03/16/2021 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

         SB 95-SEARCH AND RESCUE SURPLUS STATE PROPERTY                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:43:41 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER  announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL  NO. 95                                                               
"An Act  relating to the  right of  first refusal of  a volunteer                                                               
search and rescue group with respect to surplus state property."                                                                
                                                                                                                                
He reminded the  public that written testimony on SB  95 could be                                                               
submitted at ssta@akleg.gov.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
He listed the people available to answer questions.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:44:33 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR   DAVID   WILSON   (via  telconference),   Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  sponsor of  SB 95,  introduced the                                                               
legislation speaking to the sponsor statement.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Search  and  rescue  operations  across  the  State  of                                                                    
     Alaska  are  largely  done by  volunteer  organizations                                                                    
     dispatched by  the Alaska State Troopers.  These groups                                                                    
     provide  lifesaving services  to our  state at  minimal                                                                    
     cost. SB  95 provides  assistance to  the groups  at no                                                                    
     cost to the  state. While search and  rescue groups can                                                                    
     be  reimbursed  for   costs  incurred  during  specific                                                                    
     operations, the  state does not generally  provide them                                                                    
     with equipment.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     This legislation  allows a volunteer search  and rescue                                                                    
     organization to exercise the right  of first refusal on                                                                    
     items related to search and  rescue before the property                                                                    
     is sold,  leased, licenses, or  disposed of.  This bill                                                                    
     enables  these volunteer  search and  rescue groups  to                                                                    
     more easily  obtain the equipment they  need to fulfill                                                                    
     their lifesaving mission.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR D. WILSON noted that SB 95 has a zero fiscal note.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:47:30 PM                                                                                                                    
JASMIN  MARTIN,   Staff,  Senator  David  Wilson,   Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  presented  the sectional  analysis                                                               
for SB 95.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1: Names this act the Ellie Mae Act.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2: Amends [AS 44.68.110]  to allow an organized                                                                  
     volunteer search and rescue group  to exercise right of                                                                    
     first  refusal  for  surplus  state  items  related  to                                                                    
     search and  rescue before they  are disposed of  by the                                                                    
     state.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER asked if there were questions.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HOLLAND stated support for  the idea and appreciation for                                                               
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER  noted  that  Senator  Reinbold  gave  the  bill  a                                                               
nonverbal thumbs up.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER  found no  questions  and  noted that  the  sponsor                                                               
indicated he had amendments to offer in a future hearing.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:50:24 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR D.  WILSON explained that  the first  amendment clarifies                                                               
that SB 95  applies only to state property.  The second amendment                                                               
adds the term "obsolete" following the  word "to" on page 1, line                                                               
10.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:51:22 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER  held SB 95  in committee for  future consideration.                                                               
He  reiterated  that  written testimony  could  be  submitted  to                                                               
ssta@akleg.gov.