HOUSE BILL NO. 207 "An Act increasing the allowances for injury, disability, or heart attack payable from the fisherman's fund; and providing for an effective date." 5:22:07 PM Co-Chair Hawker solicited any discussion requests from committee members. None being offered, he discussed the order of business. 5:24:07 PM JOHN BITNEY, DIRECTOR, LEGISLATIVE OFFICE, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR provided a brief summary of the bill. The fisherman's fund is in effect a workers compensation fund for commercial fishermen. It is financed by fees applied to required commercial fishing licenses and permits. Since 1959, the amount that can be claimed for injuries has been capped at $2,500. Given the rise in medical costs since 1959, the bill would increase the claim cap to $10,000. Mr. Bitney pointed out that currently, claims exceeding $2,500 must be taken before a review board for validation of possible compensation. 5:27:54 PM Mr. Bitney felt that by increasing the compensation cap the need for fishermen to stand before the review board would be eliminated in most cases. This would simplify the process for fishermen attempting to receive compensation for medical costs due to a work related injury. JAKE HAMBURG, STAFF TO SENATOR PASKVAN, stated that Senator Paskvan supports the bill for a number of reasons. There are 135 commercial fishing permit holders in the Fairbanks North Star borough. He added that commercial fishermen from the district brought in 1.2 million pounds of caught fish in 2008 and that commercial fishing impacts the cost of numerous things around the state. 5:31:17 PM Co-Chair Hawker asked how the fisherman's fund is financed. Mr. Bitney replied that surcharges and fees from required crew licenses and permits finance the fund. Co-Chair Hawker wondered if the cost of the permits and licenses would need to be raised in order to counterweigh a raise in the compensation cap. Mr. Bitney replied that in recent years more has been paid into the fund than has been paid out. The fund has been maintaining itself well and currently holds $11,592,000. 5:33:32 PM Co-Chair Hawker opened public testimony. There being none, public testimony was closed. 5:34:23 PM Representative Foster MOVED to REPORT HB 207 out of committee with the attached fiscal notes. Vice-Chair Thomas OBJECTED. He wondered if he had a vote in committee as a commercial fisherman. Co-Chair Hawker informed the committee that the legislative legal ruling states that the conflict of interest rules do not apply in committee. 5:36:00 PM Vice-Chair Thomas commented that the fund has existed since 1951. He shared that required health insurance for deckhands has forced him to hire only Alaska Native deckhands because they receive public health services. He said insurance for non-Native deckhands can cost up to $3,000 per year. HB 207 was REPORTED out of committee with recommendations of individual members and attached fiscal note. 5:37:56 PM