HB 173-SPORT FISHING GUIDING SERVICES                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:05:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR THOMPSON  announced that the  only order of  business would                                                               
be HOUSE BILL  NO. 173, "An Act amending the  termination date of                                                               
the  licensing  of  sport fishing  operators  and  sport  fishing                                                               
guides; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
5:05:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOMO STEWART, Staff, Representative  Steve Thompson, Alaska State                                                               
Legislature,  introduced  HB  173  as a  one  year  extension  of                                                               
existing  statute  governing  the   licensing  of  sport  fishing                                                               
operators  and   guides,  as  well   as  the  log   book  program                                                               
established in  2004.   He pointed  out that  the bill  carries a                                                               
zero fiscal note.   The continuation will allow  an evaluation of                                                               
the program to  be completed by Alaska Department of  Fish & Game                                                               
(ADF&G).                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:08:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR THOMPSON stated his understanding  that every year this has                                                               
been requested as an extension,  and inquired into the background                                                               
of the original statute.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHARLIE  SWANTON, Director,  Division of  Sport Fish,  provided a                                                               
history  of  the  inception  and  continuous  extensions  of  the                                                               
statute.  Studies have been  completed to validate the quality of                                                               
the data gathered,  and efforts have also been  made to modernize                                                               
the  saltwater log  book system.   Streamlining  the process  has                                                               
occurred  and, will  be continued,  in an  effort to  receive the                                                               
data a timely, efficient, and accurate manner.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
5:12:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR THOMPSON  asked about the  zero fiscal note  that increases                                                               
to $400,000 in succeeding years.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SWANTON  replied  that  the  $400,000  covers  the  cost  of                                                               
supplies, staff, and programmers.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR THOMPSON closed public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:14:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN moved to report  HB 173 out of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There being no objection,  HB 173 was reported  from the                                                               
House Special Committee on Fisheries.