01/26/2024 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB243 | |
| HB201 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 243 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 201 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
January 26, 2024
1:03 p.m.
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
01/24/24 (H) Heard & Held
01/24/24 (H) MINUTE(RES)
01/26/24 (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
01/24/24 (H) Heard & Held
01/24/24 (H) MINUTE(RES)
01/26/24 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
DON QUARBERG, representing self
Delta Junction, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 243.
VERNON AITON, representing self
Delta Junction, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 243.
TISHA KENNELL, representing self
Delta Junction, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 243.
DAVID EGELSEON, representing self
Thorne Bay, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
STUART EDDY, representing self
Petersburg, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
KENT BARKHAU, representing self
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
JAKE COMBS, representing self
Tok, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 243.
JIM BRENNAN, representing self
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 201.
TAD FUJIOKA, representing self
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
LEWIS HIATT, representing self
Hollis, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
PAUL JOHNSON, representing self
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
MATT BECK, representing self
Whale Pass, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
CHET POWELL, representing self
Craig, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
JOEY EDMUNDS, representing self
Tok, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
THOMAS HARDEN, representing self
Hollis, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
SEAN DAVIS, representing self
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
KEVIN CASTLE, representing self
Craig, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
DENNIS NICKERSON, Tribal President
Klawock Cooperative Association Tribe;
Chair
Klawock Fish and Game Advisory Committee
Klawock, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
LARRY RIVERS, representing self
Talkeetna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
ELLEN HANNAN, representing self
Craig, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 201.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:03:16 PM
CHAIR TOM MCKAY called the House Resources Standing Committee
meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. Representatives Rauscher, Baker,
McCabe, Saddler, Wright, Armstrong, Mears, Dibert, and McKay
were present at the call to order.
HB 243-BISON DRAW PERMIT APPLICATION FEE
1:04:23 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."
1:04:29 PM
CHAIR MCKAY opened public testimony on HB 243.
1:05:11 PM
DON QUARBERG, representing self, testified in support of HB 243
as a former member of the Delta Bison Working Group and 40 years
of experience working with the Delta Fish & Game Advisory
Committee. He explained the bison range funding by the Alaska
State Legislature for the purpose of providing adequate shelter
and water through October of each year. He reported that in
1984, the fee to hunt bison was increased by $5 to supplement
the existing funds. Those funds were never allocated to the
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G). He stated that ADF&G
increased the number of permit applications in 2017 which caused
a spike in the number of hunters. He claimed there is a missing
$170,000 that is designated for bison management. He described
the seasonal round of the bison which only spend a month of the
year on the range then move to farmland. He exclaimed ADF&G has
absconded with those funds, which is unacceptable.
1:08:44 PM
VERNON AITON, representing self, identified himself as a former
ADF&G Board member for over 20 years and former president of the
Delta Sportsman's Association. He stated the bottom line is
hunters have paid the extra fee for years but did not get what
they paid for. He cautioned the price of the lost fees will
probably never be known but the matching Pitman-Robertson [Act]
funds have been spent as intended. He favored reassembling the
Delta Bison Oversight Committee but not under the auspices of
ADF&G. He urged for the bison range to be increased. He is
also in favor of a Delta bison feeding program as a contingency
plan.
1:11:17 PM
TISHA KENNELL, representing self, said she has witnessed
incompetence and unethical management of bison. She stated that
the original purpose of the $5 addition was to better manage the
herd on the bison range. She stated the bison range money has
essentially been stolen from the local communities. She cited
the bison range manager said he did not need additional monies
during the 2020-2021 starvation years and would not know what to
do with the funds. She cited several mistakes that the state
has made managing the herd. She said other states have
established successful hunts during starvation events. She
informed the committee that local residents have come together
to hire an outside entity to manage the herd because they do not
trust ADG&G to manage their wildlife or additional funding. She
intended to send a message to the public that Delta Junction
does not trust ADF&G and can better serve the game management in
the region. She finished by stating her support for HB 243.
1:14:49 PM
CHAIR MCKAY asked the previous testifiers how the money would be
spent to support the bison range.
