would be the solution. 1:43:50 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG maintained, under state law, it is illegal to feed wildlife. 1:44:27 PM REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG asked how the fees are being spent, and given the proposed changes to the fee, how this would impact the current management plans. 1:44:55 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG related that the money goes in the general ADF&G fund and is allocated to the bison hunt management in addition to all other hunts. 1:46:04 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked about feeding wildlife, as it applies to the bison herd. 1:46:31 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG answered that feeding wildlife is a slippery slope in general. He warned against a scenario of feeding caribou on the North Slope, for example, because they will have their ups-and-downs based on Mother Nature. He contended bison are an introduced stock and management goals are different because of that. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if there is any different status in law or regulation of the food value for bison over other game. COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG said in general there is a prohibition on feeding wild animals. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Commissioner Vincent-Lang who would compose the advisory council. 1:47:58 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG said the advisory council would be managed the way the Board of Game functions with input from hunters and farmers. 1:48:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked if the bison were already there. 1:49:49 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG justified bison were introduced in the 1920s prior to statehood. He stated that Alaska plains bison are the purest stock in the nation. REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE said Alaska has had a responsibility to feed bison since they were introduced. He questioned why hunts are closed during scarcity and not opened during times of overabundance. 1:51:05 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained that in unusual snow events, game will be affected, but striking a balance is essential for game management. 1:53:25 PM VICE-CHAIR RAUSCHER asked exactly what ADF&G has done to enact the extra five-dollar fee to manage the bison herd. 1:52:37 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG offered to provide the numbers to the committee at a later date. 1:53:52 PM REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT asked what constituted a disaster declaration to ADF&G in this situation. 1:54:06 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG offered that a disaster declaration would be based on the situation. He explained that the governor would allocate funds if there were a disaster. He revealed that ADF&G does not have a disaster relief budget for such circumstances. CHAIR MCKAY announced that HB 243 was held over in committee. 1:55:41 PM The committee took an at-ease from 1:55 p.m. to 1:58 p.m. HB 201-RESIDENCY REQ: HUNTING, TRAPPING, FISHING 1:58:04 PM CHAIR MCKAY announced that the final order of business would be HB 201-RESIDENCY REQ: HUNTING, TRAPPING, FISHING. 1:58:35 PM REPRESENTATIVE REBECCA HIMSCHOOT, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, presented HB 201. She explained the source and goals of HB 201 are to resolve the concerns of her constituents and to provide a potential solution. She explained that a residency law to hunt and fish does not have an annual residency term. She explained residency of six months to get the permanent fund dividend (PFD) should be the standard; exemptions would be military deployment, education, and medical leave. She highlighted that the problem is that out-of-state fishers and hunters don't know how long they need to reside in Alaska to become a resident and pay different permit fees. She sourced an example from the Alaska State Troopers who have a difficult time ascertaining how long a person that is hunting and/or fishing has legally obtained residency. She said the ultimate goal of HB 201 is to manage the resource and make sure year-round residents have access to those resources with slightly lower [permit] fees. She asserted the assemblies from Petersburg, Sitka, Craig, Yakutat, as well as, Prince of Wales [Island] are all in unanimous support of HB 201 as well as the Safari Club of Alaska. 2:03:44 PM THATCHER BROUWER, Staff, Representative Rebecca Himschoot, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Himschoot, prime sponsor provided a sectional analysis of HB 201 [included in a committee packet] which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Section 1 amends AS 16.05.400 by adding a new subsection that requires a person issued a permanent identification card may only sport fish, hunt or trap as long as the person meets the residency requirements outlined in the bill. Section 2 amends AS 16.05.415(a) to require an individual, to qualify for a resident hunting, trapping and sportfishing license, to be physically present at all times during the 12 months preceding the application, and if absent, only absent as allowed for someone who is eligible for a permanent fund dividend (AS 43.23.0008). Section 3 amends AS 16.05.415(e) to require an alien, to qualify for a resident hunting, trapping and sportfishing license, to be physically present at all times during the 12 months preceding the application, and if absent, only absent as allowed for someone who is eligible for a permanent fund dividend (AS 43.23.0008). Section 4 adds a new subsection to AS 16.05.415 directing the commissioner to adopt regulations under AS 44.62 for determining eligibility of a person to receive a resident license. Section 5 adds a new section to uncodified law allowing the Department of Fish and Game to adopt regulations necessary to implement the bill. Section 6 establishes an immediate effective date for section 5 of the bill. Section 7 establishes a January 1, 2025, effective date for the remainder of the bill. 2:05:37 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER recalled his past experiences of obtaining a fishing and hunting license and asked if HB 201 might slow down the process and questioned the zero fiscal note. He observed that there were no statistics to indicate why there is a zero fiscal note. REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT explained that under HB 201, a person applying for a hunting and fishing license in Alaska would need to be eligible for the PFD, but would not necessarily collect the dividend. She said out-of-state hunters and fisherman are not affected by HB 201. She recounted that people in her district are finding it harder and harder to fill their freezers for the year because of additional pressure on the resources. 