HB 206-FISH AND GAME LICENSES & TAGS  MR. JOHN MANLEY, legislative aide to Representative Harris, sponsor of HB 206, said that Representative Harris introduced this bill at the request of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) to take care of some housekeeping measures needed to clean up their statutes. The bill changes the word "waterfowl" to "migratory game bird" in about six different sections. That change will bring into the federal government's migratory game bird reporting program the taking of snipes and cranes. This will give them a complete picture of who is taking what birds in the state. Section 3 allows disabled veterans and $5 license holders to register in the national migratory game bird harvest program by one of two methods. Because these people are not required to buy duck stamps, the statute needed another provision to enable them to register into the program. Section 4 creates a new combination seven day non- resident hunting and fishing license. The $115 charge for that license costs the same as a seven day fishing license and a non- resident hunting license but it is more convenient to put both licenses on one piece of paper. The bill also sets fees for special non-resident military small game licenses. There was a glitch when the price of resident hunting licenses was changed. The cost of a license for a non-resident military person would be more than the cost of a non-resident license. HB 206 straightens that problem out. The House Finance Committee added a provision that allows Yukon residents to obtain a non-resident fishing license and a non-resident king salmon tag at the same rate that a resident pays. That provision was added at the request of Senator Phillips and it will not go into effect until the Yukon reciprocates. CHAIRMAN HALFORD said when the Yukon is willing to give 600,000 Alaskans the same treatment, Alaska will give their 35,000 people a deal. MR. MANLEY continued his explanation of HB 206. Sections 9 and 10 replace a requirement in current statute that sellers and purchasers of licenses must take an oath. That requirement was replaced with a notice that will be placed on licenses stating there is a penalty for unsworn falsification. CHAIRMAN HALFORD asked how much a resident sport fishing license costs. MR. MANLEY said it costs $15. CHAIRMAN HALFORD asked if the non-resident military sport fishing license will cost the same. He also asked the cost of the non- resident seven day sport fishing and hunting license. MR. MANLEY said a non-resident sport fishing license would cost $30 and the non-resident hunting license costs $85 for a total of $115 which is what the combined license would cost. He explained that Sections 11 through 16 just add the word "registration" in various parts of the statutes to comply with the change made in Section 3. The final change will allow ADFG to issue replacement licenses for commercial fishing crew members for $5. ADFG is already doing that but needs statutory authority. MR. MANLEY noted that an amendment to the bill was presented to him today and that it is relatively innocuous. The amendment would read as follows. Page 2, line 16 after "birds" insert ", migratory game bird hunting," After "and" insert "other" After "public" delete "use" and insert "uses" CHAIRMAN HALFORD questioned whether the phrase, "other public uses of migratory game birds" covers the Alaska Outdoor Council's concern. MR. MANLEY thought it would. SENATOR LINCOLN asked Mr. Manley how important the amendment is to the bill because it might slow the bill down considerably. MR. MANLEY said Representative Harris did not have a problem with the amendment but at the same time it is not critical to the bill. CHAIRMAN HALFORD noted the bill has a referral to the Senate Finance Committee. MR. DICK BISHOP, Vice President of the Alaska Outdoor Council, stated that the Council supports this bill. ADFG and the sponsor did a good job in cleaning up some of the loose ends with licensing. The Council did suggest the amendment in view of the fact that the only place in the bill, other than the title, that hunting is mentioned is in the price tag. The Council felt it is appropriate that some of the benefits of the price tag that hunters pay be directed to their interests in particular. The Council would like to see the amendment as well as the bill pass. SENATOR LINCOLN asked Mr. Bishop whether he would rather see the bill amended and take the chance that it will slow the bill down. MR. BISHOP replied if the bill was slowed up enough to the point where it cannot complete the process, he would be concerned. He repeated that he would like to see the amendment entered into the bill. SENATOR TAYLOR moved the amendment proposed by Mr. Manley. There being no objection, the motion carried. SENATOR TAYLOR moved SCS CSHB 206(RES) from committee with individual recommendations and its accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, the motion carried.