1:15:27 PM
MR. QUARBERG recounted there were initially 90,000 acres granted
for the bison range and the legislature gave [ADF&G] $1.54
million to clear 3,000 acres for habitat development. He
insisted that the Pitman-Robertson [Act] Fund could have helped
the situation. In response to a follow-up question, he
explained that the Pitman-Robertson [Act] Fund derives from a
nationwide sales tax on firearms and ammunition.
1:17:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE interjected that if the state does not use
those funds then the funds will be lost.
1:17:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked the three testifiers if reconvening
a working group would be a sufficient response to the issue.
1:18:08 PM
DON QUARBERG responded that there needs to be a local advisory
council other than ADF&G. In response to a follow-up question,
he explained that the previous Bison Working Group was composed
of 11 or 12 people, one of which was from Florida and did not
understand the issue. He said that the working group did come
to a consensus on how to manage the range but that plan has been
lost since the group has disbanded. He affirmed that it would
be beneficial to reconvene the working group.
1:21:04 PM
MS. KENNELL interjected that there have been concerns about the
oversight of the funds to make sure it is being spent properly
and managed properly.
1:21:48 PM
REPRESENATIVE BAKER urged the committee to look into the Western
Arctic Caribou Herd Working Group for comparison. He said the
group is composed of locals that receive input from ADF&G and
federal agencies and is a good example for the Delta Bison Range
Working Group.
1:22:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER, as co-sponsor, made a closing statement
and thanked the committee for considering HB 243.
1:23:49 PM
CHAIR MCKAY closed public testimony on HB 243.
CHAIR MCKAY announced that HB 243 was held over.
HB 201-RESIDENCY REQ: HUNTING, TRAPPING, FISHING
1:24:10 PM
CHAIR MCKAY announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 201, "An Act changing the residency requirements
for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing privileges; and
providing for an effective date."
1:24:46 PM
CHAIR MCKAY opened public testimony on HB 201 and asked if
Representative Himschoot would please remain available for
questions.
1:25:20 PM
DAVID EGELSEON, representing self, identified as a retired New
York State Trooper with 30 years of experience. He also said he
is a current member of the East Prince of Wales Advisory
Committee. He said he fully supported HB 201 and thanked
Representative Himschoot and staff for crafting the legislation.
He provided an example from Thorne Bay, where there are hunters
and fishers that live on the island only 2-4 months of the year
and are not legal residents. He continued that these fake
residents also go north to hunt caribou, sheep, goats, and brown
[grizzly] bears. He stated he has lived in Alaska only 12 years
but intends to stay. He held a strong belief that the resources
are essential to residents first before sharing them with
outsiders. He urged the committee to require non-residents to
pay for the privilege to hunt and fish in Alaska the way Alaska
residents do. He said the requirements are too low for
residency status.
1:29:20 PM
STUART EDDY, representing self, testified in support of HB 201
as a fourth-generation Alaskan, commercial fisherman, and
hunting guide. He opined that the current hunting, fishing, and
trapping requirements are too lenient, and those resources are
being taken advantage of. He cited that the state is losing
money from the Pittman-Robertson [Act] and Dingell-Johnson Act.
He advocated for HB 201 as a tool for law enforcement and
citizens.
1:30:51 PM
KENT BARKHAU, representing self, testified in support of HB 201.
From his perspective, he said, it is a privilege to hunt and
fish in Alaska. He cited the requirements to hunt, fish, and
trap should be the same as the permanent fund dividend (PFD)
requirements. He advocated for HB 201 as well as the Sitka Fish
and Game Advisory Council.
1:33:17 PM
JAKE COMBS, representing self, testified in full support of HB
201 because it would ensure the residents access to what they
need to hunt, fish, and trap. He advocated for a six-month
residency standard. He said the privilege of hunting and
fishing far outweighs the amount of the PFD and objected to the
current requirement for a non-resident hunting and fishing
license. He concluded that non-residents should not be able to
take fish and game out of state without paying a fee.
