Legislature(2017 - 2018)ADAMS ROOM 519
04/16/2018 01:30 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB411 | |
| SB78 | |
| SB215 | |
| SB15 | |
| SB92 | |
| HB260 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 411 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 78 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 215 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 92 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 260 | TELECONFERENCED | |
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 92(FIN) am
"An Act relating to abandoned and derelict vessels;
relating to the registration of vessels; relating to
certificates of title for vessels; relating to the
duties of the Department of Administration; relating
to the duties of the Department of Natural Resources;
establishing the derelict vessel prevention program;
establishing the derelict vessel prevention program
fund; relating to the authority of certain persons to
enforce laws relating to derelict vessels; and
providing for an effective date."
Co-Chair Foster relayed the legislation had been heard on
March 28th. He said that the meeting would offer a
reintroduction of the legislation, including reopening
public testimony.
3:53:10 PM
SENATOR PETER MICCICHE, SPONSOR, relayed that the bill was
about personal responsibility. He stressed that the bill
was unrelated to property taxes. He quoted the Sponsor
Statement:
A report titled Trends and Opportunities in the Alaska
Maritime Industrial Support Sector (2014) noted "By
2025, the Alaska fleet will include roughly 3,100
vessels between 28' and 59' that are more than 45
years old...
He shared that he personally owned 6 vessels, one of which
was aging. He lamented that abandoned boats could be a
danger to other vessels. He said that the bill provided an
avenue for the state or municipalities to remove the
derelict vessels from the water before they sink. He said
that the management of the vessels early will save the
state money.
3:56:17 PM
RACHEL HANKE, STAFF, SENATOR PETER MICCICHE, reviewed the
changes in the committee substitute. She said that Section
4 exempted vessels 24 feel and under and created a
mechanism for lack of adequate proof of ownership. The
increase in registration fees had been removed. Section 6
reflected the removal of an increase in registration fees.
She said that the original definition of "barge" had been
retained in Section 7. Article 3, in exiting AS 30.30,
which dealt with vessels abandoned on the business premises
of persons engaged in a repair business, had been repealed.
RACHEL LORD, ALASKA ASSOCIATION OF HARBORMASTERS AND PORT
ADMINISTRATORS, HOMER (via teleconference), expressed
support for the legislation. She revealed that she was
available for questions.
Representative Wilson requested clarification on which
boats would be charged registration fees.
Senator Micciche responded that there was no change in the
current bill for a vessel that was 24 feet or under, except
at the choice of the owner. He said that a documented
vessel (minimum of 5 gross tons and above) would increase
in registration fee cost by $8, per year. Undocumented
vessels above 24 feet would see an increase of a one-time
titling fee.
3:59:59 PM
Representative Wilson asked whether all boating fees would
go into the fund.
Ms. Hanke responded that the barge registration fee, boat
title, and duplicate boat title fees, would be distributed
in the program fund.
Representative Wilson asked about the fees non-commercial
vessels under 24 feet. She wondered where those
registration fees were allocated.
Ms. Ranke relayed that all titling and fees would go to the
derelict vessel program fund.
Representative Wilson asked whether funds would be diverted
from the Kids Don't Float program.
Ms. Hanke stated that the bill would not affect the fund
for boater safety programs.
Representative Wilson expressed confusion.
Ms. Hanke explained that the registration fees were
separate from the title fees. Title fees would go to the
program.
4:02:03 PM
Co-Chair Seaton queried the difference in the definition of
"barge" and the term "flat-bottomed" as the descriptor. He
wondered about vessels that had had their engines removed
and were now barges for all intents and purposes.
Senator Micciche deferred to Rachel Lord.
4:03:26 PM
Ms. Lord reported that the definition had been an ongoing
issue. She relayed that task force discussions had
highlighted a significant number of abandoned barges. She
thought the definition had been intended to capture the
barge fleet that was not currently captured under
registration provisions.
Co-Chair Seaton asked about the no title mechanism for
harbor master work.
Ms. Lord replied that the titling provisions introduced
under the bill were valuable as another piece in defining
ownership. She thought that concerns had not been raised
about the mechanism.
