From UFA President Jerry McCune:
This week has been busy with committees looking to hear multiple bills, vet appointees for confirmation to state boards, and move forward those that may be headed for passage & confirmation.
House Finance was scheduled to hear HB 250 regarding personal income taxes Thursday, but did not get to it and it is now scheduled for Tuesday April 5 at 5:00 pm, and on Friday April 8 at 1:30. This bill as drafted includes a general individual income tax of seven percent of federal tax liability, and reclassification of fishermen & crew as employers & employees for this purpose. Most interesting is a requirement for fishermen to withhold the estimated state tax liability equal to seven percent of the crew member’s federal tax liability.
We look forward to the discussion of how you would have this information to order to comply – and possible amendments.
As we write, Senate Resources has adopted committee substitute Version I for SB 163 regarding Outstanding National Resource Waters. Changes include changing the name from “National” to “State”; changing “may” to “shall” and others. The House companion HB 283 is expected to be heard and a Committee Substitute offered in one of the House Fisheries committee meetings scheduled next week (see below), under bills previously heard.
CFEC: HB 112 is scheduled for 1:00 P.M. on Monday in House Resources. A substitute bill is expected from sponsor Representative Stutes, with changes related to provisions of Administrative Order 279.
Finally, with House Fisheries Chair Representative Stutes and ADFG Commissioner Sam Cotten at Comfish in Kodiak this week, House Fisheries will get back to hearings Tuesday on fisheries tax bill HB 251 (10:00 am and 5:30) and Community Permit Bank bill HB 366 (5:30). Note that both bills will have invited testimony only at these hearings.
Fishery related bills in next week’s committee hearing schedule:
(H)RESOURCES Standing Committee*
Apr 04 Monday 1:00 PM BARNES 124 TELECONFERENCED
+ SB 32 TIMBER SALES
— Public Testimony —
*+ HB 112 REPEAL CFEC; TRANSFER FUNCTIONS TO ADFG
— Public Testimony —
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
To teleconference in to House Resources if you cannot get to a legislative Information office contact the office of Representative David Talerico at 907-465-4527.
(S)JUDICIARY Standing Committee*
Apr 04 Monday 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) TELECONFERENCED
— Public Testimony —
+ SJR 12 CONST. AM: ELECTED ATTORNEY GENERAL
+ SB 164 FISH & GAME: OFFENSES;LICENSES;PENALTIES
+ SB 108 AK SECURITIES ACT; PENALTIES; CRT. RULES
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
(H)FISHERIES Special Committee*
Apr 05 Tuesday 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120 TELECONFERENCED
+HB 251 ELECTRONIC TAX RETURNS & FISHERIES TAXES
— Testimony <Invitation Only> —
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled (HB 283)
To teleconference in to House Fisheries if you cannot get to a legislative Information office contact House Fisheries committee staff Reid Harris at 907-465-4087.
(H)FINANCE Standing Committee*
Apr 05 Tuesday 5:00 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519 TELECONFERENCED
— Please Note Time —
+ HB 319 SNOWMOBILE REGISTRATION FEES
+ HB 250 INDIV. INCOME TAX: CREDITS; RETURNS TELECONFERENCED
+ HB 249 ELECTRONIC TAX RETURNS & MOTOR FUEL TAX TELECONFERENCED
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
To teleconference into House Finance if you cannot get to a Legislative Information Office contact the office of Representative Steve Thompson at 907-465-3004.
(H)FISHERIES Special Committee*
Apr 05 Tuesday 5:30 PM CAPITOL 106 TELECONFERENCED
— Please Note Time & Location —
+HB 251 ELECTRONIC TAX RETURNS & FISHERIES TAXES
— Testimony <Invitation Only> —
+HB 366 COMM. FISH. ENTRY PERMIT LOANS & BANKS
— Testimony <Invitation Only> —
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled (HB 283)
(H)FINANCE Standing Committee*
Apr 06 Wednesday 8:30 AM HOUSE FINANCE 519 TELECONFERENCED
— Please Note Time —
+ HB 47 PERS CONTRIBUTIONS BY MUNICIPALITIES
+SB 124 EXTEND SUNSET ON AK COMMISSION ON AGING
+ HB 241 NONRESIDENT SURCHARGE COMMERCIAL FISHING
+ HCR 4 US COUNTERMAND CONVENTION DELEGATES
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
(S)FINANCE Standing Committee*
Apr 06 Wednesday 5:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532 TELECONFERENCED
+ SB 168 BOARD OF BARBERS AND HAIRDRESSERS
+ SB 172 FISH/SHELLFISH HATCHERY/ENHANCE. PROJECTS
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
(S)STATE AFFAIRS Standing Committee*
Apr 07 Thursday 8:30 AM BUTROVICH 205
+ Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: TELECONFERENCED
— Public Testimony on Appointees —
Board of Fisheries: Israel Payton, Alan Cain, Robert Ruffner
UFA letter of support for Robert Ruffner & Al Cain
(see below for BOF confirmation hearing in House Resources, Friday at 1:00 P.M..)
(There is no House Fisheries meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 7)
(H)RESOURCES Standing Committee*
Apr 08 Friday 1:00 PM BARNES 124 TELECONFERENCED
*HB 371 KENNY & PATTI BARBER SHOOTING RANGE
— Public Testimony —
+ Confirmation Hearing:
Board of Fisheries
— Public Testimony —
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
To teleconference in to House Resources if you cannot get to a legislative Information office contact the office of Representative David Talerico at 907-465-4527.
(H)FINANCE Standing Committee*
Apr 08 Friday 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519 TELECONFERENCED
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled –( HB 250 – Income tax & reclassifying fishermen as employers.)
Looking for Legislative contact lists, staff lists, etc – take a look at the publications tab at http://akleg.gov/publications.php
AK legislature home page: www.akleg.gov .
Inclusion of an item does not mean that UFA endorses or agrees.
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Compiled by staff of United Fishermen of Alaska
ufa@ufa-fish.org
PO Box 20229
Juneau AK 99802
(907) 586-2820