From UFA President Jerry McCune:
This week the legislature held committee hearings for Board of Fisheries appointees Robert Ruffner and Israel Payton, and House Fisheries will hear Al Cain this coming Tuesday. House Fisheries made amendments to HB 300concerning shellfish mariculture, similar to those from Senate Resources committee on the companion bill SB 172. UFA supports these bills and the changes.
Fish Tax bills SB 135 and HB 251 continue to be held in their first committees of referral, as is HB 253 or Mining tax increase. UFA’s resolution calls for any new or increased seafood industry taxes to be considered in the context of a comprehensive state of Alaska plan for revenue generation. We appreciate Senate Resources Chair Senator Giessel and House Fisheries Chair Representative Stutes for their cooperation. If taxes on other industries advance to their respective Finance Committees, we expect fisheries tax bills to move to Finance committees for consideration along with other industries’ taxes increases. The last three weeks of the regular session ending April 17 will be busy for everyone.
Comfish Kodiak – forums March 30 to April 2, 2016…
House Fisheries chair Representative Stutes will be in Kodiak at Comfish – see Friday 3:00 on the Comfish Schedule
Also be sure to note the change of venue for the USCG Alternate Safety Compliance workshop scheduled for 9:15 to Noon on Wednesday March 30 – will now be at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center classroom 118 Trident Way on Near Island.
Legislative schedule for the week of March 28, 2016:
(H)RESOURCES Standing Committee*
Mar 28 Monday 1:00 PM BARNES 124
+HB 373 APPROVAL OF SALE OF ROYALTY OIL TO TESORO TELECONFERENCED
+HB 253 ELCTRNC TAX RETURN;MINING LIC. TAX & FEES TELECONFERENCED
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
We expect House Resources may move the Mining tax bill HB253 to House Finance, which may inspire representative Stutes to allow HB 251 to move from House Fisheries to Finance, when she returns from Comfish in the following week.
(S)RESOURCES Standing Committee*
Mar 28 Monday 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
— Please Note Hearing May Go Until 5:30 p.m. —
+ HB 137 HUNT/FISH/TRAP: FEES;LICENSES;EXEMPTIONS TELECONFERENCED
+ HB 216 NAVIGABLE WATER; INTERFERENCE, DEFINITION TELECONFERENCED
<Pending Referral> — Public Testimony —
To teleconference in to Senate Resources if you cannot get to a legislative Information office contact Senate Resources committee staff Akis Gialopsos at 907-465-4843.
(S)STATE AFFAIRS Standing Committee*
Mar 29 Tuesday 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
+SJR 12 CONST. AM: ELECTED ATTORNEY GENERAL TELECONFERENCED
— Public Testimony —
+ HB 128 ALASKA WILD SALMON DAY TELECONFERENCED
— Public Testimony —
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
UFA Letter of Support for HB 128
(H)FISHERIES Special Committee*
Mar 29 Tuesday 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
+Confirmation Hearing: Board of Fisheries – Al Cain TELECONFERENCED
+HB 241 NONRESIDENT SURCHARGE COMMERCIAL FISHING TELECONFERENCED
— Public Testimony —
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
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)RESOURCES Standing Committee*
Mar 30 Wednesday 1:00 PM BARNES 124
+HB 253 ELCTRNC TAX RETURN;MINING LIC. TAX & FEES TELECONFERENCED
*HB 282 AGDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS TELECONFERENCED
+SB 125 LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS OF AGDC BOARD TELECONFERENCED
+HB 286 FISH & GAME: OFFENSES;LICENSES;PENALTIES TELECONFERENCED
+Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
(H)FINANCE Standing Committee*
Mar 31 Thursday 8:30 AM HOUSE FINANCE 519
— Please Note Time —
+ Confirmation Hearing: TELECONFERENCED
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
HB 373 APPROVAL OF SALE OF ROYALTY OIL TO TESORO
<Pending Referral>
+ SB 124 EXTEND SUNSET ON AK COMMISSION ON AGING TELECONFERENCED
+ HB 319 SNOWMOBILE REGISTRATION FEES TELECONFERENCED
*+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.
(There is no House Fisheries meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 29)
(S)RESOURCES Standing Committee*
Apr 01 Friday 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
— Please Note Hearing May Go Until 5:30 p.m. —
+ Overview: State of Food Security in Alaska TELECONFERENCED
— Testimony <Invitation Only> —
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
To teleconference in to Senate Resources if you cannot get to a Legislative Information Office contact Senate Resources committee staff Akis Gialopsos at 907-465-4843
Looking for Legislative contact lists, staff lists, etc – take a look at the publications tab at http://akleg.gov/publications.
AK legislature home page: www.akleg.gov .
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 staff of United Fishermen of Alaska
ufa@ufa-fish.org
PO Box 20229
Juneau AK 99802
(907) 586-2820