01/28/2008 08:30 AM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB289 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 289 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
January 28, 2008
8:43 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Paul Seaton, Chair
Representative Kyle Johansen
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative Lindsey Holmes
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux
Representative Peggy Wilson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 289
"An Act exempting employers from paying unemployment tax for
crewmembers on fishing vessels that respond or prepare to
respond to, or that prepare for or engage in an emergency or
practice drill response to, an oil spill; and providing for an
effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 289(FSH) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 289
SHORT TITLE: EMPLOYMENT TAX EXEMPTION: SPILL RESPONSE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HARRIS, SEATON
01/04/08 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/4/08
01/15/08 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/15/08 (H) FSH, L&C
01/23/08 (H) FSH AT 8:30 AM BARNES 124
01/23/08 (H) Heard & Held
01/23/08 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
01/28/08 (H) FSH AT 8:30 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
PAULA SCAVERA, Special Assistant
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with official support for CSHB
289.
TOM COLBY, Marine Team Leader
Alaska Tanker Company (ATC)
Valdez, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 289.
BETTY SCHORR, Program Manager
Industry Preparedness & Pipeline Program
Division of Spill Prevention & Response
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During hearing on HB 289, responded to
questions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR PAUL SEATON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 8:43:44 AM. Representatives
Seaton, Johansen, Holmes, and Edgmon were present at the call to
order.
HB 289-EMPLOYMENT TAX EXEMPTION: SPILL RESPONSE
CHAIR SEATON announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 289, "An Act exempting employers from paying
unemployment tax for crewmembers on fishing vessels that respond
or prepare to respond to, or that prepare for or engage in an
emergency or practice drill response to, an oil spill; and
providing for an effective date."
8:44:05 AM
CHAIR SEATON explained the changes found in the committee
substitute (CS): incorporation of the amendment adopted at the
previous hearing (1/23/08), which restricts applicability to
only fishing vessels that engage in harvesting aquatic life, in
[paragraph] (17), page 5 lines 12-20,; and adds a new definition
for the term "temporary," as "a period of less than seven
continuous days," in [paragraph] (22), page 6 line 23; and
includes the necessary title change.
PAULA SCAVERA, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD), said she had
reviewed the proposed CS, and stated official DLWD support for
HB 289, as amended.
TOM COLBY, Marine Team Leader, Alaska Tanker Company (ATC),
provided support for HB 289, on behalf of ATC. He said that the
fishing vessel contracts are very important to maintain
compliance with the [oil spill response] contingency plan. He
stressed that using fishing vessels, in the case of a spill, is
good for all affected entities, and results in a more robust
response.
REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES asked if he deems the definition for
"temporary services," to be adequate, and providing a sufficient
time span for short term spill response.
MR. COLBY offered that the training and drills do not exceed
seven days, which is what the legislation is intended to
address. In the case of an actual spill, the vessels may be
employed for months, and the exemption is not intended to cover
that activity.
CHAIR SEATON agreed.
BETTY SCHORR, Program Manager, Industry Preparedness & Pipeline
Program, Division of Spill Prevention & Response, Department of
Environmental Conservation, concurred that the seven day
parameter would be sufficient for training/drills. To a follow-
up question she said that there do not appear to by any
outstanding questions or concerns regarding the proposed
legislation.
8:50:56 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN moved to adopt CSHB 289, Version 25-
LS1182\M, Wayne, 1/25/08, as the working document.
There being no objection, Version M was before the committee.
CHAIR SEATON closed public testimony.
8:51:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN moved to report CSHB 289, Version 25-
LS1182\M, Wayne, 1/25/08, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There
being no objection CSHB 289(FSH) was moved out the House Special
Committee on Fisheries.
8:51:59 AM
CHAIR SEATON announced future agenda items.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 8:52
a.m.
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