SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE February 23, 1994 3:38 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Mike Miller, Chairman Senator Loren Leman, Vice Chairman Senator Steve Frank Senator Drue Pearce Senator Dave Donley Senator Fred Zharoff MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Al Adams COMMITTEE CALENDAR HOUSE BILL NO. 232 "An Act relating to a bow hunting tag and bow hunting safety; and providing for an effective date." SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 17 Relating to reauthorization of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act. SENATE BILL NO. 322 "An Act repealing the limitation on delays imposed on oil and gas lease sales under the Alaska Land Act." PREVIOUS ACTION HB 232 - See Resources minutes dated 2/22/94 and 2/23/94. SJR 17 - See Resources minutes dated 2/23/94. SB 322 - See Resources minutes dated 2/23/94. WITNESS REGISTER Jim Eason, Director Division of Oil and Gas Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 107034 Anchorage, Ak. 99510-7005 POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 322. Senator Suzanne Little State Capitol Juneau, Ak. 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 322. Representative Bunde State Capitol Juneau, Ak. 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor HB 232. Garry Cason Kenai Peninsula Archers P.O. Box 4215 Soldotna, Ak 99669 POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232. Bill Curtis P.O. Box 91 Soldotna, Ak. 99669 POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232. Don Poole Alaska Bow Hunters Association P.O. Box 2200 Soldotna, Ak. 99669 POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232 personally and said the ABHA was neutral. Ken Vorisek, President Golden North Archery Association 427 Crestmont Dr. Fairbanks, Ak. 99709 POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 232. Rick Schikora 1416 Gillam Way Fairbanks, Ak. 99701 POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 232. Dennis Goldback 915 21st. Ave. Fairbanks, Ak. 99701 POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232. Harry Lusk 2113 Lake View Terrace Fairbanks, Ak. 99701 POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 232. Edward Russell P.O. Box 111867 Anchorage, Ak. 99511 POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232. Phil Pringle 2104 Misty Glen Cr. Anchorage, Ak. 99502 POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232. George Moerlein 7300 O'Malley Anchorage, Ak. 99516 POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed HB 232. Dave Kelleyhouse, Director Division of Wildlife Conservation Department of Fish and Game P.O. Box 25526 Juneau, Ak. 99802-5526 POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 232. ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 94-14, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN MILLER called the Resources Committee meeting to order at 3:38 p.m. and announced SB 322 (DELAYS OF OIL AND GAS LEASE SALES) ) to be up for consideration. JIM EASON, Director, Division of Oil and Gas, said this is a very simple, but important amendment. It removes a provision requiring when the Department schedules a sale on its five-year schedule that they have to hold that sale within 90 days of the quarter in which the sale is scheduled. If they don't do that, they lose the opportunity to conduct the sale for a minimum of two years. The reason it should be deleted now, he explained, is because there is a vast amount of laws and regulations that overlap, more than in 1978 when this amendment was adopted. The likelihood is that sales will often have to be delayed just to avoid potential complications with these overlaps. MR. EASON said recently they have found another reason. Last night the Supreme Court noticed they would not hear the State's appeal on the sale 78 decision. He said the Department's ability to continue to work with the public on that sale was stalled by this very provision. They delayed that sale once in order to allow more time, but couldn't delay it further because of this provision. SENATOR LITTLE supported SB 322. She said there were many difficulties with lease sale 78. The Commissioner was not able to hold additional public hearings although there were several requests after the public comment period had closed. SENATOR FRANK moved to pass SB 322 from Committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal note. There were no objections and it was so ordered. Number 92 SENATOR FRANK suggested sending an effective date along to the next Committee. SENATOR MILLER agreed. SENATOR MILLER announced SJR 17 (MAGNUSON FISHERY CONSRV & MGT ACT) T) to be up for consideration. SENATOR LITTLE explained that the resolution sends an important message to congress to retain the current geographic composition of the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council so Alaska's representation would not be weakened. She said the proposed CS contains technical amendments requested by the Department of Fish and Game. It deletes "high seas" and replaces it with "exclusive economic zone." It removes the term "outer" from "outer continental shelf." SENATOR LITTLE noted there was a $0 fiscal note. Number 133 SENATOR DONLEY moved to adopt the CS to SJR 17. There were no objections and it was so ordered. SENATOR LITTLE said that there was a letter of support from the Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's Association. She also noted they wanted more persons to be added to the list to which they would send the resolution, but they wanted to make that amendment in Judiciary. SENATOR LEMAN moved to discharge CSSJR 17 from Committee with individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was so ordered. Number 181 SENATOR MILLER announced HB 232 (BOW HUNTING STAMP & BOW HUNTING SAFETY to be up for consideration.) He said they would take a recess at 3:50 p.m. and called the meeting back to order at 3:55 p.m. