ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE  March 7, 2022 2:06 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Josiah Patkotak, Chair Representative Grier Hopkins, Vice Chair Representative Zack Fields Representative Calvin Schrage Representative Sara Hannan Representative George Rauscher Representative Mike Cronk Representative Ronald Gillham Representative Tom McKay MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR  CONFIRMATION HEARING(S): Alaska Fishermen's Fund Clay Bezenek - Ketchikan - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED HOUSE BILL NO. 347 "An Act relating to the confidentiality of certain state records relating to animals; and providing for an effective date." - HEARD & HELD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 347 SHORT TITLE: CONFIDENTIALITY OF ANIMAL RECORDS SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) RAUSCHER 02/22/22 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/22/22 (H) RES 03/02/22 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 03/02/22 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 03/04/22 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 03/04/22 (H) Heard & Held 03/04/22 (H) MINUTE(RES) 03/07/22 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 WITNESS REGISTER CLAY BEZENEK, Appointee Alaska Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council Ketchikan, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council. JERRY MCCUNE Cordova District Fishermen United, Cordova, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the appointment of Mr. Clay Bezenek to the Alaska Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council. ACTION NARRATIVE 2:06:22 PM CHAIR JOSIAH PATKOTAK called the House Resources Standing Committee meeting to order at 2:06 p.m. Representatives Hopkins, Fields, Schrage, Hannan, Rauscher, Cronk, Gillham, McKay, and Patkotak were present at the call to order. ^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S): Alaska Fisherman's Fund CONFIRMATION HEARING(S): Alaska Fishermen's Fund    2:06:43 PM CHAIR PATKOTAK announced that the first order of business would be the confirmation hearing on the governor's appointee to the Alaska Fishermen's Fund [Advisory and Appeals Council]. CHAIR PATKOTAK explained that the Alaska Fishermen's Fund provides for the treatment and care of Alaska licensed commercial fishermen who have been injured while fishing onshore or offshore in Alaska. 2:07:40 PM CLAY BEZENEK, Appointee, Alaska Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council, testified as appointee to the Alaska Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council. He said he has served on the council since 2007 and hopes to be confirmed for the last one year. The fund was started pre-statehood, he pointed out, and council members have tried to keep the fund modern by working with the insurance industries, fishing industries, big boats, and small boats. Most injuries occur in Bristol Bay and in small boat fisheries, he continued, but council members have worked with everybody to keep the fund modern and to help the fishermen continue to get their bills paid in a forthright fashion. 2:09:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked what the appointee will be fishing for after the confirmation hearing is over. MR. BEZENEK replied he will be going to a meeting of the Board of Fisheries on 3/9/22, and then he will be at the Alaska Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council meeting in Kodiak from 3/23-25/22. This spring he will be fishing for salmon. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN said it looks like Mr. Bezenek has fished nearly every fishery in Southeast Alaska and half the fisheries in the rest of the state. MR. BEZENEK offered his appreciation. 2:11:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS inquired about what Mr. Bezenek meant by his statement regarding the last year. MR. BEZENEK answered that this will be his last appointment. 2:12:41 PM CHAIR PATKOTAK opened public testimony on the confirmation hearing of Clay Bezenek, appointee to the Alaska Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council. 2:13:20 PM JERRY MCCUNE testified in support of the appointment of Mr. Clay Bezenek to the Alaska Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council. He noted that the Alaska Fishermen's Fund was created in 1951 to supplement people's healthcare if they need it. He said Mr. Bezenek has done a good job and he will try to talk him into another appointment after this one. 2:14:29 PM CHAIR PATKOTAK closed public testimony after ascertaining that no one else wished to testify. 2:15:16 PM CHAIR PATKOTAK stated that in accordance with AS 39.05.080, the House Resources Committee has reviewed the [appointment of Clay Bezenek to the Alaska Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council] and recommends the appointment be forwarded to a joint session for consideration. He reminded the committee that signing the reports regarding appointments to boards and commissions in no way reflects individual members' intent to [approve or disapprove the appointees, and the nominations are merely forwarded to the full legislature for confirmation or rejection.] 2:15:42 PM The committee took an at-ease from 2:15 p.m. to 2:17 p.m. HB 347-CONFIDENTIALITY OF ANIMAL RECORDS  2:17:57 PM CHAIR PATKOTAK announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 347, "An Act relating to the confidentiality of certain state records relating to animals; and providing for an effective date." [Before the committee, adopted as a working document on 3/4/22, was the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 347, Version 32-LS1471\I, Bullard, 2/28/22 ("Version I").] 2:18:11 PM CHAIR PATKOTAK opened public testimony. He then closed it after ascertaining that no one wished to testify. [HB 347 was held over.] 2:19:09 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:19 p.m.