UFA Legislative Update: April 13, 2018

Dear UFA Members and Friends,

It’s spring which means many of you are getting your boats ready for the summer season and/or participating in spring fisheries throughout the state.  It also means the legislature is entering their final push to the finish line.

HB 199 was the primary focus of House Fisheries this week with three scheduled times for public testimony.  Listening to the testimony, there were numerous commercial fishermen around the state who called in to testify, with the majority of them in support of the bill.

The joint House and Senate confirmation hearing for governor appointees was held on Tuesday, April 10.  Both Al Cain and Orville Huntington were confirmed to the Board of Fisheries to serve another term, and Dale Kelley and Fate Putman were confirmed as CFEC Commissioners.

Lastly, I would like to take a moment in this Legislative Update to recognize our outgoing UFA President, Jerry McCune. Jerry is a lifetime member of UFA and has served as President most recently since 2014, as well as from 1992 to 1996.  One of Jerry’s primary roles was acting a UFA lobbyist during the legislature.  I personally would like to thank Jerry for his help in guiding me through the Capital Building and introducing me to people. Jerry has been a strong voice for UFA at the legislature for over two decades, and UFA has been extremely lucky to have him as part of our organization.

More details are below and we thank you for your support.

-Frances Leach, Executive Director

Please support our business members – see links on our website

To join UFA see https://www.ufafish.org/become-a-member/

 


 

Contents:

  1. Legislation – happenings from this week…
  2. Legislative meetings of interest for next week
  3. To testify, watch or listen in to a hearing
  4. Bills related to fisheries, and others that may be of interest to fishermen


 

1. Legislation – happenings from this week on fishery related bills we are tracking

HB 199–Salmon Habitat Permitting (Stutes) House Fisheriesheard public testimony on Saturday April 7, Monday April 10, and Tuesday, April 11(click on the dates for video/audio of that day’s public testimony). Representative Geran Tarr signed on as an additional co-sponsor. The most recent version is HB 199 ver M 04.02.18.pdf. Documents with the summary of changes from versionI to Mand from version N to I, and extensive reference and comment letters are posted under the bill’s documents tab. Note that many of the comments were to previous versions of the bill.

HB 354– Dive fishery management (Ortiz) was moved to the Senate and referred to Resources committee. A hearingis scheduled for Monday April 16 at 3:30 P.M. – see below.

HB 267re release of certain records relating to big game hunters, guided hunts, and guided sport fishing activities to municipalities for verification of taxes (Edgmon) – was moved to the Senate and referred to Finance committee. A hearingis scheduled for Monday, April 16 at 9:00 A.M. – see below.

SB 92–(CS Posted) An Act relating to abandoned and derelict vessels; relating to the registration of vessels – was passed by the Senate yesterday and introduced in the House and referred to Finance committee. Current version is CSSB 92(FIN)am.  A hearingis scheduled in House Finance for Monday, April 16 at 9:00 A.M.  – see below.

HB 231  re the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (Administration) was heard and passed from House Finance on Monday and is now in House Rules awaiting scheduling for a floor vote. The current version of the bill CSHB 231(FIN)is posted under the documents tab of the home page.

HB 128– Shellfish Enhancement (Ortiz) passed Senate Finance on Wednesday and is in Senate Rules committee awaiting scheduling for a floor vote.

HB 129– Fish and Game offense, licenses, and penalties (Administration) – passed Senate Finance on Wednesday and is in Senate Rules awaiting scheduling for a floor vote.


2. Legislative meetings of interest for the week of April 16

 

Monday, April 16, 2018

9:00 A.M. Senate Finance Committee – Room 532

HB 267  – Release of records relating to big game hunters, guided hunts, and guided sport fishing activities to municipalities for verification of taxes (Edgmon)

Meeting link

 

9:00 A.M. House Finance Committee – Room 519

SB 92–Abandoned and derelict vessels & registration (Micciche) – Current version CSSB 92(FIN)am.

Meeting link

 

3:30 P.M.Senate Resources Committee – Room 205 – public testimony

HB 354– Dive fishery management (Ortiz) (Note this is the fourth bill scheduled for this hearing)

Meeting link

 

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

10:00 A.M.House Fisheries special committee – Room 120

Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled… Meeting link

Bills currently in committee

 

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

9:00 A.M. House Finance Committee – Room 519

HB 383– Tourism Marketing Board; Assessment – Public testimony

Meeting link… Current version is CSHB 383(AET).

 

Thursday, April 19, 2018

10:00 A.M.House Fisheries special committee – Room 120

Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled… Meeting link

Bills currently in committee


 

3. To testify, watch or listen in to a hearing …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 in to listen in or testify through the following numbers – call & ask for the specific committee hearing:

From Anchorage based phones call 907-563-9085;

From Juneau based phones or outside Alaska call 907-586-9085;

From other areas of Alaska, call toll-free 844-586-9085…and ask for the specific hearing.

To watch hearings onlinego to legislative home page at http://w3.akleg.gov/  at the time of the hearing, and click on the “Live Now” tab, and then select the meeting.

To watch floor sessions and other hearings see Gavel to Gavel archives.

