HB 161-AUCTIONS FOR BIG GAME HARVEST PERMITS  4:23:32 PM CHAIR GIESSEL announced HB 161 to be up for consideration. 4:23:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN GATTIS, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 161, said the bill updates the governor's license program. This is an economic process for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) to generate funds for management of the state's wildlife resources. The department may donate permits to non-profit organizations that are incorporated in Alaska to hold big game permit auctions or raffles. The sale of relatively few permits can generate a large amount of money to fund the department's conservation and protection efforts. She explained that the governor's license program was created in 1997 and since 2009 it has generated over $450,000 to the Fish and Game Fund. The department can issue up to 40 permits under HB 161; statute currently allows up to 19 permits. Putting the numbers in perspective, the department is issuing over 4,000 permits for big game species for 2014/15, and historically around half of the available permits are issued and of that half, 46 percent are utilized in a hunt. This means that around 25 percent of the total permits issued were actually used. HB 161 has two sections that list permits available for donation for raffle or auction just like the current statute does: section 1 gives 100 percent of the proceeds to a non-profit under the stipulation that they use the generated funds to promote education in outdoor traditions. This section permits up to 4 Etolin Island elk, 1 bison, and 1 Dall sheep. The elk and the bison are in statute already; the sheep permit is 1 additional under this bill. Section 2 of the bill has permits for 2 Dall sheep and two bison. These are already in statute. HB 161 increases the number of permits from 2 to 4 for musk ox, brown or grizzly bear, moose, caribou, and wolf, and adds 4 permits each for black bear, goat, and elk. It also increases the percentage of revenues a non- profit can keep from 10 percent to 30 percent. This is necessary to incentivize groups to participate. The entirety of the money that goes to the non-profit has to be spent on outdoor education and conservation projects in a manner approved by the department. REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS explained that at 10 percent some of the raffling groups were leaving permits on the table and said that there was a certain cost to doing business and if they could get 30 percent to do what they would like to do under the department rules that would make more sense. As the program is written now, the group retains 10 percent of the proceeds and they can spend it any way they want so long as it isn't for political gain, which means that it can't be used for referendums, initiatives, or to give to any candidate to run. With HB 161, a group actually retains 0 percent of the proceeds and it is required to spend the entirety on department-approved programs. Permits occupied by the governor's license program are taken out of the draw hunt. The program does not take permits directly from Alaskan hunters. She explained that when a resident hunter enters into the drawing for most hunts that person has the same chance of winning a permit as a non-resident hunter. Further, she said, this bill does not allow for out-of-season special hunts in closed areas and it does not allow for helicopters and other advantages to be used in tracking and hunting or transporting big game. If a permit is donated to a non- profit under this program and the permit does not sell, it is reentered into the drawing pool or, if it's late in the season, sold over the counter. These sales are mainly to resident hunters. REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS said she and her staff have worked closely with the department as well as a large number of sporting groups to create the bill to benefit hunters and to ensure that the department has continued funding to manage this valuable resource well into the future. CHAIR GIESSEL asked if her staff had anything to add. 4:29:47 PM REID HARRIS, Staff to Representative Gattis, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, answered no. 4:29:56 PM DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), explained that HB 161 is an attempt to manage the governor's tag program in a more efficient and effective manner. Basically, they realized that if they give a greater percentage of these program receipts from the governor's tag program to a private non-profit to keep, the hope is that a rising tide will lift all ships including the contribution back to the department. But most importantly, it forms really foundational partnerships with the conservation community in that they get to keep 30 percent of the proceeds, which is focused on providing conservation education programs that ensures a future foundation of hunters and fishers across the state. They have to do those projects in partnership with the department's approval. Overall, this program would benefit the department and the conservation community by ensuring there is a steady source of funding for outdoor education and conservation programs. 4:31:22 PM SENATOR BISHOP asked if helicopters are going to be allowed for harvest of sheep. MR. VINCNENT-LANG answered no; the intention is to basically put the same conditions as the Board of Game puts on these hunts for these species in those areas. 4:32:24 PM FORMER-SENATOR CON BUNDE, representing himself, Anchorage, Alaska, supported HB 161. He related that he was the original author of the governor's TAGS bill. He had the good fortune of knowing some hunting "philanthropists" who return substantial financial support to the sport, and the TAGS program was a vehicle to do that. It met some resistance, but has been generally accepted as a good idea and it has worked very well in other states. But like all legislation, after some trial and error and time it can stand some tweaking and he supported that and HB 161. He said the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and its management of the state's hunting opportunities are supported by license fees and various taxes. Expanding TAGS in this manner will provide needed support for the ADF&G. He was personally aware that the original proposal to give 10 percent to these non- profits that promote outdoor education was not adequate to meet their cost of doing business and have enough left over to have any significant impact on their program. 4:36:28 PM BRIAN JUDY, Alaska State Liaison, National Rifle Association (NRA), Sacramento, California, supported HB 161. It is a win-win for Alaska non-profits and Alaska sportsmen and women. It increases from 19 to 42 the number of permits available for auction, which should generate more money for department and non-profits to use for education in outdoor traditions and conservation, and wildlife protection programs in partnership with the department. This bill won't benefit NRA, but it could potentially benefit the Friends of the NRA non-profit program. Examples of some of the programs that have received their money in past are the Used Shotgun League, Small Game Hunting Clinics, Scholastic Clay Target Program, the Women on Target Program, the Youth Education Summit, and the Becoming an Outdoors Woman Program. 