HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE January 25, 1994 3:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Rep. Bill Hudson, Chairman Rep. Joe Green, Vice Chair Rep. Brian Porter Rep. Bill Williams Rep. Eldon Mulder Rep. Joe Sitton Rep. Jerry Mackie MEMBERS ABSENT None COMMITTEE CALENDAR *HB 266: "An Act relating to guide-outfitter and master guide-outfitter licenses; extending the termination date of the Big Game Commercial Services Board; and providing for an effective date." MOVED FROM COMMITTEE WITNESS REGISTER MIKE HEIMBUCK, STAFF Rep. Gail Phillips Alaska State Legislature State Capitol Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182 465-2689 Position Statement: Read Sponsor statement, answered questions PAUL JOHNSON Big Game Commercial Service Board P.O. Box 261 Auke Bay, Alaska 99821 Position Statement: Spoke in support of HB 266 JOE KLETZ Alaska Professional Hunters Association P.O. Box 313 King Salmon, Alaska 99613 Position Statement: Spoke in support of HB 266 KARL LUCK, Director Division of Occupational Licensing Department of Commerce and Economic Development P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, Alaska 99811-0806 Phone: 465-2534 Position Statement: Testified on HB 266 DICK ROHRER P.O. Box 2219 Kodiak, Alaska 99615 Phone: 486-5835 Position Statement: Spoke in support of HB 266 ERIC STIRRUP P.O. Box 4123 Kodiak, Alaska 99615 Phone: 486-2200 Position Statement: Spoke in support of HB 266 PREVIOUS ACTION BILL: HB 266 SHORT TITLE: ELIGIBILITY FOR GUIDE-OUTFITTER LICENSE SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) PHILLIPS JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 04/20/83 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17 03/30/93 854 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 03/30/93 854 (H) L&C, RESOURCES, FINANCE 04/15/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17 04/20/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17 01/25/94 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17 ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 94-3, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN HUDSON called the meeting to order at 3:06 p.m. HB 266 - ELIGIBILITY FOR GUIDE-OUTFITTER LICENSE Number 015 MIKE HEIMBUCK, Staff, Rep. Gail Phillips, prime sponsor of HB 266, read a sponsor statement for the record. Mr. Heimbuck noted that HB 266 seeks to accomplish three things: to extend the big game commercial services board's statutory authority to June 30, 1997; grant the board some authority to upgrade standards in the guiding profession; and to re- enact and define the "master guide" license. Number 100 REP. MULDER asked if Section 2 closes the pool of guides for certain species in effect since the only way to get a license is to have guided for those particular species and you can't guide for them without a license. Number 110 MR. HEIMBUCK answered that the amendment seeks to give the board the authority to make regulations that aren't spelled out in statute. It gives the board the authority to make adjustments when the conditions warrant it. Number 120 REP. MULDER restated his concern over whether or not this legislation would make it more difficult to become a guide. Number 125 REP. MACKIE voiced the same concern as Rep. Mulder and added that currently there are no licensed guides on Prince of Wales Island. Number 147 PAUL JOHNSON, Chairman, Big Game Commercial Services Board, responded to Reps. Mulder and Mackie's concerns by saying that presently you can apprentice under any licensed guide and then test for a license in any unit. It does not have to be in the unit you apprenticed in. He added that Unit 2, Prince of Wales, is primed for new guides. Number 218 REP. MACKIE again brought up the point that since there are no local guides in the Prince of Wales unit, a person who wanted to become a guide in that area would have to move to another unit to apprentice. Rep. Mackie added that having guides from outside the area having open opportunities and the local people basically shut out was a concern of his. Number 245 MR. JOHNSON stated that the board encourages opportunities for people in the rural areas and thinks it will eventually work out. Mr. Johnson believes that the program in place is the best solution at this time. Mr. Johnson added that local people have the opportunity to guide in their own areas under the assistant guide program. MR. JOHNSON stated that the number one priority of the board was encouraging rural development. Number 281 JOE KLETZ, President, Alaska Professional Hunters Association and Alaska's Guide and Outfitters Association, testified in support of HB 266. Mr. Kletz stated that the guiding and transporting industry in Alaska generate upwards of $100,000 million annually. Non-resident hunters account for between 10% and 15% of the annual harvest of big game animals. MR. KLETZ gave an overview of the guiding and hunting industry. Number 358 KARL LUCK, Director of Occupational Licensing, Department of Commerce and Economic Development, testified that neither the Division nor the Commissioner had any problems with HB 266 as far as he know. Number 382 DICK ROHRER testified from Kodiak via teleconference in support of HB 266. Number 391 ERIC STIRRUP testified from Kodiak via teleconference in support of HB 266. REP. PORTER moved the amendments to HB 266. No objections were heard; it was so ordered. REP. GREEN moved HB 266 as amended with individual recommendations and fiscal note. No objections were heard, it was so ordered. CHAIRMAN HUDSON adjourned the meeting at 3:30 p.m.