Senator Micciche responded that the intent had been to
avoid any bonding issues.
Co-Chair Seaton asked whether the sponsor had any concerns
about a person registering a vessel without applying for a
title.
Senator Micciche thought that the issue would resolve
itself.
4:08:59 PM
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.
CARL UCHYTIL, PRESIDENT ALASKA ASSOCIATION OF
HARBORMASTERS, testified on behalf of the 43 harbors in
Alaska. He offered support for the legislation.
Co-Chair Seaton asked Mr. Uchytil whether he had any
suggestions regarding the definition of a barge.
Mr. Uchytil deferred to Ms. Lord. He did not have a
solution to a description of a barge.
4:12:04 PM
Co-Chair Seaton asked whether harbormasters had a position
on the repeal of Article 3.
Mr. Uchytil indicated that the harbormasters did not have a
stance on the issue.
4:12:56 PM
BRYAN HAWKINS, HARBOR MASTER, CITY OF HOMER, HOMER (via
teleconference), reported he the vice president of the
Alaska Association of Harbormasters. He voiced support for
the legislation.
4:13:51 PM
MATT DONOHOE, SELF, SITKA (via teleconference), expressed
dissatisfaction with some portion of the bill on Page 2,
lines 28-29. He reported not being able to be in the harbor
in Sitka without boat registration or a documented vessel.
He asked why the state would not recognize the
documentation from the United States Government but would
recognize a documented foreign vessel. Next, he mentioned
language on Page 3. He was unclear about the meaning of
"operated". Vessels are not always operating when sitting
on the dock. He noted that fishermen would be unhappy about
duplication requirements.
4:18:36 PM
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony.
4:18:48 PM
Representative Wilson asked the sponsor to respond to the
testifier's questions.
4:19:07 PM
Senator Micciche explained if a vessel was documented then
it had to be registered in order to establish ownership.
The registration system would contain a record of
ownership. He stated that Line 18 of the bill was already
in existing law.
Representative Wilson asked whether there was duplication
of registration and titling efforts in the legislation.
Senator Micciche replied no. He believed that identifying
ownership and dealing with derelict vessels in a timely
manner would be of benefit to the state.
Co-Chair Seaton asked about the elimination of Article 3.
Ms. Hanke responded that Article 3 had been repealed
because when the legislation was crafted it had been
intended for use by the state and municipalities. she
deferred to Ms. Lord.
4:23:41 PM
Ms. Lord explained that Article 3 had implied that a
private business was held to similar legal standards as a
public entity, which was not the case, and had led the
taskforce to determine that the removal was justified.
Co-Chair Seaton commented that private businesses had
voiced concern that not having a statutory mechanism made
the legalities vague.
Ms. Lord added that the Harbormasters Association had been
a member of the taskforce that crafted the legislation and
that the sitting members on the force had been from state
and federal agencies, local municipalities, as well as
tribal representation.
4:26:57 PM
Representative Guttenberg asked for the definition of
"water of the state".
Senator Micciche thought it was anywhere within 3 miles of
mean highwater. He thought that "state waters" could be
anywhere that a derelict vessel could become a problem.
Representative Guttenberg thought that all rivers outside
of saltwater would be exempt from the legislation.
Senator Micciche responded that all rivers would be
included in the legislation. He added that "Steamboat Slew"
was the number one freshwater target for the bill.
Co-Chair Foster set the amendment deadline for 5 pm,
Tuesday, April 17, 2018.
Representative Thompson expressed concern that the bill
might not make it through the legislative process in 2018.
Co-Chair Foster reported that Co-Chair Seaton was willing
to move the deadline for amendments to tomorrow morning in
order to expedite the process.
SB 92 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| IN3NERGY_HFIN HB411_04162018.pdf |
HFIN 4/16/2018 1:30:00 PM |
HB 411 |
| SB 15 Amendment #1 Wilson.pdf |
HFIN 4/16/2018 1:30:00 PM |
SB 15 |
| HB 260 Conceptual Amendment #1.pdf |
HFIN 4/16/2018 1:30:00 PM |
HB 260 |