CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 137(FIN) am "An Act raising certain fees related to sport fishing, hunting, and trapping; relating to the fish and game fund; providing for the repeal of the sport fishing surcharge and sport fishing facility revenue bonds; replacing the permanent sport fishing, hunting, or trapping identification card for certain residents with an identification card valid for three years; relating to hunting and fishing by proxy; relating to fish and game conservation decals; raising the age of eligibility for a sport fishing, hunting, or trapping license exemption for state residents; raising the age at which a state resident is required to obtain a license for sport fishing, hunting, or trapping; and providing for an effective date." 9:12:48 AM AL BARRETTE, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified in opposition to the bill, until the issue of the low income licensed was addressed. He felt that those that were low income could handle an increase in their license fees. He spoke out in opposition to the Chitina dip netting fee, and felt he did not need to pay the fee because he paid taxes that were used for road maintenance. He felt that subsistence fishermen should be required to have a fishing license. He thought that the language, "immediately upon capture", on Page 5, line 17, should be changed to, "before leaving the kill site". 9:16:35 AM EDDIE GRASSER, SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL, ALASKA CHAPTER, JUNEAU, shared that many groups had recently come together to support the increase in licensing fees, among them Territorial Sportsman, Alaska Professional Hunters Association, Alaska Outdoor Council, and Safari Club International Chapter. He spoke in support of the licensing fees, and felt that the money should be spent to benefit those that were paying the fees. He shared that sportsmen, hunters, and anglers paid for the majority of the conservation efforts in the state. He hoped that the legislation would provide the department the resources to manage the wildlife in the state, and counteract federal overreach. 9:19:03 AM Senator Dunleavy asked whether the group had problems with aspects of the bill other than what Mr. Grasser had mentioned. Mr. Grasser replied that Safari Club International Alaska Chapter supported the legislation as it was written, but recognized that there were questions about some language added in Senate Resources Committee; particularly the Sockeye salmon stamp, which he understood had not been supported by the sport fishing community. 9:19:56 AM Senator Olson requested that Mr. Grasser speak to the previous testifiers suggested language change on Page 5, line 17. Mr. Grasser responded that his organization agreed with the suggested language change. He noted that "punching a tag" immediately upon capture was not practical in some situations. Co-Chair MacKinnon welcomed Senator Bishop to the table. 9:21:26 AM ROD ARNO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA OUTDOOR COUNCIL, JUNEAU, testified that the most pressing issue concerning the bill was related to game. He noted that due to the massive sale of firearms in the country there was plenty of money available to the state for wildlife restoration through the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. He lamented that federal land managers were moving to mandate a restriction of predator/prey management, which created conflict on state lands to provide a harvestable surplus. 9:23:06 AM Senator Dunleavy asked whether the organization had any concerns with the legislation. Mr. Arno replied in the affirmative, and related the concerns voiced by the previous testifier about the changes made to the bill in Senate Resources Committee; specifically, the Sockeye salmon stamp. He argued that the public should not be burdened to provide the funds to restore and already abundant population. 9:24:11 AM RON SOMERVILLE, TERRITORIAL SPORTSMEN, JUNEAU, referred to two documents, "Hunting/Sport Fishing License Increase Compromise Proposal, Updated 4/12/16" and "Wildlife Restoration - PR Funds for Alaska FY02-FY15 (Projected for FY 16-FY 17)" (copies on file). He related that there was approximately $10 million of available federal dollars that the state was not able to obligate because it did not have the matching funds. He said that the state had the potential of reverting $2 million federal dollars in FY17, and $6 million in FY18, if DF&G funds did not increase. He relayed that wildlife populations in the state were not intensely managed, but were selectively managed in areas where those involved felt would be most successful. He said that those management efforts had resulted in more moose and caribou available for the hunt. He reiterated the idea of increasing fees for low income Alaskans. He emphasized the importance of DF&G money to the continuation of the sport fish and wildlife programs. He opined that federal aid money could not be used in intensive management programs, which required the use of General Fund dollars or DF&G funds. He stressed that if the DF&Gs contribution did not increase the state would be forced to cut back on the intensive management program. 