SB 190-BIG GAME HUNTING BY PERSON W/ DISABILITY  3:32:20 PM CO-CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 190 "An Act relating to big game hunts for persons with physical disabilities; and providing for an effective date." 3:33:15 PM DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADFG), presented SB 190 on behalf of the administration and answered questions. He stated that the Alaska Board of Fisheries established a hunt for disabled hunters in Kincaid Park in Anchorage, Alaska. The Department of Law (DOL) thereafter declared there was no statutory framework built into statute to create this type of hunt as established for youth hunts, so it was disallowed. SB 190 would create the statutory foundation to allow the Alaska Board of Fisheries to create a hunt for disabled hunters that meet established criteria for being disabled in state statute. To qualify, a person must be at least 70 percent disabled and accompanied by a licensed hunter capable of retrieving game. It would be a permissive statutory change. Any proposal to establish this type of hunt would need to go through an involved board process, requiring public notice and public comment. Many other states permit these types of hunts per state statute. 3:36:08 PM JOE FELKL, Legislative Liaison, Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADFG), Juneau, Alaska, provided the sectional analysis for SB 190: [Original punctuation provided.] SB 190: BIG GAME HUNTING BY PERSON W/ DISABILITY SECTIONAL  ANALYSIS VERSION A  Section 1: amends AS 16.05.255 by adding a new subsection that provides statutory authority for the Board of Game to establish hunts limited to individuals with physical disabilities. Section 2: transition section to allow the Board of Game to adopt regulations necessary to implement the bill. Section 3: immediate effective date for section 2. Section 4: effective date of January 1, 2025, for all other provisions of the bill. 3:36:41 PM SENATOR DUNBAR asked if proxy hunting is excluded under the bill's framework. 3:37:02 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG replied yes, an individual could already proxy hunt under existing rules, but could not proxy hunt under SB 190. 3:37:16 PM MR. FELKL added that current board regulations require the individual to meet the 70 percent disability threshold in order to qualify for proxy hunting. 3:37:49 PM SENATOR DUNBAR asked if one disabled person could assist another disabled person through proxy hunting. 3:38:06 PM MR. FELKL replied that the question may need to be answered by the Alaska Board of Fisheries, but he would seek further information. 3:38:17 PM MR. VINCENT-LANG stated his belief that only one is allowed at a time. 3:38:38 PM SENATOR DUNBAR said that SB 190 would potentially impact Kincaid Park. The municipality is the landholder and would have to provide consent before the hunt is created. He asked if the ADFG would support the legislature adding clarifying language. 3:39:40 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG said he would prefer to confer with the Department of Law (DOL) in light of existing home rule issues. 3:40:03 PM SENATOR DUNBAR invited Mr. Vincent-Lang to work with his office and DOL. Some residents in Anchorage may express concerns about SB 190 limiting community input. 3:40:31 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG suggested clarifying language stating the bill does not intend to establish hunts in Kincaid Park. There are currently bear hunts in Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson (JBER) in the municipality of Anchorage, so a broad prohibition would be difficult in managing public safety concerns. 3:41:08 PM SENATOR DUNBAR concurred. He said the key difference is that the municipality is not the land holder of JBER territory. There were also concerns voiced about a potential bow hunt in Kingcaid Park. 3:41:38 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG said there were unsuccessful experiments with bow hunts in Anchorage. 3:41:48 PM CO-CHAIR GIESSEL added that the municipality of Fairbanks would have some interest in ensuring no mandates for Creamer's Field territory. 3:41:59 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG conveyed that there are waterfowl hunts in the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge area. 3:42:21 PM CO-CHAIR GIESSEL clarified that SB 190 pertains to areas beyond Kincaid Park. She asked about past constitutionality concerns previously voiced by one group. 3:42:33 PM COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG replied that he understands concerns about constitutionality, however, the youth hunt has been in statute for years and has remain unchallenged. 3:42:58 PM CO-CHAIR GIESSEL announced invited testimony. 3:43:25 PM IRA EDWARDS, representing self, Palmer, Alaska, testified in support of SB 190. He has spent years working to create a hunt in Kingcaid Park for physically disabled individuals. The hunt was modeled after Delta Junction, which SB 190 would also benefit. Alaska is currently the only state prohibiting a hunt for physically disabled people. Last year, DOL determined that a disability hunt, like youth hunts, would require statutory authority. SB 190 would allow the board to create disability hunts in Alaska for disabled people who meet statutory definitions and would establish a statewide effect. Anchorage has well-written code regarding the discharge of firearms and permits hunts within the municipality. He expressed appreciation for Governor Dunleavy helping to make this effort possible. 3:45:41 PM LOUIS CUSACK, Executive Director, Safari Club International (SCI), Chugiak, Alaska, testified in support of SB 190. SB 190 allows disabled participants the same hunting opportunities as DM795 veterans or Purple Heart recipients. The bill provides an opportunity for Alaska to move forward in the right direction. He reiterated that SB 190 is a statewide bill. Within hunting regulations, every unit has its own stipulations depending on land ownership and resources. 3:47:58 PM CO-CHAIR concluded invited testimony. 3:48:19 PM CO-CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony on SB 190; finding none, she closed public testimony and set aside SB 190.