FISHING GUIDE LICENSING/PERMITS

Plain English Breakdown

The bill amends existing law but relies on future regulations to actually create the licenses before these revocation rules can be used.

Rules for Revoking Sport Fishing Guide Licenses

This bill sets rules that the state must follow before it can take away a professional fishing guide's license.

What This Bill Does

• Requires written notice of reasons and an opportunity for a hearing before revoking a fishing guide license or permit if one is established by regulation.
• States that hearings must be held by the Office of Administrative Hearings.
• Allows the final decision from the hearing officer to be reviewed in court.
• Clarifies that these rules do not stop the commissioner from suspending all fishing guide licenses at once.

Who It Names or Affects

• Professional sport fishing guides who hold a license or permit
• The Department of Natural Resources and its commissioner
• The Office of Administrative Hearings

Terms To Know

Revocation

Taking away a license or permit.

Hearing

A formal meeting where someone can explain their side before a decision is made.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill only applies if the commissioner has already created licensing rules in regulations.
• The text does not list specific reasons that count as 'cause' for revoking a license.
• The effective date of this law is not listed in the provided source material.

Official Summary Text

FISHING GUIDE LICENSING/PERMITS
An Act relating to sport fishing guides.

Current Bill Text

HB0361a -1- HB 361
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1424\N

HOUSE BILL NO. 361

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE

Introduced: 2/23/26
Referred: House Special Committee on Fisheries, Labor and Commerce

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to sport fishing guides." 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 2
* Section 1. AS 41.21.506 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 3
(f) If the commissioner establishes a licensing or comparable procedure for 4
professional fishing guides in regulation under (b)(2) of this section, the license or 5
comparable permit may be revoked only for cause after giving the licensee or 6
comparable permit holder notice of the reason for revocation and an opportunity for 7
hearing. A hearing under this subsection shall be conducted by the office of 8
administrative hearings (AS 44.64.010), and the hearing officer's decision is a final 9
administrative order, subject to judicial review under AS 44.62.560 and 44.62.570. 10
Nothing in this subsection prohibits the commissioner from suspending all licenses or 11
comparable permits that may be issued under (b)(2) of this section. 12
* Sec. 2. AS 44.62.330(a) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 13
(47) Department of Natural Resources, as to revocation of a 14
professional fishing guide's license under AS 41.21.506. 15