AK Stat § 43.76.230 (2021)
2021 Alaska Statutes|Title 43. Revenue and Taxation|Chapter 76. Fisheries Taxes and Assessments|Article 3. Salmon Fishery Assessment.|Sec. 43.76.230. Election to approve, amend, or terminate salmon fishery assessment.

(a) A qualified salmon fishery association may conduct an election under this section after the commissioner of fish and game approves (1) the notice to be published by the qualified salmon fishery association; the notice must state that all salmon sold in the fishery are subject to the salmon fishery assessment, the rate of the salmon fishery assessment to be approved, amended, or terminated at the election, and the date on which the assessment would terminate under AS 43.76.250(a); (2) the ballot to be used in the election; and (3) the registration and voting procedure for the approval, amendment, or termination of the salmon fishery assessment. (b) The salmon fishery assessment is levied under AS 43.76.220 in a fishery on the effective date stated on the ballot if (1) the assessment is approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the eligible interim-use permit and entry permit holders in the fishery; and (2) the election results are certified by the commissioner of fish and game. (c) In conducting an election under this section, a qualified salmon fishery association shall adopt the following procedures: (1) the qualified salmon fishery association for the fishery shall make copies of the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the association available to all interim-use permit and entry permit holders in the fishery; (2) the qualified salmon fishery association for the fishery shall hold at least one public meeting not less than 30 days before the date on which ballots must be postmarked to be counted in the election to explain, as appropriate, the reason for approval or amendment of the proposed salmon fishery assessment, the reason for the proposed rate and the proposed termination date of the salmon fishery assessment, or the reason for termination of the salmon fishery assessment, and to explain the registration and voting procedure to be used in the election; the qualified salmon fishery association shall provide notice of the meeting by (A) mailing the notice to each eligible interim-use permit and entry permit holder; (B) posting the notice in at least three public places in the administrative area in which the fishery occurs; and (C) publishing the notice in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the administrative area in which the fishery occurs at least once a week for two consecutive weeks before the meeting; (3) the qualified salmon fishery association shall mail two ballots to each eligible interim-use permit and entry permit holder; the first ballot shall be mailed not more than 45 days before the date ballots must be postmarked to be counted in the election; the second ballot shall be mailed not less than 15 days before the date ballots must be postmarked to be counted in the election; the qualified salmon fishery association shall adopt procedures to ensure that only one ballot from each eligible interim-use permit and entry permit holder is counted in the election; (4) the ballot must (A) state that all salmon sold in the fishery are subject to the salmon fishery assessment; (B) state the rate of the assessment to be levied under AS 43.76.220 and the date on which the assessment would terminate under AS 43.76.250(a); (C) ask the question whether the salmon fishery assessment addressed on the ballot shall be approved, amended, or terminated, as appropriate; (D) indicate the fishery for which the salmon fishery assessment will be levied or terminated; (E) provide an effective date for the approval, amendment, or termination of the salmon fishery assessment; and (F) indicate the date on which returned ballots must be postmarked in order to be counted; (5) the ballots shall be returned by mail and shall be counted by an auditor selected by the qualified salmon fishery association and approved by the commissioner of fish and game; the qualified salmon fishery association shall pay the costs of counting the ballots. (d) The commissioner of fish and game shall certify the results of an election under this section if the commissioner determines that the requirements of (a) and (c) of this section have been satisfied. (e) A qualified salmon fishery association may employ or contract with another person to administer an election under this section subject to the supervision of the association. (f) Except as otherwise provided under AS 43.76.240 and 43.76.250, an election to amend the rate or termination date of a salmon fishery assessment or to terminate a salmon fishery assessment shall be conducted under the same procedures established under (a), (c), and (d) of this section for an election to approve a salmon fishery assessment. (g) In this section, “eligible interim-use permit and entry permit holder” means an individual who, 90 days before the date ballots must be postmarked to be counted in an election under this section, is listed in the records of the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission as the legal holder of an interim-use permit for salmon fishing gear or an entry permit for salmon fishing gear that authorizes the individual to fish commercially in the salmon fishery for which the salmon fishery assessment is to be approved, amended, or terminated.