9:27:55 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon directed committee attention to the document, "Hunting/Sport Fishing License Increase Compromise Proposal", and asked whether the testifier agreed with column D. Mr. Somerville replied in the affirmative. He said that the column contained the compromise position that had been crafted by the four groups mentioned by Mr. Grasser. 9:28:29 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon shared that the documents could be located on BASIS. 9:29:30 AM THOR STACEY, ALASKA PROFESSIONAL HUNTERS, JUNEAU, testified in strong support of the legislation. He said that hunting guides recognized that the resource was owned by the general public, and that it was a privilege for their businesses to have access and to profit commercially from the population. He stated that the bill listed substantial increases for non-resident hunter's licenses and tags, which would come out of the bottom line of members businesses and were appropriate and within a fair market value for the resource. He expressed the concern for the potential reverting of federal funds. He envisioned that the money could be spent by the department to support the public process, which he believed was an important and well-intended commitment by the department. He said that the intensive management surcharge benefitted the state because it assured that intensive management was a priority to the department, regardless of politics. He believed that the fees contributed to a strong and robust department that would be able to resist federal overreach and encroachment, and would result in data driven decisions in court. He shared that his organization was constantly fighting against federal permitting on federal lands, which was one of the core missions of his group in order to maintain access to Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge and park preserves. He believed that the bill would help to provide state sovereignty. 9:33:09 AM CHARLES DERRICK, THE CHITINA DIPNETTERS ASSOCIATION, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified that the association had wanted money from the $15 fee earmarked for garbage and toilet services, as well as Department of Transportation road maintenance from Chitina to Haley Creek. He said that while the annual cost for toilet and garbage contract should have remained steady, the amount needed annually for the road maintenance between O'Brien Creek and Haley Creek could vary depending on new landslides or terrain. He stated that for these reason CDA wanted the Chitina permit fee money placed into a special account with in DF&G, where money left over from one year to fulfill the three services could accumulate and be used in subsequent years. He expressed appreciation that the language in the bill had been tightened up, but requested that the special account be set up in the department for the Chitina dip net fee money. 9:34:35 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon shared that the garbage problem was being discussed. Mr. Derrick stated that the Chitina dip net fee was its own dip net permit and was separate from the Southcentral dip net permit. 9:35:37 AM Vice-Chair Micciche wondered whether the Chitina dip net permit was indicated by a stamp on the license. Mr. Derrick replied that the permit would be physically handed to the person who paid the $15 fee. 9:37:00 AM MATT ROBUS, SELF, JUNEAU, emphasized the importance of raising fees in order to bring in money to allow the department to retrieve all of the sportsman money that was held and passed through the federal government. He stated that the Pittman-Robertson funds were used to perform "bread and butter" wildlife management, every day of the year, and that the fees had not been increased in over 20 years. He noted that the intensive management that was required by state law, coupled with diminishing General Funds, highlighted the departments need for the federal funds. He pointed out to the committee that under the current version of the bill the combination hunting and fishing license would cost more than buying the two licenses separately. He did not suggest a decrease in the price of the combination license, but advocated for coalition level pricing. 9:39:37 AM Senator Olson remarked that there had not been an increase in fees for 23 years, and wondered why the department had not pushed for a fee increase earlier. Mr. Robus replied that he could not speak for the department because he did not work at the department, but he indicated that the department supported the fee increases. 9:40:11 AM Senator Olson noted that Mr. Robus had worked for the department for 13 years. Mr. Robus responded that he was with the department for 27 years. Senator Olson asked why Mr. Robus had not advocated for an increase before he retired. Mr. Robus replied that the reversion of federal funds had sparked the interest in the fee increase, which had not been an issue when he was employed with the department. 9:41:10 AM Senator Dunleavy felt that the Pittman-Robertson funding had increased under the Obama Administration and had contributed to the need for the fee increase. 