Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
04/04/2022 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
SB85 | |
SB223 | |
HB148 | |
HB209 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= | SB 85 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 223 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | HB 148 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | HB 209 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 148-ALASKA COORDINATE SYSTEM OF 2022 4:25:19 PM VICE CHAIR MICCICHE announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 148 am "An Act relating to the Alaska Coordinate System of 2022." 4:25:30 PM At ease. 4:25:45 PM VICE CHAIR MICCICHE reconvened the meeting. 4:25:52 PM REECE WILLIAMS, Staff, Representative Laddie Shaw, Juneau, Alaska, presented HB 148 am on behalf of the sponsor. The sponsor statement reads as follows: [Original punctuation provided.] HB 148 House Bill 148 revises Alaska Statute chapter 38.20, known as the Alaska Coordinate System, to reflect changes in the federal datum used as a base for the coordinate system and to allow for future updates. The system is comprised of rectangular plane coordinates used to define accurate positions or locations of points on the surface of the earth. Currently, forty-eight states have adopted state plane coordinate systems into their statutes. This bill revises the Alaska Coordination System as an ongoing modernization of the U.S National Spatial Reference System to reduce the distortions present in the current system. In addition to improved zone locations, that will cover population and resources areas, a new statewide zone will be created for Alaska. This will reduce the distortion of the projection currently in use and improve the display of statewide geographic data. This is an important and practical step for Alaska to adapt to this coordination system. Alaska will have the advantage of improvements in the geodetic positioning, and with the new gravity-based elevation. This will dramatically improve the ability to measure elevations in Alaska. This modernization effort will benefit scientists, surveyors, design professionals, GIS specialists, and the geospatial community. The improved coordinate system minimizes linear distortions and is designed to include population centers and resource development. I encourage your support in the passage of HB 148 as it is critical to Alaska maintaining accuracy to surveying and mapping. MR. WILLIAMS informed the committee that the term "datum" is a tool to define the shape and size of the earth and a reference point various coordinate systems use in mapping. He said the most recent federal datums were the North American datum of 1983 and the North American vertical datum of 1988. He conveyed the NOAA website definition of datum as the starting point for giving directions. For example, if one were to give directions to their house, they would begin with a known starting point such as a cross street or an address. 4:27:33 PM MR. WILLIAMS played a video from the NOAA website that provides more information and explains some of the technical terms associated with global navigation satellite systems. 4:32:06 PM VICE CHAIR MICCICHE moved to invited testimony on HB 148. 4:32:22 PM JAKE MAXWELL, PLS, Executive Member, Alaska Society of Professional Land Surveyors, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of HB 148. He urged the committee to pass the bill so this updated coordinate system would be available to surveyors and other professionals. SENATOR MICCICHE asked if the updated coordinate system had any practical application for landowners. MR. MAXWELL replied that there would be no significant effect on landowners. VICE CHAIR MICCICHE asked Ms. Gervelis to provide her testimony. 4:33:33 PM GWEN GERVELIS, Chief Surveyor, Division of Mining, Land, and Water, Department of Natural Resources, Anchorage, Alaska, stated that she was available to answer technical questions related to HB 148. [There were none.] 4:34:15 PM VICE CHAIR MICCICHE opened public testimony on HB 148. 4:34:39 PM KELSEY DAVIDSON, President, Alaska Professional Design Council (APDC), Eagle River, Alaska, testified in support of HB 148. She stated that the Alaska Society of Professional Land Surveyors was an affiliate member of APDC and those professionals need the more modern and functional coordinate system in statute in order to utilize the system in their practice. She noted that a letter of support from APCD was in the bill packet. She urged the committee to pass the bill. 4:35:41 PM VICE CHAIR MICCICHE closed public testimony on HB 148. 4:35:54 PM SENATOR STEVENS moved to report HB 148 am, work order 32- LS0407\A.A from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 4:36:09 PM VICE CHAIR MICCICHE found no objection, and HB 148 am was reported from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.