UFA Legislative Update: March 25, 2016


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.php
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-member/

Compiled by staff of United Fishermen of Alaska
ufa@ufa-fish.org
PO Box 20229 
Juneau AK 99802 
(907) 586-2820