9:41:53 AM DOUG VINCENT-LANG, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support of the legislation. He felt that the increased fees were necessary in order to match the Pittman-Robertson. He suggested that the language that had been added in the previous committee, related to the intensive management surcharge as a dedicated fund, should be retained. He felt that the commitment to phase out the hatchery surcharge should be honored. Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony. 9:44:11 AM REPRESENTATIVE DAVE TALERICO, SPONSOR, introduced the legislation. He relayed that the inspiration for the bill had been to raise certain fees related to sport fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses, a large portion of which was non-resident big game tax. He noted that the state was facing a financial crisis and that the bill could maintain the opportunity for people to fish and hunt in the state. He said that as funding disappeared, the department would be required to manage more conservatively, which would cut into hunting and fishing seasons for Alaskans. He spoke to the low income license, which had been set using the poverty guideline of $8,200 per year. He believed that the number needed to be adjusted for inflation. He noted that the poverty guideline contained a loophole which allowed those receiving any type of public assistance to purchase a license at the low income rate, and offered an anecdote related to misuse of the rate. He noted that he had paid $49 for his current license, which would cost $121, were it adjusted for inflation. He said that Alaska had rates higher than tag fees in other states. 9:49:02 AM Senator Olson wondered whether the sponsor supported the amendments made to the bill by the previous committee. Representative Talerico expressed concern regarding the affordability of the fees. He said that the addition of the intense management fee should be halved for residents, or that a savings should be built into the resident's license fee. 9:49:48 AM Senator Olson noted the fee schedule on Page 5 of the bill. He queried why the fee for wolf hunting had not been adjusted to reflect the intense management fee. Representative Talerico said that he supported intensive management. He asserted that he had wanted the fees to remain reasonable. 9:50:45 AM Senator Olson noted that the fee for wolverines was $350, while the fee for wolves was only $30. Representative Talerico responded that hunting wolves was less of a challenge that pursuing wolverine. 9:51:28 AM Senator Olson shared that he was a pilot for resident and non-resident hunters. He turned to Page 4, which spoke to tagging the animal immediately upon capture. He found that the requirement was cumbersome, particularly when it became time to haul the meat, which was easier if the carcass was dismembered. He wondered why the requirement had been added to the bill. Representative Talerico said that he was unaware of the suggestion to tag upon capture. He believed that the language suggested by Mr. Barrette would be more appropriate. 9:52:28 AM JOSHUA BANKS, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE DAVE TALERICO, discussed the Sectional Analysis (copy on file): Sec. 1 - AS 16.05.130  Creates a new subsection that creates the sustainable wildlife account as a subaccount in the fish and game fund to deposit money obtained through the intensive management surcharge. Requires this fund to be used for intensive management programs under AS 16.05.255(e). Sec. 2 - AS 16.05.251(a)  Amends this section to conform to Section 25 (raising resident license requirement age to 18 and the exemption age to 65) of this bill. Sec. 3 - AS 16.05.340(a)(1)  Amends this section to raise the resident sport fishing license fee from $15 to $20 and raises the fee for residents who are blind from $0.25 to $0.50. Sec. 4 - AS 16.05.340(a)(2)  Amends this section to raise the resident hunting license fee from $25 to $35. Sec. 5 - AS 16.05.340(a)(3)  Amends this section to raise the fee for a resident hunting and trapping combination license from $39 to $60. Sec. 6 - AS 16.05.340(a)(4)  Amends this section to raise the resident trapping license fee from $15 to $25. Sec. 7 - AS 16.05.340(a)(5)  Amends this section to raise the fee for a resident hunting and sport fishing combination license from $39 to $60. Sec. 8 - AS 16.05.340(a)(6)  Makes multiple amendments to this section including raising the fee for a resident hunting, trapping, and sport fishing combination license from $53 to $80. Changes low-income license eligibility so that a person receiving federal or state welfare assistance is not eligible unless they meet the income requirement. Also sets the maximum annual family gross income to match the federal poverty level for the individual's household size in Alaska. Sec. 9 - AS 16.05.340(a)(7)  Amends this section to raise the four nonresident sport fishing license fees. 14-day license from $50 to $75 Seven-day license from $30 to $45 Three-day license is raised from $20 to $30 One-day license from $10 to $15 Sec. 10 - AS 16.05.340(a)(8)  Amends this section to raise the annual nonresident sport fishing license fee from $100 to $150. Sec. 11 - AS 16.05.340(a)(9)  Amends this section to raise the nonresident