SENATE BILL NO. 150                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act repealing the termination date for the                                                                             
     intensive management hunting license surcharge."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:46:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR JOSH REVAK, SPONSOR, explained the legislation.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:47:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DUSTIN  ELSBERRY, INTERN,  SENATOR JOSH  REVAK, stated  that                                                                    
the  title summed  up  the  bill. He  stressed  that it  was                                                                    
important  to  protect  hunting   and  wildlife  for  future                                                                    
generations.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:50:01 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von  Imhof stressed that  the bill was  simple, and                                                                    
the purpose was to allow  for the continuation of collection                                                                    
of fees to expand the impact and leverage the funds.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Revak agreed.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  von  Imhof  surmised that  the  hunting  community                                                                    
would continue to pay the fees and did not want a sunset.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Revak replied in the affirmative.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman  wondered how  the funds  initially benefits                                                                    
the resource.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Revak  replied that there  was some data  to support                                                                    
the resource.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:52:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RON  SOMERVILLE, TERRITORIAL  SPORTSMEN INC.,  JUNEAU, spoke                                                                    
in support of the legislation.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:57:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski  wondered whether this was  a dedicated                                                                    
or designated fund.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Somerville replied that it was a dedicated fund.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Revak  stressed that the commissioner  of Department                                                                    
of Fish and Game (DFG) was available for questions.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:58:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DOUG  VINCENT-LANG,  COMMISSIONER,  DEPARTMENT OF  FISH  AND                                                                    
GAME,  stated  that it  had  benefitted  hunting across  the                                                                    
state.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Hoffman  stressed  that  intensive  management  was                                                                    
extremely important to protect the resource.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:03:38 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bishop  queried  an update  on  UAVs  for  research                                                                    
management.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Commissioner Vincent-Lang replied that  the FAA was evolving                                                                    
its regulatory oversight of the UAV use.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bishop   was  encouraged   that  the   habitat  had                                                                    
increased eighteen over nineteen.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof OPENED public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:05:37 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
THOR  STACEY,   ALASKA  PROFESSIONAL   HUNTERS  ASSOCIATION,                                                                    
FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified  in support of the                                                                    
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:07:39 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ROD  AMO,   EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR,  ALASKA   OUTDOOR  COUNCIL,                                                                    
FAIRBANKS  (via teleconference),  spoke  in  support of  the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop reviewed the fiscal note.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:10:07 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  von   Imhof  remarked   that  the   surcharge  had                                                                    
increased, and were used to  match the dollars. She stressed                                                                    
that it was important to keep the program going.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SB  150  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.