Individual and Lifetime members – Last call for At-Large board election voting. Be sure to vote by the April 1 (tomorrow) postmark deadline!
More letters from our Spring board meeting are posted in the current issues section of our website at https://www.ufafish.org/
Thanks to new SEA Class business member – Lynden Inc.
Thanks to all our business members for their support – we encourage members to support them with your business – see links on our website.
Non-Legislative item:
Help Shape Alaska’s Economic Future – business owner input wanted for DCCED economic development strategy…Forwarded message:
The Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development is completing a state-wide economic development strategy. This effort combines the input from community and business leaders from around the state to inform the economic direction of Alaska moving forward. The more feedback we get for this process, the more successful it will be – please take time as a business leader to complete the survey found at www.northernopportunity.com
Legislative happenings from this week:
HB56 regarding loan limits passed the House unanimously 38 -0 and is now in the Senate with referral to Finance committee.
CSHB 87 Board of Fisheries Conflict of Interest passed the House 27 – 11, and is now in the Senate with referrals to State Affairs and Resources committees.
This would be a good time for fishermen, fishing groups, and people who like fish to contact their Senators and support passage of these two bills… Find your legislators, their contact info, and more at akleg.gov frequently asked questions.
New fish related bills introduced:
HB 199 – Salmon Habitat permitting (Stutes) – Introduced 3/27
HB 188 – Regional permit banks (Kreiss – Tomkins) – Introduced last week 3/20.
Upcoming event – April 11 – Juneau…
Policy Forum – Alaska’s Salmon Habitat Sustainability Laws
A public forum discussing Alaska’s Salmon Habitat Sustainability Laws, Sponsored by: the Center for Salmon and Society and the UFA Salmon Habitat Information Program (SHIP) and Salmon Connect
Speakers include Legislative and State of Alaska ADF&G leaders, historian, mining industry, and salmon habitat advocates…. Rockwell Ballroom, Tuesday, April 11, 2017…Appetizers and no-host bar…Doors open 5:30pm; Program begins 6pm
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Legislative Meetings of Interest Scheduled for the week of April 3:
Senate Finance Committee will continue to work on the state operating budget HB 57 and the Mental Health budget HB 59, and bills previously heard.
House Finance Committee continues to work on HB 115 – Income Tax & PFD, with amendments scheduled for Monday 4/3 and further work on Tuesday 4/4. We have heard verbally from Committee Co-Chair Rep. Seaton that the withholding for all independent contractors will be removed from the bill. This would have been very unworkable for fishermen, legally questionable with the IRS, and we will continue to monitor the bill.
Monday, April 3, 2017
1:00 PM – House Resources Committee – Room 124
HB 129 – Fish and Game offense, licenses, and penalties – Public testimony
3:30 PM – Senate Resources Committee – Room 205
SB 88 – Mental Health Land Exchange
Tuesday, April 4:
10:00 AM – House Fisheries Committee – Room 120
HB 128 – Shellfish Enhance. Projects; Hatcheries
Wednesday, April 5:
9:00 A.M. Senate Labor and Commerce – Room 105
SB 95 – Mariculture revolving loan fund – public testimony
1:00 P.M. – House Resources Committee – Room 124
HB 177 – Invasive Species – invited testimony – see Friday hearing for public testimony
1:30 P.M. – House Finance Committee – Room 519
HB 60 – Motor Fuel Tax
1:30 P.M. – Senate Judiciary Committee – Room 105
SB 60 – Fish and Game offense, licenses, and penalties
3:30 P.M. Senate Resources Committee – Room 205
SB 89 – Shellfish Enhancement Projects; Hatcheries – public testimony –
Thursday, April 6:
10:00 A.M. House Fisheries – Room 120
HJR 9 – Canadian Mines on Transboundary Rivers
Friday, April 7:
1:00 PM – House Resources Committee – Room 124
HB 177 – Invasive Species -Public Testimony –
To testify it’s best to go to a Legislative Information office – see them online at http://akleg.gov/lios.php . If you can’t get to an LIO you can call toll free 844-586-9085 and ask to be connected to this hearing.
Alaska State Legislature home page: http://akleg.gov/ .
To watch committee meetings live, click on “Live Now” tab near the upper right of the legislature home page.
Bills related to fisheries, and others that may be of interest to fishermen
HCR 8 – Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center
HJR 9 – Canadian Mines on Transboundary Rivers
HJR 12 – Opposing FDA approval of GM Salmon and urging labeling
HB 14 – Leg. approval of Bristol Bay sulfide mine- Josephson
HB 17 – Establishing a fish and game conservation program/account in ADFG – Josephson
HB 19 – Ban neonicotinoid pesticides – Drummond…
HB 29 -Prohibiting sale of genetically modified fish/fish products – Tarr
HB 32 – Relating to the labeling of food; relating to the misbranding of food; requiring labeling of food produced with genetic engineering – Tarr
HB 42 – Relating to seizure of property; relating to forfeiture to the state – includes language on seizure of fishing permits…
HB 46 Procure AK Fish, Ag Prod.; Raw Milk Sales – Tarr
HB 56 Relating to limitations on certain commercial fishing loans- Ortiz
& companion bill:
SB 71 – Relating to limitations on certain commercial fishing loans – Stevens
HB 60 – Motor Fuel Tax – House Rules by Request of the Governor
HB 62 – Adoption of new regulations – would require repeal of another, except for regulations adopted by boards & commissions
SB25 – Motor Fuel Tax – Senate Rules by Request of the Governor
HB 63 Transferring duties from DCCED to Department of Revenue – Rep. Pruitt
HB 76 – Mariculture revolving loan fund…” (Rep. Ortiz)
SB 95 – Mariculture revolving loan fund – Senate Companion bill (Stevens)
HB 87 Board if Fisheries and Board of Game – Conflict of Interest
HB88 Board of Fisheries Membership – Rep. Stutes
SB 88 – Mental Health Land Exchange – Sen. Stedman
SB 92 Derelict vessels – Sen. Micchche
HB 107 Fisheries enhancement permit – egg & unfed fry enhancement in same waters (Talerico)
HB 115 – Income Tax & PFD – including withholding on crew payments (House Finance)
HB 128 – Shellfish Enhance. Projects; Hatcheries (Ortiz)
SB 89 – Shellfish Enhancement Projects; Hatcheries (Stevens)
HB 129 – Fish and Game offense, licenses, and penalties (Governor)
SB 60 – Fish and Game offense, licenses, and penalties (Governor)
HB 149 – Board of Fisheries five year cycle
HB 155 – AK Mental Health Land Exchange
HB 177 – Invasive Species (Tarr)
HB 188 – Regional permit banks (Kreiss – Tomkins)
HB 199 – Salmon Habitat permitting (Stutes)
SJR 3 Urging the President of the United States and the United States Congress to mitigate the harm done to the state’s seafood industry because of the withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement; and urging the President of the United States and the United States Congress to work to benefit and protect the state’s seafood industry – by Senator Wielechowski.
Inclusion of an item does not mean that UFA endorses or agrees.
To support UFA by joining or renewing your membership, visit: www.ufafish.org/become-a-
Compiled by UFA staff and made possible by the support of UFA’s Group, Business, Individual and Crew members.
ufa@ufafish.org
PO Box 20229
Juneau AK 99802
(907) 586-2820