hunting license fee from $85 to $130. Sec. 12 - AS 16.05.340(a)(11)  Amends this section to raise the nonresident hunting and trapping combination license fee from $250 to $375. Sec. 13 - AS 16.05.340(a)(15)  Amends this section to raise the following nonresident big game tag fees. Black bear from $225 to $450 Brown or grizzly bear from $500 to $1,000 Bison from $450 to $900 Caribou from $325 to $650 Deer from $150 to $300 Elk and goat from $300 to $600 Moose from $400 to $800 Sheep from $425 to $850 Wolverine from $175 to $350 Musk oxen from $1,100 to $2,200 This section also amends a citation to AS 16.05.255 to more specifically point to subsection (e) of this section. Sec. 14 - AS 16.05.340(a)(17)  Makes multiple amendments to this section by raising the exemption age for a resident engaging in waterfowl hunting without a waterfowl tag from 16 to 18 and from 60 to 65. This section also raises the waterfowl conservation tag from $5 to $10.   Sec. 15 - AS 16.05.340(a)(19)  Amends this section to increase the small game hunting license fee from $20 to $30. Sec. 16 - AS 16.05.340(a)(20)  Amends this section to increase the nonresident alien hunting license fee from $300 to $600. Sec. 17 - AS 16.05.340(a)(21)  Amends this section to raise the following nonresident alien big game tag fees. Black bear from $300 to $600 Brown or grizzly bear and bison from $650 to $1,300 Caribou from $425 to $850 Deer from $200 to $400 Elk and goat from $400 to $800 Moose from $500 to $1,000 Musk oxen from $1,500 to $3,000 Sheep from $550 to $1,100 Wolverine from $250 to $500 This section also amends a citation to AS 16.05.255 to more specifically point to subsection (e) of this section. Sec. 18 - AS 16.05.340(a)(22)  Amends this section to reinstate a $15 Chitina dip net fishing permit fee. Sec. 19 - AS 16.05.340(a)(23)  Amends this section to raise the resident anadromous king salmon tag from $10 to $15. This section is also amended to conform to Sections 3 (raising resident blind fee) and 25 (raising resident license requirement age to 18 and the exemption age to 65) of this bill.   Sec. 20 - AS 16.05.340(a)(24)  Amends this section to raise all six nonresident anadromous king salmon tag fees. One-day tag from $10 to $15 Three-day tag from $20 to $30 Seven-day tag from $30 to $45 14-day tag from $50 to $75 Annual tag from $100 to $150 Annual nonresident military tag from $20 to $30 Sec. 21 - AS 16.05.340(a)  Creates new sections to establish fees for an anadromous sockeye salmon tag for the Kenai and Kasilof rivers' watersheds. Section (a)(27) creates a resident tag fee of $15 and exempts a person who is blind, under the age of 18, a resident 65 years or older, a disabled veteran, or qualifies for the low- income license from being required to have a tag. Section (a)(28) creates nonresident anadromous sockeye salmon tags and exempts a person under the age of 16 from being required to have a tag. One-day tag is $15 Three-day tag is $30 Seven-day tag is $45 14-day tag is $75 Annual tag is $150 Annual nonresident military tag is $30 Sec. 22 - AS 16.05.340(i)  Amends this section to delete a reference relating to the hatchery surcharge that will go into effect under Section 35 when the hatchery bonds are paid in full. Sec. 23 - AS 16.05.340  Creates a new section to establish the intensive management surcharge that must be paid in addition to each fee for a hunting license. The fee for a resident is $10 and the fee for a nonresident is $30. This section also creates an exemption for a person eligible for a low-income license from being required to pay the surcharge. Sec. 24 - AS 16.05.352  Adds a new section that creates an annual voluntary fish and game conservation decal that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) will produce and make available to the public. This section also directs the Department to provide for the selection of design for the conservation decals and that the commissioner may produce the quantity of decals considered appropriate. The fee for this decal is $20 per person and the Legislature may appropriate these funds to fish and wildlife conservation programs. Sec. 25 - AS 16.05.400  Amends this section to raise the age required for a resident to have a sport fishing, hunting, or trapping license from 16 to 18. Provisions in this section regarding nonresidents are not amended. Also amends this section to raise the age from 60 to 65 for a resident to obtain an exemption from paying a fee for a sport fishing, hunting, or trapping license. Creates a requirement that residents that obtain this exemption must renew it every three years. Sec. 26-30 - AS 16.05.403-16.05.415  Makes amendments to AS 16.05.403, 16.05.405, and 16.05.415 to conform with the change made in Section 25 regarding the license exemption for residents over the age of 65. Sections 27 and 28 amend the fishing and hunting by proxy statute by allowing a resident to hunt or sport fish on behalf of a person with a developmental disability. Sec. 31 - AS 16.10.570  Amends this section by amending the title and add new requirements under this section. ADF&G with the Department of Transportation and the Department Natural Resources will need to maintain and improve