HB 203-TRANSPORTATION OF LIVE CRAB  11:08:55 AM CHAIR STUTES announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 203, "An Act relating to transportation of live crab." CHAIR STUTES noted that the committee had received word from the Environmental Health Division, within the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), stating that the division has no issue with the proposed legislation. She further noted that an amendment to HB 203 was in the committee packet. 11:09:42 AM REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor of HB 203, expressed gratitude for the amendment before the committee, Amendment 1, which was borne out of public feedback. He remarked that it is nice to carry a bill that is "virtually noncontroversial and broadly supported across the state from every industry." He said he thinks the proposed legislation would result in value added regarding the shipping of crab. 11:10:29 AM CHAIR STUTES opened public testimony on HB 203. After ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, she closed public testimony. 11:10:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 31- LS1405\M.3, Klein, 1/31/20, which read as follows: Page 1, lines 6 - 10: Delete all material and insert: "taken live [KING] crab, unless the crab have  been landed in a port in the state and recorded on a  fish ticket form prescribed by the department [SPECIES PARALITHODES CAMTSCHATICA, LIVE DUNGENESS CRAB, SPECIES CANCER MAGISTER, OR LIVE TANNER CRAB, SPECIES CHIONOECETES BAIRDI, EXCEPT THAT ALL OF THESE SPECIES MAY BE SHIPPED LIVE VIA AIR FREIGHT AFTER PRE- PACKAGING]." Page 1, lines 11 - 12: Delete "Dungeness crab, species Cancer magister," Insert "[DUNGENESS] crab [, SPECIES CANCER MAGISTER,]" Page 1, line 15: Delete "Dungeness" Insert "[DUNGENESS]" REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON explained that Amendment 1 would add more specific information on species. He deferred to the bill sponsor to provide further information. 11:11:24 AM CHAIR STUTES objected to the motion to adopt Amendment 1, for purposes of discussion. 11:11:37 AM REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP noted concerns expressed by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) regarding language potentially becoming misconstrued. He said the department initially recommended repealing the entire statute; however, he recommended listing the scientific names of three species "and what used to be exempt" for the purpose of preserving the ability of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to do paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) testing. 11:12:28 AM INTIMAYO HARBISON, Staff, Representative Gary Knopp, Alaska State Legislature, related that Amendment 1 would remove restriction on all crab species for the purpose of testing as well as expansion of future industry. 11:13:00 AM CHAIR STUTES removed her objection. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 11:13:19 AM The committee took a brief at-ease at 11:13 a.m. 11:13:54 AM REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved to report HB 203, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 203(FSH) was reported out of the House Special Committee on Fisheries.