Alabama Legislative Alert - Gill Net Legislation HB409
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Legislative Alert - House Bill-409
Dear Members: Last Thursday evening, Rep. David Sessions introduced a bill to the Agriculture and Forestry Committee, HB409, to amend the current gill net statute. The proposed bill would eliminate the requirement that at least 51% of a license holders income be produced from the commercial seafood business and ease the ban on the transfer of licenses. The Board wants to assure you that CCA Alabama leadership is working diligently to oppose the bill. Our leadership has worked closely with our legislators since the bill's introduction and will continue to work on your behalf. CCA has, for decades, worked to ensure a sunset on commercial saltwater gillnetting. During the 1990s, CCA was responsible for legislation requiring commercial gill netters to prove that at least 51% of reported income was produced from gill netting before the license would be renewed. In 2008, CCA worked closely with then Representative Jamie Ison to further enact legislation providing that no new licenses would be issued and that current licenses could not be transferred. As a result of CCA's efforts, the number of commercial gillnetters has decreased from over 200 to fewer than 60. At this time we are not requesting that our membership act on this piece of legislation. If we do need your help we will send out an alert and request specific action. We do want to keep you informed of the proposed bill and our efforts on your behalf. We will update all of you as this process progresses and if swift action is needed by the CCA membership we will be contacting you. Thank You, Bob Singleton State Chairman CCA Alabama |
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