2:08:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE indicated HB 201 would be problematic in terms of AS 43.23.008, which limits residency. He noted that certain professions require workers to be absent from the state. He opined that HB 201 has some holes in it. 2:09:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT said she has also been excluded from the PFD in certain years during a two-year fellowship with the National Science Foundation. 2:10:23 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER pondered if applicants should be trusted on their merit or if a fiscal note might be necessary to enforce proof of residency. REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT confirmed residency is taken on a person's word given to the Alaska State Troopers. 2:12:08 PM SCOTT NEWMAN, representing self, provided his experience as a lifelong Alaskan from Petersburg, commercial fisherman, pilot, hunting guide, and assembly member in the Petersburg Borough. He testified in support of HB 201 specifically for the residency requirement. He insisted that some seasonal residents claim they have paid their dues but are clearly not [year-round] residents. He insinuated these people were not Alaskans and should not have the same privileges to hunt and fish as permanent Alaska residents. He reiterated the requirement to apply for the PFD is not the same as a hunting and fishing license and there is no enforcement of this loophole. 2:15:10 PM LEIF WILSON, representing self, related that as a life-long Alaskan and lodge owner/pilot, he is testifying in support of HB 201. He said he was dismayed that people are taking advantage of Alaska residency. He said a client from Georgia became a resident and began hunting and fishing after spending a year in Alaska and obtained a resident license. He said the client spends a month or a few weeks a year in Alaska and is following the law. He objected to snowbirds that do not live in Alaska at least half of the year who benefit from the hunting and fishing regulations. 2:18:49 PM KURT WHITEHEAD, representing self, opined that the advisory council was not addressing the number one problem in Pince of Wales Island (POW), which is the term, "domicile." He expressed concern that there are not enough members of the POW Advisory Council that are year-round residents. He maintained many persons in POW only come up for the summer to fish and do not contribute to the local economy. He expressed his thanks to Representative Himschoot. 2:25:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked if an individual would have to forfeit their hunting rights, in addition to their PFD, if they left the state for a period of time. 2:27:03 PM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT responded by defining one "exception" as a member who provides for family members. 2:27:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER opined that the zero fiscal note is problematic. He noted the penultimate paragraph of HB 201 states a fish and game permit would have to be updated but would cost a great deal of money. 2:28:12 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained how current fees work for fishing and hunting licenses. He said HB 201 would require hunters and fishers to maintain their residence in Alaska under the PFD criteria. He said the essence of HB 201 is to allow a certified person to be checked against the PFD to also be a licensed hunter or fisher. In response to another question, he said that the criteria to prove residency in the field is very loose and is up to the legislature to decide. 2:30:29 PM CHAIR MCKAY was reminded of the red-flag [gun] law, under which a person could "rat out" your neighbor. 2:30:40 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER questioned how HB 201 could be effective in the field. 2:31:28 PM AARON FRENZEL, Deputy Director, Major of the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, answered how enforcement is handled by the Wildlife Troopers across the state. He described residency is checked and enforced in the field by context. He reflected that many residents have contacted the Alaska Wildlife Trooper to report suspicious illegal hunting which will begin an investigation. 2:33:19 PM REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT asked how long a person can be absent from the state and still claim residency. 2:33:51 PM MAJOR AARON FRENZEL replied that he has been asked this question repeatedly in the miliary and clarified there is no limit on the time someone has to live in the state to be a resident. He said if someone claims Alaska as their permanent domicile their isn't much that can be done by law enforcement to challenge their residency status. 2:34:22 PM CHAIR MCKAY used an example of a recreational vehicle (RV) owner, who would only reside in Alaska for June and July, harvest fish and game, and then return to the Lower 48 and not be qualified for the PFD. 2:35:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE illustrated the problem with HB 201 is that it would tie hunting and fishing licensing to the PFD. He stated opposition to the bill. 2:37:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT responded to Representative McCabe that Alaskans, living here year-round, place a high value on their resources and incur a high cost of living standard. She maintained that it is a choice to stay or leave the state. She noted that college students fall under the current exceptions of licensees. 2:38:15 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE noted that exemptions in HB 201 allow for higher education but seminaries aren't included. 