00                       CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 57(TRA)                                                                     
01 "An Act authorizing municipalities and nonprofit organizations to sponsor a program to                                  
02 encourage the safe use of bicycles as a mode of transportation and to educate the public                                
03 regarding the safe use of bicycles, and amending the duties of the Department of                                        
04 Transportation and Public Facilities to include administration of state funds                                           
05 appropriated for those purposes."                                                                                       
06 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
07    * Section 1. AS 29.55 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                  
08                      Article 2. Safe Bicycle Ridership.                                                               
09            Sec. 29.55.100. Safe bicycle ridership. (a) To encourage the safe use of                                   
10       bicycles as a mode of transportation, the governing body of a municipality may                                    
11       establish a program within the municipality to                                                                    
12                 (1)  encourage the safe use, distribution, and maintenance of bicycles,                                 
13       bicycle helmets, bicycle facilities, and bicycle trailers; and                                                    
01                 (2)  educate the public on the safe use of bicycles and traffic laws                                    
02       relating to bicycles and motor vehicles.                                                                          
03            (b)  The municipality may apply for a grant under AS 44.42.150 to receive                                    
04       funds                                                                                                             
05                 (1)  for the purchase, maintenance, and repair of bicycles, bicycle                                     
06       helmets, bicycle facilities, and bicycle trailers by municipal residents; and                                     
07                 (2)  to establish safety and education programs described in (a)(2) of                                  
08       this section.                                                                                                     
09    * Sec. 2. AS 44.42 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                     
10             Article 1A. Program to Encourage Safe Bicycle Ridership.                                                  
11            Sec. 44.42.150. Grant program to encourage safe bicycle ridership. (a) To                                  
12       encourage the regular and safe use of bicycles and bicycling as a mode of                                         
13       transportation, a grant program is established in the department to allow municipalities                          
14       and nonprofit organizations in the state to apply for financial assistance to establish                           
15       programs for                                                                                                      
16                 (1)  the purchase, maintenance, and repair of bicycles, bicycle helmets,                                
17       bicycle facilities, and bicycle trailers by residents of the community where the grantee                          
18       is located;                                                                                                       
19                 (2)  educating the public on the safe use of bicycles and traffic laws                                  
20       relating to bicycles and motor vehicles.                                                                          
21            (b)  The department shall develop regulations establishing criteria for issuing                              
22       grants to municipalities and nonprofit organizations for the program, giving priority                             
23       for receiving grants to municipalities and nonprofit organizations that actively                                  
24       encourage safe bicycling as a mode of transportation.                                                             
25            (c)  The commissioner shall appoint an administrator of the program. The                                     
26       administrator shall                                                                                               
27                 (1)  educate communities and nonprofit organizations about the                                          
28       program and the grant requirements;                                                                               
29                 (2)  receive and evaluate grant applications;                                                           
30                 (3)  from money in the fund described in (d) of this section, award                                     
31       grants to qualified applicants.                                                                                   
01            (d)  A fund to encourage safe bicycle ridership is established in the department.                            
02       The Department of Revenue is the fiduciary of the fund and may invest money in the                                
03       fund under AS 37.10.071. The fund consists of appropriations by the legislature of                                
04                 (1)  money to provide grants for the program;                                                           
05                 (2)  gifts, bequests, contributions from other sources, and federal                                     
06       money; and                                                                                                        
07                 (3)  interest earned on the fund balance.                                                               
08            (e)  In this section, "program" means the grant program to encourage the                                     
09       regular and safe use of bicycles and bicycling as a mode of transportation, as described                          
10       in this section.                                                                                                  
11    * Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
12 read:                                                                                                                   
13       PROGRAM SURVEY. Not later than                                                                                    
14            (1)  December 31, 2012, the Department of Transportation and Public                                          
15 Facilities shall mail a survey to all Alaska residents who received a bicycle or bicycle trailer                        
16 under the program established in AS 44.42.150, added by sec. 2 of this Act, to evaluate the                             
17 effectiveness of that program;                                                                                          
18            (2)  December 31, 2014, the department shall deliver a report to the legislature                             
19 with an evaluation of the program to encourage safe bicycle ridership and recommendations                               
20 for the program.