SB 22 BOARD OF GAME QUALIFICATIONS  SENATOR BERT SHARP, sponsor of SB 22, gave the following overview. SB 22 amends required qualifications for appointees to the Board of Game by additionally requiring nominees to have held an Alaskan hun ting or trapping license, or a permanent ID card (if over 60 years old), during each of the five years immediately preceding appointment to the board. This requirement would provide improved assurance of interest fostered by past involvement in utilization of the game resource, and understanding of the dynamics of arctic game resource management. Several other states require the license qualification for appointment to state wildlife boards or advisory boards. He suggested the following amendment for the committee's consideration: Page 1, line 11, change the word "resident" to "Alaskan." He explained an "Alaskan" hunting or trapping license can be obtained by a resident or non-resident. The purpose of the suggested amendment is to avoid a residency challenge. Number 062 WAYNE REGELIN , director of the Division of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), asked the committee to consider the following points. There are many different user groups in Alaska interested in wildlife management and almost all want representation on the Board of Game. Although most of the issues that come before the Board of Game do involve hunting regulations, such as setting seasons and bag limits, and it is logical that most members be hunters, wildlife management affects many groups. He questioned whether SB 22 conflicts with AS 16.05 which establishes the board and specifies members are to be appointed on the basis of their interest in wildlife, good judgment, and knowledge and ability, with a view to providing diversity of interests and points of view in membership. He suggested requiring applicants to have held an Alaskan hunting license for three of the previous five years since many hunters do not hunt every year. Additionally, many women involved in hunting and trapping activities in Alaska, who do not purchase licenses because they do not actually kill game, would be disqualified under SB 22. Number 130 CHAIRMAN GREEN questioned how many Board of Game members have never had hunting or trapping licenses. MR. REGELIN was unsure. He recalled Ann Ruggles was a board member but he was unsure whether she ever purchased a hunting license even though she was involved in hunting activities with her husband. Number 197 CHAIRMAN GREEN took the following testimony via teleconference. LYNN LEVENGOOD testified in support of SB 22. The game resource is worth billions of dollars, yet those responsible for managing it are not required to have any expertise or knowledge in that area. To appoint board members with only a casual interest in the resource is not well reasoned. He suggested additionally requiring all nominees to have served at least one full term on a local fish and game advisory committee. Nominees would then understand the process and have demonstrated their sincere interest in sitting on such an important board. He urged committee members to pass SB 22 with the additional local advisory board membership requirement. Number 198 KEVIN SAXBY , Assistant Attorney General assigned to representing the Board of Game and SB 22, pointed out if the amendment suggested by Senator Sharp is not adopted, SB 22 does raise constitutional concerns. As currently written, SB 22 contains a six year residency requirement since one year of residency is required prior to obtaining a resident license. That requirement raises both privileges and immunities, and equal protection, concerns. Durational residency requirements are not, per se, invalid, but undergo a lot of scrutiny, especially one of this length. BILL HAGAR testified in favor of SB 22 and agreed with Mr. Levengood's suggestion to additionally require membership on a local fish and game advisory committee. The knowledge required to understand the board process is very extensive. Number 239 STEVE WELLS , representing the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, testified in opposition to SB 22. The Board of Game process is a legally mandated public process for establishing wildlife regulations in the state. Wildlife is a public resource and belongs to the public at large. The broad public interest in wildlife management is protected by the common use clause of the Alaska Constitution. Not all Alaskans hunt, but that does not diminish their interest in how wildlife is managed. SB 22 contradicts itself by stating that appointments provide a diversity of interests yet restricts appointments to those with hunting licenses. Such a requirement makes for a diversity of hunting interests, not a diversity of public interests. RALPH SEEKINS stated many groups have voiced strong goals to eliminate all hunting by humans. That goal is close to being met with less than 3 percent of the annual harvestable surplus being taken by humans for families. SB 22 does not require nominees to hunt, but requires nominees to purchase a hunting license to help pay for wildlife management. Licensed hunters pay their way, and have the only vested interest in the resource. The Board of Fish is primarily comprised of commercial fishers; game should be managed similarly. His goal is to return Alaska to an abundance of wildlife, which directly conflicts with the "ecosystem, non-human use" advocates. Alaska needs board members who will bring an abundance back to Alaska; SB 22 is a step in that direction. There was no further teleconference testimony on SB 22. SENATOR ROBIN TAYLOR , cosponsor of SB 22, stated the intent of the legislation is to require some qualification for the membership of the board of game: to date there is none other than that one must be an Alaskan resident. Much of DFG's budget is dependent on the collection of license fees from the users of the resources. Nothing has prevented other members of the public from voluntarily purchasing licenses or making contributions to assist in resource management, yet those people want to tell DFG how to manage fish and game resources. It's time nominees for the Board of Game be required to demonstrate a true interest in the resource. Number 305 SENATOR MACKEY moved to adopt the amendment suggested by Senator Sharp which changes the word "resident" to "Alaskan" on page 1, line 11. There being no objection to the motion, the amendment was adopted. Number 309 SENATOR MILLER moved SB 22 as amended and accompanying fiscal notes out of committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, the motion carried.