2:39:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT reiterated that as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow of the National Science Foundation, she had been excluded from collecting the PFD during her time in Washington D.C. She said some residents will always be left out of certain programs in order to enjoy the benefits of traveling outside of the state. 2:40:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE MEARS asked Major Frenzel if there was a residency requirement to hunt and fish. 2:41:34 PM MAJOR AARON FRENZEL explained there are three things enforcement looks for in a conviction: the first, is a person that hasn't lived in the state for 12 months; the other way is called, "the smoking gun," where a resident from another state retains benefits from that state while claiming residence in Alaska; the third reason is someone whom retains two domiciles. He explained some situations are easier to enforce than others. 2:43:10 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG defined what "residency" means to ADF&G and said there needs to be a clearer definition. 2:44:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked if a person forgets to fill out a PFD application would lose their hunting license. 2:44:57 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained the residency requirement for the PFD is to intend to stay in Alaska for 12 months. 2:45:26 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER interrupted Commissioner Vincent-Lang to ask if people are taken at their word when verifying residency. 2:45:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT added that under HB 201 nothing changes in terms of the PFD and hunting/fishing licenses. Her hope is that there would be less need for enforcement as a result of HB 201. 2:46:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER offered his understanding HB 201 has the intent of closing a loophole but said the problem is many hunters and fishers aren't being honest. He suggested an alternate way to alleviate the problem could be to impose a fish export tax. 2:47:36 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG divulged a fish export tax has been discussed at ADF&G for a long time, but that is a policy issue that the legislature would have to enact. Commissioner Vincent- Lang suggested another issue for the legislature to solve are senior license requirements, which are problematic because they are lifelong and have been a major issue at ADF&G. 2:48:59 PM REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG asked the age an individual would have to be to get a permanent senior license and whether HB 201 would change that age. 2:49:21 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG explained that HB 201 would only change the permit application for the permanent license, which would have the same requirements as the PFD application. 2:49:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT conveyed that a person who applies for permanent status, under HB 201, is a one-time thing and you would never have to re-apply. 2:50:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER directed attention to page 2, Section 4, and asked the sponsor of HB 201, Representative Himschoot how proof of residency would be enforced for people claiming residency in other states. 2:51:02 PM MAJOR FRENZEL replied that other states' residency databases are available but the Division of Wildlife Troopers does not have the resources to investigate each application. 2:51:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated his assumption the Permanent Fund Division handles verification databases, and he suggested law enforcement should have the same access to that database. REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT deferred to Major Frenzel. 2:52:54 PM MAJOR FRENZEL responded that the division of troopers does currently work with the Permanent Fund Division investigators but cannot make these investigators be agents for the troopers. 2:53:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE pointed out Canadian fishers would be exempt and unable to fish in Alaska if HB 201 were to pass. 2:53:46 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG said Alaska has a reciprocal fishing agreement with the Yukon Territory. He offered his understanding that Canadians would be excluded under HB 201, but he said he would need to check with the Department of Law. 2:54:40 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER cited that ranked choice voting was very expensive to train staff and to implement. He asked why there was no fiscal note for HB 201 reflecting the cost of training. COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG said HB 201 is fiscally responsible from the department's perspective. 2:56:09 PM CHAIR MCKAY announced HB 201 was held over. 2:56:37 PM ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the committee, the House Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:56 p.m.

Document Name	Date/Time	Subjects
HB 201 Sponsor Statement - Version U 6.12.23.pdf	HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM
HB 201 Sectional Analysis - Version U 5.16.23.pdf	HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM HRES 1/26/2024 1:00:00 PM	HB 201
HB 201 Research - Southeast Alaska Resident and Non-Resident Sportfishing Regulations 5.12.23.pdf	HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM HRES 1/26/2024 1:00:00 PM	HB 201
HB 201 Research - Alaska Resident and Non-Resident License Fees 5.17.23.pdf	HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM HRES 1/26/2024 1:00:00 PM	HB 201
HB 201 Research - Allowable Absences 1.4.24.pdf	HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM HRES 1/26/2024 1:00:00 PM	HB 201
HB 201 Letters of Support Received by 1.9.24.pdf	HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM
HB 201 Letters of Support Received by 1.23.24.pdf	HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM
SponsorStatement on HB-243.pdf.pdf	HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM	HB 243
HB 243 - Fiscal Note.pdf	HRES 1/24/2024 1:00:00 PM	HB 243

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