CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 214(FIN)                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     An  Act  relating  to  hunting  licenses  and  tags  for                                                                   
     nonresident  members  of  the military  service  or  the                                                                   
     United  States Coast  Guard  and their  dependents;  and                                                                   
     providing for an effective date.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Stoltze MOVED  to ADOPT  Work Draft  25-LS1261\V,                                                                   
Kane, 4/1/08. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:49:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JODY SIMPSON,  STAFF, SENATOR CHARLIE HUGGINS,  explained the                                                                   
bill as providing newly stationed  military members and their                                                                   
dependents  with hunting  and  fishing privileges,  including                                                                   
big game  licenses and  tags, at  the equivalent of  resident                                                                   
rates.  She  described  the  requirements   in  other  states                                                                   
compared  to Alaska's.  The requirement  to hire  a guide  is                                                                   
retained  to hunt dangerous  game: brown  and grizzly  bears,                                                                   
sheep  and   mountain  goats.   The  bill  does   not  affect                                                                   
eligibility for  PFD or jury pools.  It also does  not affect                                                                   
personal  use  or  subsistence  requirements  for  the  usual                                                                   
twelve-month waiting  period. The  CS includes a  new section                                                                   
rolling in language  previously contained in  HB 62 providing                                                                   
for  free  hunting  and  fishing  licenses  for  active  duty                                                                   
members of the  Alaska National Guard and  Military Reserves.                                                                   
(Sponsor Statement, Copy on File).                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:54:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hawker asked if  the Sponsor was supportive of                                                                   
the changes reflected  in the CS. Ms. Simpson  confirmed that                                                                   
he was.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault  asked how sheep  and goats  got classified                                                                   
as dangerous animals.  Ms. Simpson replied that it  has to do                                                                   
with terrain.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Thomas related  the history  of the  bill. He                                                                   
emphasized that  it is  not a recruitment  tool. He  shared a                                                                   
personal story.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:57:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault  asked if the  license is different  than a                                                                   
regular license.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
KRISTEN  WRIGHT, FINANCE/LICENSING  SUPERVISOR,  DIVISION  OF                                                                   
ADMINISTRATIVE  SERVICES,   DEPARTMENT  OF  FISH   AND  GAME,                                                                   
described the  difference in the licenses.  Co-Chair Chenault                                                                   
asked  if there  is an  annual requirement.  Ms. Wright  said                                                                   
there was.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Joule inquired  how many  would be  receiving                                                                   
the  license.  Ms.  Wright  reported  that  there  are  4,800                                                                   
active-duty military  in Alaska, which relates  to the second                                                                   
part of  the bill. Regarding the  first part of the  bill, in                                                                   
2006, approximately  500 licenses  were sold.  Representative                                                                   
Joule  asked  if  that  number  would  increase.  Ms.  Wright                                                                   
replied that was hard to predict.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:00:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MCHUGH PIERRE,  LIAISON, DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY  AND VETERANS                                                                   
AFFAIRS, described  the bill as a tribute to  active-duty and                                                                   
Coast Guard personnel. Co-Chair Chenault agreed.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:03:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Chenault drew  attention  to the  fiscal note.  Ms.                                                                   
Wright acknowledged  that a new  fiscal note would  be needed                                                                   
for the amount  of $19,500 in replacement General  Funds with                                                                   
the acceptance of the CS.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster moved to  report HCS CSSB 214(FIN) with                                                                   
individual  recommendations   and  the  accompanying   fiscal                                                                   
notes.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HCS CSSB  214(FIN) was REPORTED  out of Committee with  a "do                                                                   
pass" recommendation  and with new fiscal note  by Department                                                                   
of Fish and Game.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:05:25 PM