HB 185-REGISTRATION OF BOATS: EXEMPTION  1:04:24 PM CHAIR STUTES announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 185, "An Act relating to the registration of commercial vessels; and providing for an effective date." [Before the committee was CSHB 185(FSH).] 1:05:19 PM CHAIR STUTES [moved to adopt] Amendment 1, labeled 31- LS1250\S.2, Klein, 2/25/20, which read as follows: Page 2, following line 21: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 3. AS 16.05.475 is amended by adding new subsections to read: (e) The Alaska Commercial Fishing Entry Commission shall assess a commercial fishing vessel registration fee of $8 a year. (f) Fees collected under (e) of this section shall be separately accounted for as provided in AS 05.25.096(b)." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 2, following line 24: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 5. Section 3 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2021." Renumber the following bill section accordingly. Page 2, line 25: Delete "This" Insert "Except as provided in sec. 5 of this Act, this" 1:05:28 PM REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN objected to the motion, for the purpose of discussion. 1:05:41 PM MATT GRUENING, Staff, Representative Louise Stutes, Alaska State Legislature, presented CSHB 185(FSH) on behalf of Representative Stutes, prime sponsor. Mr. Gruening imparted that Amendment 1 would bring CSHB 185(FSH) to cost-neutral by charging an $8 fee per year in lieu of the three-year $24 fee that would have been charged at the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Under Amendment 1, he added, a Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC)-registered vessel would still be required to pay the $8 per year to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for boating safety programs and the Derelict Vessel Fund, but CFEC- registered vessels would not be required to go into the DMV or display the decal. Mr. Gruening informed the committee that Amendment 1 also included a delayed effective date for those folks who may be wondering about the current year. 1:07:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked what costs would be involved with the administration of such a minimal fee. 1:07:39 PM MR. GRUENING replied that he guessed that the cost would be part of the transfer, but that he would defer to the CFEC to determine what administrative costs, if any, would be associated. 1:08:07 PM DALE KELLEY, Commissioner, Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), said she appreciated the delayed effective date but that some vessels were already one year into the three year combined fee, so there may be some issues on the CFEC end, but the CFEC would be able to work through those issues. 1:09:20 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY said that she appreciated the continued funding for the Derelict Vessel Fund. 1:09:37 PM MR. GRUENING said that as a fisherman, he also appreciates not having to go to the DMV to fill out extra paperwork, and that the money is going toward a problem that exists statewide (derelict vessels). 1:10:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN removed his objection to the motion to adopt Amendment 1 to CSHB 185(FSH). There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 1:10:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN moved to report CSHB 185(FSH), as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 185(TRA) was reported out of the House Transportation Standing Committee.