HB 268-BIG BULL MOOSE DERBIES; SNOW TOWN ICE CL.  4:54:13 PM CHAIR GIESSEL announced HB 268 to be up for consideration [CSHB 268 (FIN) was before the committee]. 4:54:42 PM THERESA WOLSTAD, staff to Representative Tammy Wilson, sponsor of HB 268, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented HB 268 for the sponsor. She read the sponsor statement as follows: House Bill 268 would allow the Tanana Valley Sportsmen Association (TVSA) to raise funds for their organization and the University of Fairbanks Nanooks Rifle team equally. The big bull moose derbies would be operated much like other contests already allowed under statute. This will take place during the annual moose season by individuals that have acquired all the proper documentation already implemented by the State of Alaska to stay within the legal boundaries of the moose season. Participants must purchase a derby ticket prior to the opening day of the season. The winner would be determined based on the bull antlers; the widest spread legally taken and would receive a predetermined portion of the net proceeds from the fund raiser. Anyone who enters a bull moose would, regardless of the antler spread, be entered into a drawing for prizes. The TVSA is a nonprofit organization that hosts training and completion events for the nationally ranked University of Alaska Nanooks Rifle Team as well as the local high schools. It is home to a multitude of community and school events; NCAA tournaments, biathlon training and competition, gun safety and personal protection classes are among the many offered. House Bill 268 would allow the raising of funds to further the use of the TVSA club house and support the efforts of the nationally ranked UAF Nanooks Rifle team who has produced Olympic level competitors. The Snow Town Ice Classic will also operate and be administered by the Advocates for Victims of Violence. The participants must purchase a ticket and guess the total of snow accumulation in the town. Winners are determined by the closest guess of what the total snow accumulation is. The Advocates for Victims of Violence is a non-profit organization that is committed to ending domestic violence and sexual assault. Advocates for Victims of Violence provide confidential services to victims and their families and operates a safe shelter for women and their children. A total of 18 communities are directly serviced by them including Chuitna, Galena, McCarthy, and Valdez. HB 268 would allow the raising of funds to help serve the women and children that stay in the shelter and allow the advocates to continue to strive to end domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. 4:57:47 PM CHAIR GIESSEL asked for sectional of the bill explaining where moose were added in these new classics. 4:58:03 PM MS. WOLSTAD said: Section 1: Adds "big bull moose derbies" to the existing list of games of chance and skill that can be permitted by the Department of Revenue. Section 2: Adds "big bull moose derbies" to the existing definition of "activity" for the purposes of AS 05.15.115 (c), which limits how permittees can contract with operators. Section 3: Adds "big bull moose derbies" to the existing list of activities that can be licensed under AS Chapter 05.15.180 (b) Games of Chance and Contest of Skill. Section 4: Defines and describes the "big bull moose derbies. Deletes the words "Licensed" and "Licensing" and replaces them with "permit" and "permitted" to allow for consistency throughout the document. Section 5: Adds "and the Snow Town Ice Classic to be operated and administered by the Advocates for Victims of Violence. Inc." Section 6: Deletes "for harvesting". 4:59:13 PM CHAIR GIESSEL thanked her for presenting HB 268 and said it would be held in committee. She adjourned the Senate Resources Committee meeting at 5:00 p.m.