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE, sponsor, explained that certain areas in Alaska are reserved for bow hunting. It is necessary to take a bow hunting class to hunt in those areas. Bow hunters support this program physically and financially. He said the fees would go to support the bow hunter program. He said a majority of bow hunters support HB 232. Number 287 SENATOR ZHAROFF asked if this applied state-wide. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE replied it applies in special archery seasons and areas. He was not aware of an archery area in Kodiak. SENATOR ZHAROFF moved an effective date of January 1, 1995. There were no objections and it was so ordered. GARRY CASON, Kenai Peninsula Archers, opposed HB 232 since it is for bow hunting areas only. He felt there were enough restrictions on bow hunting now. They feel that archery already pays for its share of funding due to the Pitman-Robertson fund and there is an 11% excise tax on all archery equipment. BILL CURTIS, Soldotna resident, opposed HB 232. He was appalled at the way it was presented to the archers of the state. DON POOLE, Soldotna resident, said he was against HB 232, because it is an unnecessary expense. He is concerned that the income generated from this would be used as general fund money. As President of the Alaskan Bow hunters, he said they are split on the matter and are taking a neutral stance. Number 334 KEN VORISEK, President, Golden North Archery Association, supported HB 232. He said a majority of the Bowhunters around the state have voted to support HB 232. The $7 archery tag would be mandatory wherever you hunt with a bow and arrow. The other part of the bill mandates the state have a bow hunter education program. The intent of the bill was to fund that program. The program is mandatory where there is a bow hunting only area. RICK SCHIKORA, Fairbanks resident, supported HB 232. He thought it might provide the possibility of additional bow hunting seasons and areas. After participating as an instructor in the IT&T program, he was in favor of the bow hunting stamp. DENNIS GOLDBACK, Fairbanks resident, opposed HB 232. He said he didn't see any financial gain from selling stamps the way the bill is written. He said he saw a lot of loop holes in it. HARRY LUSK, Fairbanks resident, said in North Carolina and South Carolina there is a longer hunting season without the stamp, but with a tag. They also have "either sex days". He said that archers expend a lot more energy to even stop game than rifle hunters do. He said they should have more benefits than rifle hunters. Number 433 EDWARD RUSSELL, Anchorage resident, said he faxed his testimony opposing HB 232. He said that wildlife stamps serve no useful purpose in the management of game in Alaska. He said there is no way the stamp can pay for printing, distribution, and some sort of publicity campaign. He didn't think bow hunters should be charged a surtax for hunting which is what this is. PHIL PRINGLE, Anchorage resident and bow hunter teacher, totally opposed HB 232. He didn't think the revenue generated would cover the cost of implementing and maintaining the plan. He said there was already an education force in place. He didn't think paying $7 was an issue. GEORGE MOERLEIN, Anchorage resident and former Director of the Alaska Bow Hunters Association, said HB 232 has no redeeming features for either the state or the bow hunting community. He said it is totally unfair to bow hunters. Number 512 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE said bow hunters do have more opportunities to hunt than rifle hunters. DAVE KELLEYHOUSE, Director, Division of Wildlife Conservation, said the costs of administering the program would be proportional to how many tags were sold. The primary cost would be $1 per tag sold to the vendor. The other is 5% of the tag and the remainder would go into the Fish and Game fund. All vendor payments now are being paid with Fish and Game funds. He thought the program would be revenue positive. SENATOR MILLER asked what if the legislation was amended to just address bow hunting in those areas where there is only bow hunting. MR. KELLEYHOUSE explained that most of the exclusive bow hunting areas are around the urban areas. He thought that most of the bow hunters would take advantage of the special seasons so they didn't have to compete with the rifle hunters at the same time. It would still be revenue positive because the cost of administering the program would be proportional to the number of licenses sold. There would be a month of a clerk typist at the most. The rest of the costs are directly proportional to the number of tags sold. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE explained an amendment to page 2, line 7 would add "in a special bow hunting area or seasons" after "a person may not engage in bow hunting". SENATOR LEMAN moved that language as an amendment. SENATOR ZHAROFF asked if it was necessary to put in "or season" if you're going to have a special bow hunting area? REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE replied that he had hoped to have special bow hunting seasons in the future. For example on the Kenai Peninsula when they had a prerifle season that was for archery. TAPE 94-14, SIDE B Number 588 SENATOR MILLER asked if there were objections to the amendment. There was some discussion and he announced they would send the bill to the drafters and get it back as a CS and schedule it for action on Monday. SENATOR MILLER adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.