Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
04/04/2025 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB117 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 117 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
April 4, 2025
1:03 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Robyn Niayuq Burke, Co-Chair
Representative Maxine Dibert, Co-Chair
Representative Carolyn Hall
Representative Donna Mears
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Julie Coulombe
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Zack Fields
Representative George Rauscher
Representative Bill Elam
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 117
"An Act relating to commercial set gillnet fishing; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 117(RES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 117
SHORT TITLE: COMMERCIAL FISHING; SET GILLNET COOP
SPONSOR(s): FISHERIES
02/26/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/26/25 (H) FSH, RES
03/01/25 (H) FSH AT 11:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
03/01/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/04/25 (H) FSH AT 10:30 AM GRUENBERG 120
03/04/25 (H) Heard & Held
03/04/25 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
03/06/25 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
03/06/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/11/25 (H) FSH RPT 6DP 1NR
03/11/25 (H) DP: VANCE, KOPP, HIMSCHOOT, ELAM,
MCCABE, STUTES
03/11/25 (H) NR: EDGMON
03/11/25 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
03/11/25 (H) Moved HB 117 Out of Committee
03/11/25 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
03/13/25 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
03/13/25 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/21/25 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/21/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/24/25 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/24/25 (H) Heard & Held
03/24/25 (H) MINUTE(RES)
03/28/25 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/28/25 (H) Heard & Held
03/28/25 (H) MINUTE(RES)
04/04/25 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
CALVIN ZUELOW, Staff
Representative Robyn Niayuq Burke
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Described the purpose of Amendment 1 to HB
117.
REPRESENTATIVE LOUISE STUTES
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of the House Special Committee on
Fisheries, prime sponsor of HB 117, on which she serves as
chair, expressed support for Amendment 1.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:03:19 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE called the House Resources Standing Committee
meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. Representatives Saddler, Hall,
Mears, Dibert, and Burke were present at the call to order.
Representative Coulombe arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 117-COMMERCIAL FISHING; SET GILLNET COOP
1:03:57 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE announced that the only order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 117, "An Act relating to commercial set
gillnet fishing; and providing for an effective date."
1:04:13 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE opened public testimony on HB 117. After
ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, she closed
public testimony.
1:04:56 PM
CO-CHAIR DIBERT moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 117, labeled
34-LS0557\N.4, Bullard, 4/2/25, which read as follows:
Page 1, following line 2:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of
Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read:
LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the
Legislature that the Board of Fisheries, in adopting
regulations under AS 16.05.251(j), added by sec. 2 of
this Act, that establish the number of set gillnet
entry permit holders that may fish together as a
cooperative in each administrative area,
(1) for the purpose of maximizing local
participation and review, establish the number of set
gillnet entry permit holders that may fish together as
a cooperative in a particular administrative area at a
public meeting at which the Board of Fisheries is
scheduled to consider finfish regulations for the
area;
(2) consider the number of set gillnet
entry permits and the number of set gillnet entry
permit holders who have historically fished permits
together in the area; and
(3) preserve the status quo with regard to
affecting the number of set gillnet entry permit
holders that may fish together."
Page 1, line 3:
Delete "Section 1"
Insert "Sec. 2"
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
Page 1, lines 7 - 8:
Delete "present at all times and actively engaged
in the operation. Not more than 10 set gillnet entry
permit holders may fish as one cooperative"
Insert "physically present and actively engaged
in the operation, unless the other permit holder is
absent for a reason permitted under AS 16.05.253(a)"
Page 1, line 15:
Delete "."
Insert ";
(3) establish the maximum number of set
gillnet entry permit holders that may fish as a single
cooperative in each administrative area; however, no
cooperative may be limited to fewer than three set
gillnet entry permit holders.
* Sec. 3. AS 16.05.253(a) is amended to read:
(a) The Board of Fisheries may require a person
who holds a limited entry permit or an interim-use
permit under AS 16.43 to be physically present at a
beach or riparian fishing site during the operation of
net gear or other stationary fishing gear at the site,
except when the permit holder is at or traveling to or
from the location of
(1) a sale of fish caught in the gear or,
if the permit holder is a member of a cooperative
established under AS 16.05.251(j), a sale of fish
caught in the gear of another permit holder member of
the cooperative; or
(2) other stationary gear of the permit
holder or, if the permit holder is a member of a
cooperative established under AS 16.05.251(j),
stationary gear belonging to another permit holder
member of the cooperative."
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
Page 2, lines 5 - 6:
Delete "a single permit holder"
Insert "any permit holder who is a"
1:05:02 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE objected for the purpose of discussion.
1:05:16 PM
CALVIN ZUELOW, Staff, Representative Robyn Niayuq Burke, Alaska
State Legislature, explained that Amendment 1 to HB 117 added
intent language specifying that regulations establishing the
maximum size of co-ops in each administrative area should be
taken out by the Board of Fisheries in cycle with the affected
areas fin fish meeting. This would allow the highest level of
local participation and review from the residents and
stakeholders of each affected area. The amendment also added
intent language that directed the Board of Fisheries to consider
the number of permits and the traditional size of cooperative
operations in an area and to preserve the status quo of the size
of cooperative set net operations. In the actual language of
the bill, the amendment replaced the words "present at all
times" with "physically present" to mirror language in Alaska
statute AS 16.05.253(a) which specified circumstances where it
would be allowable to be away from the net. The language would
ensure that the bill doesn't restrict cooperative operations
beyond what was required in statute. The amendment also removed
language allowing ten permit-holders to work together in
cooperatives state-wide and directed the Board of Fisheries to
establish for each administrative area the maximum number
allowed in a cooperative, specifying that the number cannot be
lower than three. The amendment also amends AS 16.05.253(a)
with conforming language to clarify that permit-holders may be
absent while delivering fish or traveling to another net. The
amendment additionally provides language suggested by former lt.
governor, Loren Leman, specifying that any permit-holder may
deliver on behalf of a cooperative.
1:07:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LOUISE STUTES, Alaska State Legislature,
expressed support for the amendment on behalf of the House
Special Committee on Fisheries, prime sponsor of HB 117. She
thanked the committee for creating an amendment that
strengthened the bill.
1:08:21 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE removed her objection to Amendment 1. There
being no further objection, Amendment 1 to HB 117 was adopted.
1:08:49 PM
CO-CHAIR DIBERT moved to report HB 117, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 117(RES) was
reported out of the House Resources Standing Committee.
1:09:46 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:09 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 117 Sponsor Statement v. N 3.2.25.pdf |
HRES 4/4/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 117 |
| HB 117 Amendment 1 H RES.pdf |
HRES 4/4/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 117 |