HB 268-BIG BULL MOOSE DERBIES; SNOW TOWN ICE CL.  CHAIR GIESSEL announced HB 268 to be up for consideration [CSHB 268(FIN), version 28-LS0851\P was before the committee]. REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON, sponsor of HB 268, explained that this bill is a big bull moose derby that started with the Tanana Valley Sportsmen's Association and the UAF Rifle Team to be able to earn funds to a competition based on what is already in statute for hunting. You would still have to get all the same permits and follow the regulations in the area you are hunting, and this would allow them to have a derby. As most bills go, it picked up a "little sister" and that is the Snow Town Ice Classic in Valdez that would help those who advocate for victims of violence. The City of Valdez has offered to help them do this ice classic that would be very much like the one in Nenana. The reason this is in front of them is that all derbies and classics by statute must go through this process. Resources are decreasing and so they are asking the state's non-profits to find other ways of getting funding. The Tanana Valley Sportsmen's Association (TVSA) had a fire several years ago and has been rebuilding since then. They provide shooting for not just the UAF Rife Team, but most of the high schoolers, and have clinics for the youngsters. This would be another way for them to be able to finish their facility without coming to the legislature for funds. CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony. 10:31:18 AM ROWENA APLOMAR, Advocates for Victims of Violence (AVV), Valdez, Alaska, supported HB 268. She related how they need $25,000 more to meet their needs. She said AVV is one of the 20 programs that provide services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. They serve 18 communities from Glennallen to Valdez; their shelter and main office is also located in Valdez. For FY13/14 their basic operating costs have risen over $20,000 with increased transportation for victims from villages, shelter utility, energy, and insurance costs. At the current state funding level, they would need an additional $25,000 to continue to meet victims' basic needs. Unfortunately, the current proposed increment in the state's funding of about $285,000 will be divided among 20 programs throughout Alaska. AVV will need to make up for the difference or be forced to cut services. They hope that being eligible to receive funding from this classic would make up the projected shortfall. 10:33:03 AM DAN JORDAN, Head Rifle Team Coach, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), Fairbanks, Alaska, supported HB 268. He explained that UAF has had a very successful rifle team and shooting programs going all the way back to 1925; they have won 10 national championships and have had multiple all-Americans and Olympians come out of the program. Being a university program, they are subject to state funding and are already planning on a 3 percent decrease in their budget next year, if not more, and as a result, are looking for other funding options. This big bull derby is one way they think could take them a long way to being self-sufficient. MIKE TINKER, Tanana Valley Sportsman Association (TVSA), Ester, Alaska, supported HB 268. He said his family including his grandchildren are members and he has looked for funding support for that organization and the UAF Rifle Team for a long time. He said they talked about the big bull moose derby with the UAF and the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED) about how they might expand their raffle permit into the derby concept. Representative T. Wilson looked into it and found two avenues to choose from: one was to try to fit under the concept of animal classics, but the DCCED said that would require an amendment and recommended adding specific language and they picked up the Valdez Snow Derby along the way. MR. TINKER said questions had been raised about whether this would create a demand for new hunters in the state, because people would run out and try to make a lot of money off the biggest moose. In their discussion with hunters and with the ADF&G, no one forecasts that would be a problem. He explained that the prizes would be set up so that there would a prize for the biggest moose antler of the year and a drawing where everyone would have a chances to win something. SENATOR DYSON asked the sponsor if she knew of any opposition. REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON responded that one person believed that someone would go out and shoot a moose and it wouldn't be large enough and go shoot another one, but she said these hunters must go through the same permitting process and are subject to the same regulations as other hunters. Some areas even require a certain size of antlers. 10:39:41 AM SENATOR BISHOP asked Mr. Tinker if the TVSA will provide a measuring station and officials who perform actual measurements and if they will use Boone and Crockett measuring standards, because there are different ways of measuring moose antlers. MR. TINKER replied that they hadn't come up with a formula for measuring antlers, but it will be simple and one that everyone will understand, within the derby rules. 10:41:19 AM AL BARRETTE, representing himself, Fairbanks, Alaska, supported HB 268. He was glad both organizations got together to brainstorm for ways of solving budget issues for both organizations. He assured them that no more moose tags will be issued; this is just a raffle. However, he stated that already in two-thirds of all the moose units you can hunt moose in you have to shoot a 50-inch or larger moose. GRANT LEWIS, President, Tanana Valley Sportsmen's Association (TVSA), Fairbanks, Alaska, supported HB 268. Their emphasis has been on safe fire arms education. All of the local high schools are using their facility, but they had a fire in 2007. They are still working on their new building on a week-to-week basis with volunteers. With the money they get from this classic they hope to finish their facility and continue hunter education programs. CHAIR GIESSEL thanked him saying that she had seen the facility that is lovely and a wonderful asset to Fairbanks. VIRGIL UMPHENOUR, representing himself, said he had been a member of TVSA since 1971 and supported HB 268. His whole family were competitive rifle shooters and learned hunter safety and hunter education at TVSA. UAF has one of the best rifle teams in the country. It will raise money for things that are truly unique to Alaska. 10:46:16 AM GEORGE PIERCE, representing himself, Kasilof, Alaska, opposed HB 268. He said the moose belong to Alaska and not the non-profits to make money on or for non-residents, 85 percent of whom take only the horns and donate the meat. Stop using our game to make money especially in areas with low game numbers, he urged. 10:48:44 AM DARRYL VERFAILLIE, Director, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, Valdez, Alaska, informed them of the city's participation in the ice classic. He explained the City of Valdez would not receive any revenues from the ice classic; they would simply coordinate the event on behalf of AVV, assist with the advertising and provide monitoring of the event. In short, they would act as a force multiplier for AVV moving towards self-sustainability of the programing. CHAIR GIESSEL found no further testimony and closed public testimony. REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON closed in saying this is going with what ADF&G does currently. What happens if one of the gaming areas is closed? It will be closed. This will not give any more permits and not manage anything. It will use the rules that already exist. SENATOR FRENCH asked if this is any different in concept than the silver salmon derbies where you get a prize for catching the biggest fish. REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON replied that it is exactly like halibut and salmon derbies and should be approximately the same way. SENATOR DYSON moved to report CSHB 268(FIN), 28-LS0851\P, from committee with attached zero fiscal note and individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was so ordered.