Legislative Report

Legislative Update

Dear Guides, We are coming to the end of the second year of having our lives and businesses defined by the COVID-19 pandemic. On the government affairs side, 2021 was just as challenging as 2020 but for different reasons. For the hunting guides new challenges are waiting for us in 2022 that are not all together unexpected even if the stars have aligned in ways that we could never have predicted. On one hand members are reporting stronger demand for Alaska hunts than ever. On the other hand some conservation concerns, driven by tough winters, have exposed some of the weaknesses in guide policies that will take serious work to navigate in the coming year or years. While the future challenges are always a cause for worry and consternation I want to take the time and report back on what I have worked on for APHA this year without speculating on the future.

When the legislature gaveled in for the first year of the 32nd legislature we were faced with unknown impacts of an expired COVID-19 disaster declaration, the capital being closed to the public and topsyturvy leadership struggles in the house. APHA’s approach to this situation was cautious partly out of respect for the ongoing public health crisis and partly because difficult politics within the legislative body is a dangerous environment. Our main priority was to reauthorize the Intensive Management (IM) surcharge and permanently remove the sunset on that source of funding to the Division of Wildlife. As session evolved and we understood better some of the provisions of the original disaster declaration (DD) we realized working on a permanent reform to charitable gaming would rise to a legislative priority. Securing permanent funding for the division of wildlife and reforming charitable gaming laws would be a full plate for any group but as session evolved even more issues would arise that required our attention.

At the end of the 31st legislature a serious flaw in language that was included in the reauthorization of the Big Game Commercial Services Board (BGCSB) was identified. This flaw mandated that ANY wildlife or guiding violation would be cause for a Master Guide license to be revoked. The new interpretation, understood only after the bill was passed, required a master guide license be revoked for even minor paperwork violation. This error was unforeseen and especially surprising because two different state attorneys had reviewed the language in the bill and assured the bill sponsor, the public and amendment sponsor that paperwork violations or other minor tickets were not cause for revocation. APHA was in a tough spot because we had lobbied hard for the reauthorization and did not spot the error until the bill became law and subsequent analysis had been presented to us. At the beginning of session in 2021 Master Guides were at risk of losing their licenses for paperwork violations.

On our first legislative priority APHA and the coalition of sporting groups found themselves in good hands when Senator Josh Revak (R), Chair of Senate Resources, once again filed legislation (SB 22) to reauthorize the IM surcharge. The hunting conservation community sprung into practiced action and began lobbying to move the reauthorization through the legislature rapidly to avoid a conservation funding shortfall. Leaders in the Republican led Senate did a good job of prioritizing and advancing Revak’s bill. Revak proved capable of working with Senate minority members and garnered an 18 to 1 voted in favor on the Senate floor. Moving to the house SB 21 faced a different political landscape. Once again the hunting communities solid relationships and Revak’s partnership with the new Chair of house resources, Josiah Patkotak (I), moved SB 21 rabidly along in the House. A special thanks to leaders in the house, Speaker Louise Stutes (R) and Rules Chair Bryce Edgmon (I) for getting this to the floor. SB 21 passed the house 38 to 2. I’m proud to say that APHA played a key role in getting SB 21 passed.

By February it was apparent that reauthorizing the COVID-19 DD was politically uncertain. I worked with the relevant legislative committees, the Governor’s office and our legal team in DC to identify provisions of the DD that were beneficial to the guides and wildlife conservation in Alaska. One previously overlooked portion of the DD that came into focus was the regulation suspensions allowing for online raffle ticket sales due to impacts on in-person events such as charitable fundraisers. Almost simultaneously as we worked to understand the DD representative Zach Fields sponsored HB 218 to make DD provisions, updating arcane charitable gaming laws, permanent. Working

with our team in DC and the Alaska Wild Sheep Foundation and other hunting groups we began lobbying for HB 218. While HB 218 remains in house Rules now, we were successful in getting changes included in the DD passed by the legislature allowing online raffle sales for 2021 and into spring of 2022. This was key to ensuring viability of nonprofits such as APHA through the pandemic and should ultimately result in modernizing charitable gaming laws in Alaska. Once again, I am proud of APHA’s effectiveness on this issue and my work on the group’s behalf.

Senator Von-Imhoff’s staff worked to with the BGCSB to find a resolution to the Master Guide license revocation issue. This resolution was moved and voted on in the light of day by the BGCSB. APHA acted in a monitoring role, deferring to the BGCSB and Von-Imhoff’s office. Von-Imhoff’s staff moved the bill to final passage in less than a month near the end of session. APHA mostly monitored the bills progress working in a defensive position if unsupported changes or amendments were proposed. Senator Von-Imhoff and her staff deserve recognition for their work to correct mistakes made in the BGCSB reauthorization bill. The BGCSB also deserves credit for working hard to listen to industry and guide input to propose a solution that accomplished the original intent of the legislature and prevent disciplinary overreach. All in all it was great to see industry’s regulatory body and the legislature work collaboratively like they were intended to do.

It is true some other challenges arose in 2021 that will continue into 2022 and beyond. Those future challenges aside, I wanted to report on some of the work we did in Juneau this last year during an especially trying and difficult time in our state. If we can successfully work through 2020 and 2021 there is cause for optimism that we can once again rise to the challenges waiting for us in 2022 and beyond. I remain honored and proud to work for and on behalf of APHA and Alaska’s hunting guides.

THOR STACEY

Director Of Government Affairs (907) 723 1494

The Alaska Professional Hunter Partners

AK EST. 1963