ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES  March 8, 2011 5:04 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Steve Thompson, Chair Representative Alan Austerman Representative Lance Pruitt Representative Scott Kawasaki Representative Bob Miller MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Craig Johnson, Vice Chair Representative Bob Herron COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE BILL NO. 173 "An Act amending the termination date of the licensing of sport fishing operators and sport fishing guides; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 173 SHORT TITLE: SPORT FISHING GUIDING SERVICES SPONSOR(s): FISHERIES 02/25/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/25/11 (H) FSH, RES 03/08/11 (H) FSH AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 120 WITNESS REGISTER JOMO STEWART, Staff Representative Steve Thompson Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 173 on behalf of the House Special Committee on Fisheries, which Representative Thompson chairs. CHARLIE SWANTON, Director Division of Sport Fish Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 173, on behalf of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). ACTION NARRATIVE 5:04:57 PM CHAIR STEVE THOMPSON called the House Special Committee on Fisheries meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. Present at the call to order were Representatives Thompson, Miller, Kawasaki, Miller and Austerman. HB 173-SPORT FISHING GUIDING SERVICES  5:05:11 PM CHAIR THOMPSON announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 173, "An Act amending the termination date of the licensing of sport fishing operators and sport fishing guides; and providing for an effective date." 5:05:33 PM JOMO STEWART, Staff, Representative Steve Thompson, Alaska State Legislature, introduced HB 173 as a one year extension of existing statute governing the licensing of sport fishing operators and guides, as well as the log book program established in 2004. He pointed out that the bill carries a zero fiscal note. The continuation will allow an evaluation of the program to be completed by Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G). 5:08:45 PM CHAIR THOMPSON stated his understanding that every year this has been requested as an extension, and inquired into the background of the original statute. CHARLIE SWANTON, Director, Division of Sport Fish, provided a history of the inception and continuous extensions of the statute. Studies have been completed to validate the quality of the data gathered, and efforts have also been made to modernize the saltwater log book system. Streamlining the process has occurred and, will be continued, in an effort to receive the data a timely, efficient, and accurate manner. 5:12:35 PM CHAIR THOMPSON asked about the zero fiscal note that increases to $400,000 in succeeding years. MR. SWANTON replied that the $400,000 covers the cost of supplies, staff, and programmers. CHAIR THOMPSON closed public testimony. 5:14:09 PM REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN moved to report HB 173 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 173 was reported from the House Special Committee on Fisheries. 5:14:38 PM CHAIR THOMPSON thanked the participants and announced the agenda for the next meeting. 5:15:35 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m.