4:38:45 PM ELAINA SPRAKER, Clinic Director, Kenai Peninsula Women on Target/Teens on Target, Kenai, Alaska, supported HB 161. She said their program started about six years ago when they took 8-10 teenage girls and trained them in firearms which included shotgun, pistol and rifle. From there, the mothers wanted to also learn firearm training and that is what inspired the Women on Target Program, which is in its fourth year. She related the successes of clinic activities. She supported HB 161 because it will make these programs doable. Women are charged $35 to join these clinics and they will shoot up to $900 worth of ammo per clinic. SENATOR MICCICHE thanked her for all the program did for his 18 year old. 4:41:38 PM MIKE CRAWFORD, President, Alaska Kenai Peninsula Chapter of Safari Club International, Soldotna, Alaska, supported HB 161. He said of the Club has 200 chapters worldwide and two of them are in Alaska. He related that these two are both award-winning and are considered leaders. He said the national part of Safari Club International spent over $1 million in last year's ADF&G projects that included Kenai moose research, chronic wasting disease on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Brown Bear studies, and the reintroduction of the wood bison. Some of the things they have supported are the Alaska Outdoor Heritage Foundation, National Archery in the Schools Program, the Women on Target and Teens on Target, and other youth-shooting sports. They also give a $4,000 college scholarship each year. They have a very successful and popular women's and kid's pheasant hunt every fall where sportsmanship and gun safety is taught. MR. CRAWFORD said they are good at raising funds to fulfill their mission and understand the need for funds for conservation of our wildlife. They are not being greedy but want to further conservation of wildlife working with ADF&G on their projects. MR. CRAWFORD said that recently a Tok sheep tag sold for over $160,000; these funds will go a long way for ADF&G. This bill will not eliminate other organizations that now qualify to get these tags. 4:44:12 PM MIKE TINKER, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Association, Fairbanks, Alaska, supported HB 161. He related their fish and wildlife conservation issues saying that some of their products resulted in the passage of Alaska's intensive management law that got Alaskans out of the competition business for the last moose and into producing more wildlife for their use, and most recently a clarification on the use of the referendum process for allocation where they hope to get the state out of wolf and anti-hunting type of referendums. MR. TINKER said the Association also fights some of the battles that government cannot fight from the standpoint of anti-hunters who use Alaska management principles to raise money for their various causes. They do not have any problem with the concept of raising more money for the ADF&G or for spending in some of the ways this proposal focuses on. Attracting people by offering them more money is a pipedream, he said, and money earmarked for education programs can't be matched by the federal Robertson Pitman Funds. So, that might not be getting to the desired intent of putting money where the department would like it to go next. A consistent approach to fund raising for the department needs to be worked on by the department, the boards, the public and the legislature. MR. TINKER said he hears the legislature voicing support for additional funds for the ADF&G, but they are a little concerned when the department says this program won't cost anything. Putting these agreements together will have administrative and management costs. So, the cost of HB 161 is not zero. He urged caution and having at least another hearing for more input. In the sectional analysis, Mr. Tinker said number 4 says "the donation program will be healthier as its appeal has been broadened," but he doubted that offering 42 permits versus 19 would broaden appeal. 4:51:02 PM SENATOR BISHOP asked for his written comments to be forwarded to the committee. MR. TINKER said he would be glad to prepare those comments. 4:52:02 PM DANA FALLUCCA-LINGOFELT, member, Board of Directors, Outdoor Heritage Foundation, Anchorage, Alaska, supported HB 161. It is an important component in funding outdoor education opportunities for Alaskans. Funds generated from the governor's license proceeds will directly provide opportunities to more Alaskans to become educated ethical users of the state's natural resources. She had participated in the Becoming an Outdoor Woman's (BOW) workshop, hunter information and training clinics, and had earned her hunter education mother loader certifications through the ADF&G. She said the department's program sponsored in conjunction with organizations such as the Ruffed Grouse Society, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Alaska Bow Hunters Association, Safari Club, National Rifle Association (NRA), and the Outdoor Heritage Foundation have provided ladies liker her the knowledge and the confidence to spot and stalk big game, fly fish in the best rivers on Earth, shoot proficiently with a variety of firearms and archery equipment, survive out in the Alaskan wilderness, the skills to field dress and care for her own animals, and how to cook it up on a campfire built by her. In addition to developing a deep appreciation for the science and biologists that keep it all in balance, as a result of these programs she said she had become a purchaser of fishing, trapping, and hunting licenses and tags, all of which contribute to revenues to the ADF&G. She had personally contributed over $47,000 to the Alaskan economy since taking her first BOW workshop in 2004. Countless women have told her that these programs have changed their lives. Many use their education and skills to teach their own sons and daughters the joys of outdoor pursuits. She volunteers to teach outdoor skills at the workshops. Alaskan educational opportunities supported by the Governor's license proceeds would include outdoor use camps in Fairbanks and Anchorage, the National Archery in the Schools Program statewide, Becoming an Outdoor Woman, and fishing clinics for ladies and families, small and big game hunting clinics, and additional certification programs to address Alaskan hunters' needs. She believes that outdoor education produces caring, conservationists and responsible users of Alaskan resources ensuring everyone's enjoyment for generations to come. 4:55:00 PM CHAIR GIESSEL stated that she would hold HB 161 in committee and keep public testimony open.