HOUSE BILL NO. 194 An Act relating to fees for commercial fishing licenses and permits; and providing for an effective date. REPRESENTATIVE GARY STEVENS commented that a good compromise had been reached which was included in the committee substitute, work draft version 22-LS0441\B, Utermohle, 4/17/01. Representative Hudson MOVED that committee substitute version be the version of the bill before the Committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was adopted. Representative Harris MOVED to ADOPT Amendment #1, 22- LS0441\O.2, Utermohle, 4/09/01. [Copy on File]. Co-Chair Mulder OBJECTED for the purpose of discussing concerns previously voiced by the Committee. Representative Stevens noted that the changed language would insert the words: "not to exceed a maximum of $50 for each license holder for each year;". Representative Stevens stated that the increase would add more money into the fund than necessary, which had been addressed through the amendment. Co-Chair Mulder questioned where the excess money would go. Representative Stevens replied that the money would eventually end up in commercial fisheries. He added that the fishermen were "happy" with the proposed change. KEVIN BROOKS, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, explained that the revenue from the sale of the licenses was addressed in the language in the front of the bill, placing a deposit into the Fish and Game Fund. There is a component in that Fund which has been separated out for the commercial fisheries and it is available for appropriation for commercial fishing projects. Representative Davies asked what the fiscal impact would be. Mr. Brooks replied that without the amendment, there would be a potential increase of $116 thousand dollars, and that by FY03; it would amount to $300 thousand dollars. Co-Chair Mulder WITHDREW his OBJECTION. Representative Croft pointed out that the drafters should note that the page numbers shifted with the adoption of the current version. There being NO FURTHER OBJECTION, Amendment #1 was adopted. Representative Davies MOVED a change to Page 4, Line 9, deleting "does not exceed" and inserting language "is as close as is practical to". Co-Chair Williams OBJECTED for purposed of discussion. Representative Davies explained the bill would provide direction. He stated that it should not be equal to the maximum as the amounts vary from year to year. The proposed language would give the necessary instruction to maximize the concern. Representative Hudson suggested a "friendly" amendment, deleting the language proposed by Representative J. Davies and instead adding "is". Representative Davies explained that the other language had been chosen as a result from previous discussion requiring them to enter a maximum amount every year. Representative Hudson WITHDREW his MOTION to amend. Mr. Brooks commented that the fee had been based on the prior year's expenditures. Much of the language is to deal with the logistics of that. At the heart of the license issue, originally there was a $500 dollar spread. Historically, the charge was between $30 and $90 dollars. Now it is between $60 and $125 dollars. He pointed out that the gap is $100 dollars or less. If the Courts came back with a differential, there could be a crewmember charge of $60 dollars for a resident and $160 dollars for a non- resident. He discussed the magnitude of the differential on the low end rather than focusing on the high end. Representative Stevens referenced Page 2, Line 13, advising that the wording would need to be changed there additionally. Representative Davies MOVED the amendment to include language on both Page 2 and Page 4. Co-Chair Williams WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, the amendment was adopted. Co-Chair Mulder pointed out that there was no fiscal note from the Department of Fish and Game. Mr. Brooks indicated that it would be forth coming. Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to report CS HB 194 (FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal notes. CS HB 194 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a fiscal note by the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission and the Department of Fish and Game.