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HB0253a -1- HB 253
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HOUSE BILL NO. 253
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION
BY REPRESENTATIVES BYNUM, Jimmie
Introduced: 1/20/26
Referred: House Special Committee on Fisheries, Finance
A BILL
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED
"An Act relating to the fisheries enhancement loan program; and providing for an 1
effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 16.10.500 is amended to read: 4
Sec. 16.10.500. Declaration of policy. It is the policy of the state, under 5
AS 16.10.500 - 16.10.560, to promote the enhancement of the state's fisheries by 6
making 7
(1) [MEANS OF] grants for organizational and planning purposes to 8
regional associations described in AS 16.10.510 that have qualified under 9
AS 16.10.380; [,] and 10
(2) [BY MEANS OF] long-term, low-interest [LOW INTEREST] 11
loans for hatchery planning, construction, and operation, and for planning and 12
implementation of enhancement and rehabilitation activities, including [, BUT NOT 13
LIMITED TO,] lake fertilization and habitat improvement, to 14
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HB 253 -2- HB0253a
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(A) regional associations described in AS 16.10.510 that 1
have qualified under AS 16.10.380; and 2
(B) federally recognized tribal organizations that operate 3
(i) fish hatcheries on an Indian reservation; or 4
(ii) under the terms of a federal permit. 5
* Sec. 2. AS 16.10.510 is amended to read: 6
Sec. 16.10.510. Powers and duties of the commissioner. The commissioner 7
may 8
(1) make loans to permit holders [,] under AS 16.10.400 - 16.10.470, 9
including those holders issued permits before June 24, 1977, and tribal organizations 10
under AS 16.10.500(2)(B), for the planning, construction, and operation of hatchery 11
facilities; 12
(2) make loans to qualified regional associations that have formed a 13
nonprofit corporation, [OR] a local nonprofit corporation approved by a qualified 14
regional association, or a tribal organization under AS 16.10.500(2)(B) for 15
preconstruction activities necessary to obtain a permit; 16
(3) designate agents and delegate powers to them as necessary; 17
(4) adopt regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of 18
AS 16.10.500 - 16.10.560, including regulations to establish reasonable fees for 19
services provided; 20
(5) establish amortization plans for repayment of loans, not to exceed 21
30 years unless the commissioner has extended the term of the loan beyond 30 years 22
under (11) of this section; 23
(6) establish the rate of interest for loans not to exceed nine and one-24
half percent a year; 25
(7) establish regional and local offices and advisory groups to carry 26
out, or assist in carrying out, the duties and authority of the commissioner; 27
(8) make grants for organizational and planning purposes to qualified 28
regional associations that have formed a nonprofit corporation, in amounts not 29
exceeding $100,000 a [PER] region and up to an additional $100,000 on a 50/50 cash 30
matching basis with the regional associations that have an authorized royalty 31
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HB0253a -3- HB 253
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assessment under AS 16.10.540; the state portion of the matching share shall be 1
available when a final vote for assessments is made under AS 16.10.540; this 2
provision also applies to qualified regional associations that have formed a nonprofit 3
corporation before June 24, 1977; 4
(9) make loans to qualified regional associations that have formed a 5
nonprofit corporation, [OR] to local nonprofit corporations approved by qualified 6
regional associations, or to tribal organizations under AS 16.10.500(2)(B) for 7
planning and implementation of fisheries enhancement and rehabilitation activities 8
including, but not limited to, lake fertilization and habitat improvement; 9
(10) refinance a debt obligation incurred by a borrower under this 10
section if the borrower otherwise qualifies for a loan under AS 16.10.500 - 16.10.560; 11
the interest rate for a loan to refinance a debt obligation incurred under this section 12
may not exceed the interest rate that is in effect for new loans under this section at the 13
time that the loan commitment for the refinancing loan is made; a loan made under 14
this paragraph is not subject to AS 16.10.525; 15
(11) extend the term of a loan made under this section if the 16
commissioner finds that extension of the term of the loan would alleviate an undue 17
financial hardship on the borrower; the commissioner shall submit annually a report to 18
the legislature summarizing the commissioner's decisions during the prior calendar 19
year to approve or deny requests to extend loans under this paragraph and the reasons 20
for the decisions; 21
(12) charge and collect the fees established under this section. 22
* Sec. 3. AS 16.10.520(a) is amended to read: 23
(a) A single fisheries enhancement loan may not exceed $10,000,000 for a 24
hatchery or other enhancement or rehabilitation activity conducted under a permit 25
granted to a qualified regional association that has formed a nonprofit corporation, 26
[OR] to a local nonprofit corporation approved by a qualified regional association, or 27
to a tribal organization under AS 16.10.500(2)(B). A loan for any other nonprofit 28
hatchery corporation or tribal organization project may not exceed $1,000,000. 29
* Sec. 4. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026. 30