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."                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
11:31:13 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STEVE  THOMPSON introduced  the bill  and his                                                                    
staff.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
JOMO STEWART, STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON, described the                                                                    
bill.  He  explained  that  HB   173  provided  a  one  year                                                                    
extension to an existing  program. The sport fisheries guide                                                                    
and  operators licensing  and logbook  program. The  program                                                                    
provided benefits  to both the  state and the  industry. The                                                                    
program  provides  valuable  economic   data  on  the  sport                                                                    
fishing industry  and critical harvest data  to the resource                                                                    
managers. The program provides  the industry recognition and                                                                    
professionalism. The  program was  in operation  since 2005.                                                                    
He noted that  the Department of Fish and  Game supported HB                                                                    
173.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  pointed  out  one fiscal  note  from  the                                                                    
Department of  Fish and Game  for $400 thousand  to continue                                                                    
the program.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman  MOVED to  report HB  173 out  of committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
note(s). There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
HB  173 was  REPORTED  out  of committee  with  a "do  pass"                                                                    
recommendation  and  with  one previously  published  fiscal                                                                    
note: FN2 (ADF&G).                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
11:33:35 AM                                                                                                                   
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
11:35:01 AM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED