Signed by Governor Michael Dunleavy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that limits the number of hunting guides in a specific area by selling hunting concessions in Alaska.

Highlights:

• Requires the Board of Game to consider proposals to establish a big game guide concession area which would be administered by the Department of Natural Resources (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a big game guide from conducting a hunt in an established concession area unless they hold a big game guide concession area permit (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes individuals to submit a proposal to the Board of Game for the establishment of a big game concession area (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the Board of Game to take the following steps following a proposal (Sec. 2):

• Consider the proposal at the next regular meeting after 15 days’ public notice;

• Approve a proposal in consultation with the Department of Fish and Game, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Big Game Commercial Services Board, if it determines that the area:

• Supports the conservation and management of the state’s land and big game resources;

• Aids in the enforcement of regulations relating to guided hunts for big game; and

• Is in the public interest; and

• Determine the number of full and limited big game guide concession area permits that the Department of Natural Resources shall make available, with the following criteria:

• The Board may establish advisory boards composed of representatives familiar with the area under proposal;

• The Board may not combine more than three existing guide use areas into a single big game guide concession area; and

• The Board may not establish more than one big game guide concession area in a single guide use area.

• Requires the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources to implement a big game guide concession area permit program to limit the number of individuals who may conduct big game guiding on a big game guide concession area (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the permit program must (Sec. 3):

• Encourage conservation;

• Limit the number of guided hunts in the same area;

• Reduce user conflicts between users of land in the state;

• Ensure a responsible, professional, and economically healthy big game guide guiding industry; and

• Incentivise long-term planning and conservation of natural resources by big game guides.

• Specifies that the permit process must be open, public, and competitive, and based on established standards and scoring criteria (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits the commissioner from issuing permits based on the highest bid amount, or from issuing more than three permits at a time to one big game guide (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that a concession permit is valid for 10 years, and must not be renewed without the same open and competitive process (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the holder of a concession permit may transfer the permit to another qualified individual, subject to commissioner approval (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the commissioner to suspend or revoke a concession permit (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text