SENATE BILL NO. 3 "An Act authorizing an Alaska regional development organization to use the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission as an informational resource." TIM BENINTENDI, STAFF, SENATOR DON OLSON, explained that the bill provides a benefit to the state's economic development organizations, Alaska Regional Development Organizations (ARDOR's), by allowing them to obtain public information from the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) without charge. The bill would provide only public information; no confidential information would be made available, and no custom research would be authorized. The information would especially benefit the eight ARDOR's which have commercial fishing as a significant portion of their economies, and would help them anticipate regional economic trends and development opportunities. Mr. Benintendi related that AS 37.10.052 says that resource agencies shall charge for services and AS 16.43.100 (16) says the CFEC shall establish reasonable user fees for services. Thus, the provisions of SB 3 must be done by statute instead of regulation. The CFEC supports the bill, and feels the loss of fees would be negligible at less than $10,000 per year. The bill carries two zero fiscal notes. Co-Chair Stoltze expressed his continuing effort to reach out to the commercial fishing industry. 2:18:41 PM FRANK HOMAN, COMMISSIONER, COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ENTRY COMMISSION, indicated full support of the bill in order to help regional economic development. The ARDOR's are funded by the state, plus donations and grants. He termed it a worthy effort. 2:19:51 PM Representative Crawford expressed his confusion in understanding the actual effect of the bill. Mr. Benintendi replied that the main thrust was to benefit the ARDOR's as their budgets were usually low. The ARDOR's could get this public information for free, but they would not have access to confidential information. Representative Crawford asked for an example of what sort of information would be advantageous. Mr. Homan remarked that the ARDOR's were regional developments and their regions may or may not conform to the way data is presented. ARDOR's have unique boundaries and the information must be tailored to fit their requests. Co-Chair Stoltze interjected that this information aids in grant requests. Mr. Homan agreed. 2:23:05 PM Representative Crawford asked why the ARDOR's would want to know these things. Mr. Homan explained that the ARDOR's use economic information to promote their area and secure grant funds from the state or federal government. Co-Chair Stoltze reiterated that many of these ARDOR's are in some of the most depressed areas of the state. Representative Austerman asserted that the ARDOR's don't benefit the commercial fishermen. Mr. Homan noted that the ARDOR's had sympathy for the fishermen. 2:25:19 PM Vice-Chair Thomas asked how the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) is funded. Mr. Homan explained that CFEC was funded entirely by permit license renewal and vessel licensing. There is no general fund money at this time. Vice-Chair Thomas emphasized that a large amount of money was put into vessel licensing and into the Department of Fish and Game fund. Mr. Homan agreed that CFEC funds itself as well as a portion of the Commercial Fisheries Division. 2:26:42 PM Co-Chair Stoltze noted that the two fiscal notes had been discussed. Co-Chair Hawker MOVED to report SB 3 out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. SB 3 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with zero fiscal note #1 by the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development and zero fiscal note #2 by the Department of Fish and Game.