03/23/2022 01:00 PM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 203                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  designating  portions of  the  Parks,  Glenn,                                                                    
     Seward, and Sterling Highways as  a part of the State's                                                                    
     Purple  Heart   Trail  and  relating  to   signage  and                                                                    
     informational displays for the trail."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:30:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop relayed  that it was the  second hearing for                                                                    
SB  203, and  the  committee had  opened  and closed  public                                                                    
testimony on  March 21, 2022. The  committees  intention was                                                                    
to  hear a  bill  reintroduction and  introduce a  Committee                                                                    
Substitute.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator  von   Imhof  MOVED  to  ADOPT   proposed  committee                                                                    
substitute    for   SB    203,   Work    Draft   32-LS1553\I                                                                    
(Ambrose/Foote, 3/23/22).                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:31:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Shine  addressed  an Explanation  of  Changes  document                                                                    
(copy on file):                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Updated Title                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1                                                                                                                  
     AS 35.40.210(a)Page 1, line 11 Adds the Alaska marine                                                                      
     highway system to the extension of the Purple Heart                                                                        
     Trail.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2                                                                                                                  
     AS 35.40.210(b)Page 1, line 14  page 2, line 1 Adds a                                                                      
     requirement of placing an appropriate sign on each                                                                         
     vessel of the Alaska marine highway system.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop  WITHDREW  his OBJECTION.  There  being  NO                                                                    
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:32:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
EMMA TORKELSON,  STAFF, SENATOR  JOSH REVAK,  explained that                                                                    
the  bill  would extend  the  Purple  Heart Trail  from  the                                                                    
Alaska-Canada border,  down through Fairbanks and  Homer and                                                                    
then  on to  the Alaska  Marine Highway  System (AMHS).  The                                                                    
extension would  make the trail  a little over  3,000 miles.                                                                    
The bill  directed the department  to erect  the appropriate                                                                    
signage on the trail and on the vessels.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:33:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANDY    MILLS,    LEGISLATIVE   LIAISON,    DEPARTMENT    OF                                                                    
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC  FACILITIES, considered the fiscal                                                                    
impact  of the  proposed  CS.  He cited  that  there were  9                                                                    
active vessels  on the  AMHS, and  at a  cost of  $2,000 per                                                                    
plaque there  would be  a cost  of approximately  $18,000 to                                                                    
outfit the fleet.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop  thought the cost  indicated there  would be                                                                    
eight vessels running.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Mills  clarified  that  there  would  be  nine  vessels                                                                    
running.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:34:37 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:35:27 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop asked Mr. Mills  to give an estimated figure                                                                    
for the forthcoming updated fiscal note.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Mills stated that the  current fiscal note reflected the                                                                    
cost of the original legislation  in the amount of $237,000.                                                                    
The addition of  $18,000 proposed in the CS  would bring the                                                                    
fiscal note to approximately  $255,000. The department would                                                                    
submit a revised fiscal note.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  von Imhof  MOVED  to report  CSSB  203(FIN) out  of                                                                    
Committee with individual  recommendations and a forthcoming                                                                    
fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 203 was  REPORTED out of committee with  four "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations   and    with   one    "no   recommendation"                                                                    
recommendation  and with  a forthcoming  fiscal impact  note                                                                    
from   the   Department   of   Transportation   and   Public                                                                    
Facilities.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:36:37 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:37:44 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop discussed the agenda for the following day.