Dear UFA members and friends,
It has been another busy week at UFA. We are monitoring several bills closely and Jerry and I have been meeting with legislators and their staff to address questions and concerns.
We have been closely watching SB 135 the Cook Inlet Permit Buyback Bill and waiting for a new committee substitute (CS) that we are encouraged to hear is forthcoming.
Also on our radar is HB 188 the Regional Fisheries Trusts Bill which has gone through a few revisions and we have been told another CS is coming.
SB 92 Vessel Registration, Titles, and Derelicts has us on alert and Jerry and I will be meeting early next week with Senator Micciche’s staff to get more information to address our concerns.
Lastly, HB 199 Habitat Protection, is still moving along. The committee received an overview of current permitting systems by DEC and F&G. We are awaiting more revisions.
We’ll also be at the Pebble Mine status update in House Resources on Friday Feb 19 – see schedule below.
There are lots of bills to keep an eye on, but as of yet there is no substantial movement.
Welcome new UFA member group Kodiak Seiners Association.
Thanks to UFA members for their support.
We encourage members to support our business members – see links on our website.
-Frances Leach, Executive Director.
Contents:
- Governor Bill Walker appoints Randall Kowalke of Willow to Senate District E…
- New documents have been posted to HB 199 Salmon Habitat permitting
- Correction or adjustment: RE CFEC
- The 30th Alaska Legislature – happenings from this week…
- Legislative Meetings of interest for the week of February 12
- To testify, watch or listen in to a hearing…
- Bills related to fisheries, and others that may be of interest to fishermen
- Governor Bill Walker appoints Randall Kowalke of Willow to Senate District E…
…to fill seat vacated by former Senator Mike Dunleavy… Governor’s press release
- New documents have been posted to HB 199 Salmon Habitat permitting – See the documents tab
- Correction or adjustment: RE CFEC – the name read across on the senate floor session on February 2 for appointment to the CFEC is withdrawn. We await an appointment to this important post.
- The 30th Alaska Legislature – happenings from this week…
House Fisheries special committee heard an overview 2/6 on ADFG Habitat Division by Ron Benkhert… see Powerpoint at House Fisheries Presentation-Fish Habitat Permitting 2.6.18.pdf … video is posted on the meeting page…
House ADFG budget subcommittee met Tuesday 2/6 for an overview by the Division of Wildlife Conservation. Video is posted on the meeting page…
House Judiciary committee met 2/7 and heard and held HB 129 – Fish and Game offense, licenses, and penalties – and met again 2/9 and moved it out of committee, it’s final committee of referral in the House. It will soon be moved to House Rules.
House Fisheries special committee heard presentations on the permitting process on 2/8 by FERC, DEC, and DOT.
Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA) presented a Lunch and Learn on Tuesday 2/6.
- Legislative Meetings of interest for the week of February 12 (click on committee name for link to hearing page):
Monday, February 12, 2018
3:30 P.M. Senate Resources committee – Room 205 – third bill is SB 92 –An Act relating to abandoned and derelict vessels (Micciche) – a new Committee Substitute is posted in the meeting’s documents tab..
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
10:00 A.M. House Fish and Game budget subcommittee – Room 120 – Overview by Sport fish division.
11:00 A.M. House Fisheries special committee – Room 120 – HB 149 – Board of Fisheries five year cycle (Chenault – UFA supports)… See the documents tab for new CS version D & other documents.
12:00 P.M. Joint House and Senate Resources committees – Room 532 – Overview: Update on Alaska’s Mining Industry and Projects… and presentation by Alaska Miners Association and Council of AK Producers
Thursday, February 15, 2018
10:00 A.M. House Fish and Game budget subcommittee – Room 120 – ADFG Budget Amendments
11:00 A.M. House Fisheries special committee – Room 120 – Presentation on the Permitting Process by DNR
1:15 P.M. House Transportation committee – Room 124 – Presentation: The Alaska Marine Highway System Reform Initiative
Friday, February 16, 2018
1:00 P.M. House Resources committee – Room 124 – Presentation by General Mark Hamilton – Pebble Mine Status Update – look for document to be posted before the meeting at the documents tab of the committee link above.
- 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 – & 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 online go 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.
- Bills related to fisheries, and others that may be of interest to fishermen…
HCR 8 – Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center (House Fisheries – passed House and Senate Committees, now in Senate Rules)
HJR 12 – Opposing FDA approval of GM Salmon and urging labeling (Tarr – passed House and Senate Committees, now in Senate Rules)
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
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)
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 – House Finance)
& companion bill:
SB 71 – Relating to limitations on certain commercial fishing loans (Stevens –Senate Finance)
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)
HB 128 – companion bill (Ortiz – passed House and now in Senate Finance)
SB 95 – Mariculture revolving loan fund (Stevens – Senate Finance)
HB 76 – House companion bill – (Ortiz – passed House and now in Senate Finance)
HB 87 Board of Fisheries and Board of Game – Conflict of Interest (Stutes –passed House, now in Senate State Affairs)
HB 88 Board of Fisheries Membership (Rep. Stutes – House Fisheries)
SB 92 – CS COMING 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.” (This bill includes some insurance requirements that we are not aware of as being currently available) (Micciche – Senate Resources)
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 Fisheries)
HB 129 – Fish and Game offense, licenses, and penalties (Administration – Passed House Resources and Judiciary committees –will be moved to House Rules)
SB 60 -Companion bill passed (Administration -now in senate Judiciary)
HB 149 – Board of Fisheries five year cycle (Chenault – House Fisheries)
HB 155 – AK Mental Health Land Exchange (Ortiz –House Finance)
HB 177 – Invasive Species (Tarr–House Finance)
HB 188 – Regional permit banks (Kreiss–Tomkins – House Fisheries –new version introduced – see above – now scheduled for Tuesday 1/30)
HB 199 – Salmon Habitat permitting (Stutes – House Fisheries – new version introduced – see above)
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)
Compiled by UFA staff and made possible by the support of our Group, Business, Individual and Crew members.
To join UFA see https://www.ufafish.org/become-a-member/