1:36:03 PM
JIM BRENNAN, representing self, said he opposed HB 201 because
it would penalize bona fide residents such as himself. He lives
in both Washington and Alaska but does not receive the PFD
because he is not eligible. He said he regarded himself as an
Alaskan and there are better ways to mitigate the problem other
than HB 201.
1:39:15 PM
TAD FUJIOKA, representing self, spoke in support of HB 201 as a
fourth-generation Alaskan. He emphasized HB 201 would help the
Alaska Wildlife Troopers, ADF&G, and residents.
1:41:51 PM
LEWIS HIATT, representing self, testified in support of HB 201.
He urged the committee to better define the term "resident" with
an example of a California couple that fish halibut, crab, and
shrimp claiming resident status but ship it to the Lower 48. He
expressed concern for his children that still rely on Alaska's
resources.
1:44:01 PM
PAUL JOHNSON, representing self, testified in support of HB 201
and described what it was like before statehood. He said the
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) created
a loophole for non-residents to claim residency on federal lands
and HB 201 would close that loophole.
1:46:34 PM
MATT BECK, representing self, testified that he had purchased a
non-resident hunting and fishing license and subsequently became
a resident. He stressed that out-of-state visitors are taking
Alaska's resources and do not give back to the communities in
which they hunt and fish. He stressed the cost of groceries is
rising and resources are declining and difficult to get access
to for residents. He cited the Pitman-Robertson Act as a means
to obtain additional funds for ADF&G.
1:49:27 PM
CHET POWELL, representing self, testified in support of HB 201
because the residency requirement is too easy to obtain. He
urged the committee to synchronize the PFD and hunting and
fishing requirements.
1:51:42 PM
JOEY EDMUNDS, representing self, testified that she was in
support of HB 201 because the current requirements for Alaska
residency should be stricter. She said non-residents create a
greater [hunting/fishing] pressure. She opined that the
residency standard is negatively affecting revenue for ADF&G.
1:53:18 PM
THOMAS HARDEN, representing self, testified in support of HB 201
because it makes sense and assists with law enforcement.
Seasonal workers take many of the resources with no intention of
living in the state. He contended that Alaska needs higher
standards. He advocated for the Pittman-Robertson Act which
raises money for conservation issues.
1:55:59 PM
SEAN DAVIS, representing self, testified in support of HB 201
due to the hunting and fishing pressure from non-residents. He
said mirroring the PFD requirement would help measure a system
that is already in place.
1:57:02 PM
KEVIN CASTLE, representing self, testified in support of HB 201
because summer visitors setting halibut skates exploit that
resource. He suggested more restrictive requirements for
residency.
1:58:40 PM
DENNIS NICKERSON, Tribal President, Klawock Cooperative
Association Tribe; Chair, Klawock Fish and Game Advisory
Committee, testified that the Klawock Tribe supported HB 201
specifically for the hunting, fishing, and trapping clause. He
felt residents are threatened by non-residents hunters and
fishers. He advocated for a balanced approach to harvesting
fish and game throughout the year. He said the tribe also
continues with the traditional barter system to share with those
in need. He stated that food security is as high as it's ever
been and non-residents have been exploiting Prince of Wales
Island for a long time. He stated that salmon have been
depleted by out-of-state fishers and thanked the sponsor of HB
201, Representative Himschoot.
2:01:08 PM
LARRY RIVERS, representing self, testified in support of HB 201.
He claimed the residency requirement is too loose and difficult
to enforce. He said he has seen people stay in Alaska for a
couple months, get a post office box, and leave the state but
still claim residency. He insisted that the six-month residency
is far too lenient and suggest it be changed to eight or ten
months for residency status.
2:02:56 PM
ELLEN HANNAN, representing self, identified herself as a
lifelong resident of Alaska and said HB 201 would close the
loophole on residency status by tying it to the Permanent Fund
Dividend residency requirements. She maintained residents
should be prioritized when it comes to Alaska's resources.
2:04:12 PM
CHAIR MCKAY, after ascertaining there was no one else who wished
to testify, closed public testimony on HB 201.
2:04:27 PM
CHAIR MCKAY announced that HB 201 was held over.
2:04:48 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at [2:05]
p.m.