HB 140: FEES FOR NONRESIDENT KING SALMON TAG VICE CHAIRMAN HUDSON, PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 140, referred the members of the committee to the sponsor statement and sectional analysis in their packets. (A copy of the sponsor statement and sectional analysis may be found in the House Resources Committee Room, Capitol Room 124, and after the adjournment of the second session of the 18th Alaska State Legislature, in the Legislative Reference Library.) Also contained in the packets were a series of amendments offered by the ADF&G. Those amendments, he explained, had been incorporated into the bill in the Fisheries' CS. VICE CHAIR HUDSON said that in the fiscal note the increased cost to effect the bill is $10.9 thousand, while the revenues generated would be $81.6 thousand. The revenues would come from fees to non-residents, he said, and would go toward enhancing sport fishing. Number 338 VICE CHAIRMAN HUDSON also referred to a predicted sales sheet in the members' packets. (A copy of the predicted sales sheet may be found in the House Resources Committee Room, Capitol Room 124, and after the adjournment of the second session of the 18th Alaska State Legislature, in the Legislative Reference Library.) That sheet, he explained, predicted how many non-residents in 1994 would have fishing licenses for the periods of one year, 6.8 thousand; 14-days, 22.9 thousand; three-days; and one-day. It also showed estimates for military fishing licenses and sport hunting licenses and tags. VICE CHAIRMAN HUDSON commented on suggestions made by the guided charter fishing industry, in response to a $20 non- resident chinook tag fee initiated last year. That fee did not take into account the length of time the non-resident would spend fishing, so that someone off a cruise ship spending an afternoon fishing a charter would be charged the same fee as someone spending two weeks fishing every day. This was on top of the non-resident fishing license and the amount the non-resident might spend on a chartered fishing trip. It was seen as unreasonable and hence the graduated fee schedule proposed in HB 140, he explained. VICE CHAIRMAN HUDSON told the committee that the ADF&G had worked closely on the legislation, and he stressed that HB 140 carries a positive fiscal impact. He suggested it would encourage more people to fish in Alaska and generate increased tourism revenues. Number 408 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES had no problem with the concept in HB 140. He asked why the word "anadromous" had been added to the language regarding king salmon. VICE CHAIRMAN HUDSON explained that in many places where there are planted king salmon, such as Twin Lakes in Juneau, he did not want to force people to pay the fee as they would for native salmon stocks. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES asked whether the $70,000 in the fiscal note was predicated on the $5 or $10 fee. He also asked why in the Fisheries' CS, the bottom-end fee had been changed from $5 to $10. VICE CHAIRMAN HUDSON explained the fiscal note was based on a $10 fee. He said that projections showed that the $5 fee would be revenue-neutral, and so it was increased to $10 to generate revenues. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES remarked that he was not comfortable with establishing the fees in statute. He would prefer setting the graduated fee concept in statute and having the actual amount be set by the department. Number 434 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE referred to his work with the tourism industry, and noted the concerns he had about adding a $20 fee to the already high cost of a guide. He supported the bill, and MOVED to adopt CSHB 140 (FSH) and the fiscal note. CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked if there were any objections to adopting CSHB 140 (FSH). There were none and the MOTION PASSED. REPRESENTATIVE FINKELSTEIN reiterated Representative Davies' concerns about setting the fees in statute. Number 448 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE MOVED to pass CSHB 140 (FSH) and accompanying fiscal note from committee with individual recommendations. He asked unanimous consent. CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked if there were any objections. Hearing none, the MOTION PASSED. CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS referred to the next item for the committee's consideration, HCR 9.