state-owned land used to access the Chitina dip net fishery and maintain and operate sanitary facilities for people using the dip net fishery. Sec. 32 - Repealed Statute  Repeals the two sections regarding the intensive management surcharge in AS 16.05.130(g) (Section 1) and 16.05.340(k) (Section 23) after the sunset date set in Section 37. Sec. 33 - Repealed Statute Repeals sections in statute relating to the fish hatchery bonds under AS 16.05.100(2), 16.05.130(e), 16.05.130(f), 16.05.340(j), and AS 37.15.765 - 37.15.799. Sec. 34 - Uncodified Law  Adds a new section to the uncodified law of Alaska to ensure that residents that are eligible for a sport fishing, hunting, or trapping license exemption under AS 16.05.400(b) before the effective date of this bill will continue to be eligible for the exemption. This section also requires residents currently eligible for this identification card to renew the card by January 1, 2020, and that ADF&G must notify a current holder of the card that they must renew the card. Sec. 35 - Uncodified Law and Conditional Effect  Adds a new section requiring the commissioner of fish and game to notify the revisor of statutes when all costs associated with the fish hatchery bonds issued under AS 37.15.765 - 37.15.799 are paid and all obligations are fully met and discharged. This section also establishes that Sections 22 and 33 will only go into effect if the notice is given to the revisor of statutes. Sec. 36 - Effective Date Adds a new section stating that the effective date for Sections 22 and 33 will be January 1 of the calendar year following the year of notice under Sec. 35 of this bill. Sec. 37 - Sunset Date  Creates a sunset date of December 31, 2022 for the intensive management surcharge language in Sections 1 and 23. Sec. 38 - Effective Date  Creates an effective date for the bill, except as provided in Sections 36 and 37, to be January 1, 2017. 10:00:31 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon expressed concern with certain areas of the bill. She relayed that amendments would be due by noon the following day. She said that the combination fishing license fee needed to be resolved, as well as the Sockeye salmon stamp. She added that the committee would also discuss the kill site tagging issue and the Chitina dip netting matter. 10:01:16 AM Senator Hoffman wondered why seniors were required to renew their licenses every 3 years. Representative Talerico responded that people were moving out of state after they retired, while keeping ahold of their permanent licenses. He said that people who were no longer residents were using these licenses on a regular basis, the renewal would put a stop to that misuse. 10:01:57 AM Senator Olson asked what the current law allowed. Representative Talerico replied that the current law allowed for a permanent license to be issued after the age of 60. 10:02:09 AM Senator Hoffman said that, under current law, if the senior could not prove residency the license would be void. Representative Talerico responded that once the license had been established as a permanent license, whether or not the person lives in the state, as long as they had the physical license it would be identified as a permanent license. 10:03:03 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon asked whether grandfather language existed in the bill to protect the licenses that had already been issued. She queried how the seniors would be informed of the 3 year update requirement and whether their license needed and update. Representative Talerico assumed that already established licenses would be grandfathered in, but he believed that a new license would need to be created that would require a renewal; he believed that the permanent licenses that had been issued did not have an expiration date. He lamented that he was not exactly sure how the issue would be handled. 10:03:48 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon asserted that the committee would craft language that resolved the issue. 10:04:22 AM Senator Hoffman wondered how the transition from the 60 year age limit, to the 65 year age limit, would be handled. Representative Talerico said that everyone that had already received the license would be grandfathered in, and on the effective date the 65 year age limit would be employed. 10:05:29 AM Vice-Chair Micciche queried the terminology of the word "capture" in the language of the bill. Senator Olson believed that "capture' was a federal term for killing an animal while hunting. 10:06:08 AM Co-Chair Kelly asked whether schedules could be provided that detailed the variety and costs of commercial fishing permits. Representative Talerico replied that he had not looked into commercial fishing permits. 10:06:32 AM Co-Chair Kelly requested the information before noon that day. 10:06:41 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon restated that the committee would objectively examine the issue and would remain neutral on the "fish wars". 10:07:03 AM Co-Chair Kelly interjected that when sport fishing rates were substantially raised, and commercial fishing rates were not, neutrality on the issue was questionable. Co-Chair MacKinnon appreciated the conversation. She understood that the issue was a sensitive one, and that the committee would work toward parity moving forward. 