SB 255-FISH PROCESSOR FEES, LICENSES, RECORDS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:33:47 PM                                                                                                                    
CO-CHAIR   WIELECHOWSKI   announced  SB   255   to   be  up   for                                                               
consideration.  He said  this bill  would  enable fisheries  that                                                               
have elected to  pursue and permit buyback program to  do so. The                                                               
purpose  is to  stabilize  the  fleet and  ensure  the long  term                                                               
economic stability  of the fishery.  This bill creates  the legal                                                               
mechanisms   to  ensure   the  proper   accounting  of   all  the                                                               
transactions involved in this process.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:34:12 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR OLSON, sponsor of SB  255, said this bill strengthens the                                                               
viability of the fisheries even though it is fairly simple.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  WIELECHOWSKI  noted  a  letter  of  intent  that  would                                                               
accompany the bill  with six signatures. He explained  that it is                                                               
the  result  of   an  agreement  between  the   seiners  and  the                                                               
processors that the  permit buyback program will  not remove more                                                               
permits  than  necessary for  the  health  and viability  of  the                                                               
fishery and sets the number of permits at 260.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  FRENCH  moved  to  report SB  255  from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations,  attached fiscal note(s),  and letter                                                               
of intent. There were no objections and it was so ordered.