SB 29-BIG GAME COMMERCIAL SERVICES BOARD  4:01:59 PM CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 29" An Act relating to an executive administrator for the Big Game Commercial Services Board." CHAIR GIESSEL noted that this was the second hearing of SB 29 by the Senate Resources Standing Committee. 4:02:26 PM SENATOR JESSE BJORKMAN, District D, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 29, introduced himself and gave an overview of SB 29. He said SB 29 would put an Executive Administrator position for the Big Game Commercial Services board into statute. It would not require additional general fund monies. He emphasized that a dedicated staff member who knows the business of guiding in Alaska would improve the efficiency of the Big Game Commercial Services Board in carrying out their duties. The board handles hunting guide licensing functions, administering board meetings, assisting the board with maintaining and writing exams, generating reports and assisting the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development investigative services. Also, they assist the Department of Public Safety with their game violation investigations. He said the executive administrator position was currently and would continue to be paid for using designated general funds from guide licensing fees. Senate Bill 29 simply codifies the Executive Administrator position and its range in statute. 4:03:43 PM CHAIR GIESSEL announced public testimony on SB 29. 4:04:05 PM SAM ROHRER, President, Alaska Professional Hunters Association (APHA), Kodiak, Alaska, provided invited testimony on SB 29, which proposed the creation of an Executive Administrator position for the Big Game Commercial Services Board. He said SB 29 would ensure the program's effective regulation by providing long-term, industry-specific staff. He highlighted current challenges, including the transient nature of license examiners and the resulting lack of expertise, which created burdens for volunteer board members. He urged the legislature to pass the bill to address these issues and maintain the program's integrity. 4:06:00 PM CHAIR GIESSEL said the testimony by Mr. Rohrer and Mr. Bunch was invited testimony rather than public testimony. 4:06:09 PM JASON BUNCH, Professional Hunter, Kodiak, Alaska, provided invited testimony on SB 29. He referred to his testimony in favor of SB 29 on February 3, 2025 and said he had nothing further to add. He said he was available to answer questions. 4:06:44 PM CHAIR GIESSEL asked how long Mr. Bunch had served on the [Big Game Commercial Services] Board. MR. BUNCH said he served on the board from 2018 to 2024, approximately six years. 4:07:02 PM CHAIR GIESSEL noted that the [Big Game Commercial Services Board] had a history of being behind in their funding. She recalled a $1 million deficit. She noted that the board was currently solvent and asked how they arrived at solvency. 4:07:29 PM MR. BUNCH noted that the board worked with the division to discern that the administrative burden was in entering and processing hunt records, transporter activity reports, renewing guide licenses, guide use, and area registrations required by statute. He said a $300 annual administrative fee was applied to all contracting guides and it did not take very long to get out of debt and achieve a good financial position. He said in 2024 the board eliminated the $300 annual filing fee for contracting guides, and also lowered the assistant guide license [fee]. He said the board was in good fiscal position to take care of any burdensome investigative processes, and account for the cost of the Executive Administrator without increasing licensing fees. 4:09:34 PM CHAIR GIESSEL summarized that the board and the profession assumed the financial responsibility for the cost of regulating themselves and succeeded in paying those costs as well as the arrears. 4:09:55 PM MR. BUNCH affirmed the summary. 4:10:14 PM AARON BLOOMQUIST, Chairman, Big Game Commercial Services Board, Palmer, Alaska, provided invited testimony on SB 29. He described the negative impact of Department of Commerce regulations on the board operations, and said it slowed them down and delayed projects for years. He urged the committee to pass SB 29 and offered to answer questions. 4:12:53 PM CHAIR GIESSEL closed invited testimony on SB 29. 4:13:01 PM CHAIR GIESSEL solicited the will of the committee. 4:13:05 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI moved to report SB 29, work order 34- LS0287\A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 4:13:22 PM CHAIR GIESSEL found no objection and SB 29 was reported from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.