04/01/2003 02:28 PM House TRA

HB  93-REPEAL BOATING SAFETY SUNSET                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HOLM  announced that the  first order of  business would                                                               
be  HOUSE  BILL NO.  93,  "An  Act  relating to  boating  safety;                                                               
repealing secs. 3, 5,  7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20,  23, 26, 27, and                                                               
30, ch. 28, SLA 2000; and providing for an effective date."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Number 0072                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR MASEK  moved to adopt the  proposed committee substitute                                                               
(CS) Version  23-LS0230\Q, Ford,  3/21/03, as  a work  draft; she                                                               
requested unanimous consent.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  HOLM announced  that without  objection  Version Q  was                                                               
before the committee.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Number 0123                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
LINDA SYLVESTER, Staff to  Representative Bruce Weyhrauch, Alaska                                                               
State  Legislature,  spoke  on  behalf  of  the  bill's  sponsor,                                                               
explaining  that  the  proposed committee  substitute  eliminates                                                               
non-motorized boats  from the requirement for  registration.  She                                                               
reported  that this  was a  compromise that  was suitable  to the                                                               
U.S.  Coast Guard  (USCG).   Ms.  Sylvester  indicated that  Mike                                                               
Folkerts from the USCG was available to answer questions.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Number 0205                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  MASEK  moved  to  report  the proposed  CS  for  HB  93                                                               
[Version  23-LS0230\Q,  Ford,  3/21/03]  out  of  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 0235                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING objected, stating  that he appreciated the                                                               
sponsor's efforts  but his comfort  level was not high  enough to                                                               
warrant  support  of  the  legislation.    He  said  that  proper                                                               
organizations and  boating associations  have proven  that safety                                                               
in the boating  industry can be promoted and  safety training can                                                               
be provided without  further involvement by government.   He said                                                               
he had voiced  concerns in a previous meeting,  when he indicated                                                               
that the  bill was encroaching  on "individual  rights, freedoms,                                                               
and liberties" and  that "it imposes another  layer of government                                                               
and another layer of rules."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 2:40 to 2:42 p.m.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Number 0316                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR MASEK  said she agreed with  Representative Kohring, but                                                               
would not object to moving the bill out of committee.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Number 0366                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
A roll  call vote was  taken.  Representatives Fate,  Ogg, Masek,                                                               
and Holm  voted in favor of  reporting the proposed CS  for HB 93                                                               
[Version    23-LS0230\Q,   Ford,    3/21/03]   from    committee.                                                               
Representative  Kohring  voted  against   it.    Therefore,  CSHB
(TRA)  was reported  out of  the House  Transportation Standing                                                               
Committee by a vote of 4-1.