To find your legislators and contact infosee http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/  – see “WHO REPRESENTS ME?” in the lower right corner of the page.


 

4.Bills related to fisheries, and others that may be of interest to fishermen…with primary sponsor and current committee.

HCR 8  – Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center (House Fisheries – passed House and Senate Committees, now in Senate Rules – UFA Supports)

HJR 12– Opposing FDA approval of GM Salmon and urging labeling (Tarr – passed House and Senate, awaiting transmittal to the Governor – UFA Supports)

HB 14– Leg. approval of Bristol Bay sulfide mine (Josephson – now in House Resources – new fiscal notes posted by DEC, DNR & ADFG)

HB 17– Establishing a fish and game conservation program/account in ADFG (Josephson – now in House Resources)

HB 19– Ban neonicotinoid pesticides (Drummond – passed House Resources, now in Finance)

SB25– Motor Fuel Tax – Senate Rules by Request of the Governor (Senate Finance)

HB 29– Prohibiting sale of genetically modified fish/fish products (Tarr – House Fisheries)

HB 32  – Relating to the labeling of food; relating to the misbranding of food; requiring labeling of food produced with genetic engineering (Tarr- House Resources – UFA Supports)

HB 42– Relating to seizure of property; relating to forfeiture to the state – includes language on seizure of fishing permits  (Wilson – House Finance)

HB 46– Procure AK Fish, Ag Prod.; Raw Milk Sales (Tarr – House Finance)

HB 56– Relating to limitations on certain commercial fishing loans (Ortiz – Passed House – now in Senate Finance – UFA Supports)

& companion bill:

SB 71– Relating to limitations on certain commercial fishing loans (Stevens –Senate Finance – UFA Supports)

HB 60– Motor Fuel Tax (House Rules by Request of the Governor –now in House Finance)

SB 89  – Shellfish Enhancement Hatcheries (Stevens – now in Senate Finance – UFA Supports)

HB 128  – Companion bill (Ortiz – passed House and now in Senate Rules – UFA Supports)

SB 95– Mariculture revolving loan fund (Stevens – Senate Finance – UFA Supports)

HB 76–  House companion bill – (Ortiz – passed House and now in Senate Finance – UFA Supports)

HB 87– Board of Fisheries and Board of Game – Conflict of Interest (Stutes –passed House, now in Senate State Affairs – UFA Supports)

HB 88–  Board of Fisheries Membership (Rep. Stutes – now in House Fisheries)

SB 92–(CS Posted) An Act relating to abandoned and derelict vessels; relating to the registration of vessels; relating to certificates of title for vessels; relating to the duties of the Department of Administration; relating to the duties of the Department of Natural Resources; establishing the derelict vessel prevention program; establishing the derelict vessel prevention program fund; and providing for an effective date.” (Micciche – now in House Finance)

& House companion

HB 386– (Seaton – passed House Fisheries and now in House Finance)

HB 107– Fisheries enhancement permit – egg & unfed fry enhancement in same waters (Talerico – House Resources)

SB 115– “An Act relating to the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission; and providing for an effective date.” (Administration – Senate State Affairs)

HB 231– “An Act relating to the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission; and providing for an effective date.” (Administration –House Rules – UFA Supports)

HB 129– Fish and Game offense, licenses, and penalties (Administration – Passed House Resources and Senate committees, now in Senate Rules)

SB 60 – Companion bill passed (Administration -now in Senate Judiciary)

HB 149– Board of Fisheries five year cycle (Chenault – House Fisheries – UFA Supports)

HB 155– AK Mental Health Land Exchange (Ortiz –House Finance)

SB 173–”An Act relating to the liability of a person or the state for the release of certain pesticides during application on a utility pole.” (Micciche – passed S. Resources and now in S. Judiciary)

HB 173– Climate Change Commission (Josephson – now in House resources)

HB 177– Invasive Species (Tarr–House Finance)

HB 188– Regional permit banks (Kreiss–Tomkins – passed House Fisheries, now in House Labor and Commerce)

HB 199– Salmon Habitat permitting (Stutes – House Fisheries – New CS version I)

HB 237– Salmon Escapement Goals (Neuman – House Fisheries)

HB 354– Dive Fishery management (Ortiz – Senate Resources – UFA Supports)

HB 379– Fishermen’s Fund reimbursement (Ortiz – passed House committees and in House Rules awaiting floor vote – UFA Supports)

SB 210– Mislabeling by retail food establishments (Wielechowski – Senate Judiciary – UFA Supports)

SB 211– “An Act relating to the temporary transfer of limited entry commercial fishing permits; and providing for an effective date.” (Stevens, referred to Resources and Finance committees)

HJR 35 –Urging Co-Management Plan for Sea Otters (Millett – House Community and Regional Affairs – UFA Supports)

SJR 13: – Urging Co-Management Plan for Sea Otters (Stedman – Passed the Senate and now in House Resources – UFA Supports)

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 (Senator Wielechowski –Senate State Affairs – UFA Supports)

HCR 25 – Requesting the Governor to establish an office of outdoor access and recreation…