Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 17
04/19/2007 01:30 PM House TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB130 | |
| HJR18 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 130 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HJR 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 19, 2007
1:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Kyle Johansen, Chair
Representative Mark Neuman, Vice Chair
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Mike Doogan
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Woodie Salmon
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 130
"An Act relating to the registration of certain vehicles owned
by ranchers, farmers, or dairy workers."
- MOVED SB 130 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18
Opposing the enactment of the provisions in the Next Generation
Transportation System Financing Reform Act of 2007 that increase
aviation fuel and aviation gas taxes.
- MOVED CSHJR 18(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 130
SHORT TITLE: RANCH, FARM, DAIRY VEHICLE REGISTRATION
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) GREEN
03/21/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/21/07 (S) TRA, FIN
03/27/07 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/27/07 (S) Moved SB 130 Out of Committee
03/27/07 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
03/28/07 (S) TRA RPT 3DP 2NR
03/28/07 (S) DP: KOOKESH, WIELECHOWSKI, COWDERY
03/28/07 (S) NR: WILKEN, OLSON
04/02/07 (S) FIN RPT 5DP 1NR
04/02/07 (S) DP: STEDMAN, ELTON, THOMAS, DYSON,
HUGGINS
04/02/07 (S) NR: OLSON
04/02/07 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/02/07 (S) Moved SB 130 Out of Committee
04/02/07 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/10/07 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/10/07 (S) VERSION: SB 130
04/11/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/11/07 (H) TRA
04/19/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: HJR 18
SHORT TITLE: OPPOSE FED AIR TRANSPORT ACT PROVISIONS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) JOHANSEN
04/05/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/05/07 (H) TRA
04/12/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
04/12/07 (H) Heard & Held
04/12/07 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
04/19/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
WITNESS REGISTER
DARWIN PETERSON, Staff
to Senator Lyda Green
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 130 on behalf of the sponsor,
Senator Green.
STEVEN VAN TROBA
Horse Rancher
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 130.
SONIA CHRISTENSON, Staff
to Representative Johansen
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed the changes encompassed in CSHJR
18, Version M.
WILFRED RYAN, President
Alaska Air Carriers Association (AACA);
President, Arctic Transportation Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Recommended that CSHJR 18, Version M, be
forwarded.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR KYLE JOHANSEN called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:31:57 PM. Representatives
Johansen, Fairclough, Kohring, and Doogan were present at the
call to order. Representative Neuman arrived as the meeting was
in progress.
SB 130-RANCH, FARM, DAIRY VEHICLE REGISTRATION
1:32:26 PM
CHAIR JOHANSEN announced that the first order of business would
be SENATE BILL NO. 130, "An Act relating to the registration of
certain vehicles owned by ranchers, farmers, or dairy workers."
1:32:27 PM
DARWIN PETERSON, Staff to Senator Lyda Green, Alaska State
Legislature, explained that SB 130 will increase the maximum
allowable weight for registered farm vehicles in Alaska by 4,000
pounds, from 16,000 pounds to 20,000 pounds because newer farm
vehicles are larger due to more safety features and general
improvements. Prior to 1978 the maximum allowable weight for a
farm vehicle was 12,000 pounds, which was later increased for
basically the same reasons as stated for the current proposal.
Current statute, AS 28.10.181, establishes the criteria for the
registration of these unique and special vehicles. Mr. Peterson
mentioned that the impetus from SB 130 was a farmer in Palmer
who spoke with the sponsor.
1:35:09 PM
STEVEN VAN TROBA, Horse Rancher, began by informing the
committee that he sought introduction of SB 130, which he said
he supports. He mentioned that the weight of farm equipment is
rising in order to haul more product and is related to the new
safety features. He related that he has a tractor weighing in
excess of 19,000 pounds, which limits his ability to travel. He
also related that he travels into Canada and since [his vehicle
is in excess of the weight limits of a farm vehicle] he has to
have a commercial license plate and has to pay fuel fees and
trip permits. Therefore, this weight increase will allow him to
utilize a farm license plate and not have to pay the
aforementioned fees in Canada.
1:37:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING inquired as to the Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities' (DOT&PF) position on SB 130.
He asked if the proposed increase in weight is of concern with
regard to the use of highways and bridges.
MR. PETERSON said that he did speak with DOT&PF and the Division
of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within the Department of Administration
prior to the introduction of the legislation. Currently, there
are 460 vehicles registered as farm vehicles in the state. Due
to the size of the farm industry in the state, no one expects
the number of farm vehicles to increase very much with the
passage of SB 130. He related that DOT&PF isn't concerned with
the additional impact on the roads and that DMV is in support of
SB 130.
1:38:16 PM
CHAIR JOHANSEN, upon determining no one else wished to testify,
closed public testimony.
1:38:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN related his support for SB 130 and related
his understanding that farmers around the state are also in
support of the legislation.
1:39:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN moved to report SB 130 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, SB 130 was reported from the
committee.
The committee took an at-ease from 1:39 p.m. to 1:41 p.m.
HJR 18-OPPOSE FED AVIATION FUEL TAX INCREASE
1:41:43 PM
CHAIR JOHANSEN announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18, Opposing the enactment of the
provisions in the Next Generation Transportation System
Financing Reform Act of 2007 that increase aviation fuel and
aviation gas taxes.
1:42:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN moved to adopt CSHJR 18, Version 25-
LS0830\M, