HB320 Summary

• Establishes a voluntary permit buyback program administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to acquire and retire commercial gill net permits from saltwater commercial fishermen.

• Eligible participants include resident Alabama saltwater commercial fishermen with valid permits as of June 1, 2008, and nonresident fishermen with 25+ years of continuous permits without fishing violations, who may surrender their licenses on or before September 30, 2011.

• Payment amounts are tiered based on dockside income from gill net fishing over 2005-2007: $6,000 for those with less than $5,000 in income; 200% of highest year's income for $5,000-$20,000 range; and 125% of highest year's income for those exceeding $20,000.

• Authorizes the Department to levy a surcharge of up to $8 on all annual resident and nonresident saltwater fishing licenses (excluding disabled persons' licenses) to fund the program, with proceeds deposited into the Marine Resources Restoration Fund.

• Fishermen who surrender permits receive two academic years of free tuition at any public postsecondary institution and become permanently ineligible to purchase commercial gill net licenses; after June 1, 2008, the Department cannot issue permits to nonresidents.