SB 214-HUNTING BY MILITARY,COAST GD., DEPENDENTS 1:03:17 PM CHAIR ROSES announced that the first order of business would be 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." 1:04:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved that the committee adopt House Committee Substitute (HCS) for CSSB 214, Version 25-LS1261\O, Kane, 3/27/08, as the working document. There being no objection, Version O was before the committee. 1:04:20 PM JODY SIMPSON, Staff to Senator Charlie Huggins, Alaska State Legislature, explained that Version O of the bill meets the sponsor's goal of providing a benefit to military members and their dependents, as a token of gratitude for their service, by allowing newly stationed personnel hunting and fishing privileges immediately upon report date. The bill benefits active duty military and U. S. Coast Guard members and their dependents by waiving the 12 month residency requirement for fish and game licenses. 1:05:13 PM MS. SIMPSON continued to say that 45 states offer resident license rates for active military members without regard to actual residency status. Eight of those states, including Alaska, require personnel to be stationed in the state for a specific length of time. Alaska's period for residency is 12 months and is by far the longest residency requirement to qualify for hunting licenses and tags. Senate Bill 214 waives that residency requirement. The bill will also allow military members stationed in Alaska to apply for special licenses at the residential rate for small game hunting and sport fishing; however, this provision does not extend to big game licenses and tags. Currently, military members are required to purchase big game licenses at the non-resident rate and tags at one-half of the non-resident rate. The bill will allow military members to purchase big game licenses and tags, at the resident rate, without removing the guiding component that requires a newly arrived hunter to be accompanied by a guide when hunting brown bear, sheep, and mountain goat. The tags are required to allow enforcement of this regulation. Ms. Simpson informed the committee that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game is in support of the bill, although the fiscal impact to the ADF&G is $40,000. Furthermore, the proposed changes do not affect eligibility for Permanent Fund Dividend checks, jury pools, or subsistence opportunities. She noted that the Version O addressed the objections of the Alaska Professional Hunters Association to the original bill. 1:09:39 PM CHAIR ROSES closed public testimony. 1:09:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX referred to page 1, line 7, and asked for the meaning of "permanently stationed." MS. SIMPSON explained that, members of the military have a permanent change of station, even though they temporarily move around. 1:10:48 PM CHAIR ROSES added that permanent change of station (PCS) is a military term of art as opposed to temporary term of duty (TDY). 1:11:05 PM REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX observed that members of the Coast Guard are stationed for three years in a home place of duty. 1:11:27 PM MS. SIMPSON expressed her understanding that military members have a home of record, but may be permanently stationed in Alaska for the term of their duty. 1:11:54 PM KRISTIN WRIGHT, Licensing Supervisor, Fish & Game Licensing, Division of Administrative Services, Department of Fish & Game, explained that the military are usually permanently stationed in Alaska for three years. 1:12:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved to report HCS CSSB 214, Version 25-LS1261\O, Kane, 3/27/08, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HCS CSSB 214(MLV) was reported out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. 1:13:20 PM