10:07:47 AM Co-Chair Kelly suggested that the bill should strictly pertain to game hunting, in order to avoid the fish wars. 10:08:07 AM Senator Bishop requested a meeting with the sponsor to discuss the wolf tag fee for non-residents. 10:08:45 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon wanted to understand the considerations that resulted in the amendments from the prior committee. 10:09:07 AM Vice-Chair Micciche explained that there had been excitement surrounding the groups that had come together in agreement over the fees. He believed that more work needed to be done on the fish related issues. He relayed that the working groups had largely worked on the game issues. He hoped that work could be done with a fisheries working group to arrive at a similar level of agreement. 10:09:50 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that the spreadsheet outlined a reduction in sports residency increases, a reduction in musk oxen take, and an increase in the intensive management surcharge. Representative Talerico replied that he had not been a large supporter on intensive management. He understood why it had been added to the bill, but thought that the figure was high for his residents. He stated that he would prefer that the figure be cut in half for residents, or that the resident hunting license fee be lowered. 10:11:03 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon spoke of raising the age from 16, to 18, from current statute. She understood that non-resident hunters were being treated differently on the age requirement than residents. She wondered whether this could present an equal rights issue. Representative Talerico responded that he could not speak to the issue. 10:11:36 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon looked at Page 2, lines 19 and 20: (B) residents under 18 years of age and nonresidents [PERSONS] under 16 years of age to participate in sport fishing; Vice-Chair Micciche explained that there had been a lot of changes made, and referred to the summary of changes in member files (copy on file). Co-Chair MacKinnon explained that she wanted members to have as much information as possible, concerning why the prior committee made the changes, when crafting amendments to the legislation. Vice-Chair Micciche noted the legal services memorandum on the Carlson case (copy on file). He did not believe that the memo dealt with the differences between resident and non-resident fees. Co-Chair MacKinnon solicited further concerns from the committee. She added that her staff would work with the sponsor to craft a workable bill for all sides involved in the use of the resource. 10:14:55 AM Senator Olson wondered whether there could be a consideration made for someone for an elder by proxy. 10:16:08 AM BRUCE DALE, DIRECTOR, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME (via teleconference), explained that current statute provided for proxy hunting for anyone 65 years of age or older. 10:16:38 AM TOM BROOKOVER, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF SPORT FISH, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME (via teleconference), was available for questions. 10:16:54 AM BERNARD CHASTAIN, MAJOR, ALASKA WILDLIFE TROOPERS, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), was available to answer enforcement related questions. 10:17:13 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that there was not a representative from the Department of Law present. Mr. Brooks offered to expound upon several issues raised by the committee. He spoke to the prior committee's addition of the Chitina dip net permit language. He said that there would be a charge for the documents, which were currently free, and that they would be accounted for autonomously in the Fish and Game fund. He suggested a future conversation related to how much money was generated by the fees, how the expenditures occurred; all of the funding that went into the Fish and Game fund was subject to appropriation by the legislature, and he believed that there was a process in place to track for Chitina dip net permits, Sockeye salmon stamps, or anything that the legislature moved forward. He said that the fund was dedicated and that the dip netting fee would be separately accounted for in a sub- account of the fund. 10:18:27 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon corrected that the fund was "designated", and not "dedicated". Mr. Brooks rebutted that the Fish and Game fund had been established at the beginning of statehood, was required for the federal match, and was appropriately termed "dedicated". 10:19:01 AM Vice-Chair Micciche asked whether the department had accounted for families consolidating payments for dip netting fees. Mr. Brooks replied that the criteria for "a household" would apply to families. He estimated that there was approximately 12,000 people that fell under the criteria. He said that the numbers had not been refined in anticipation of how people might attempt to consolidate their fees. CSHB 137(FIN)am was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration.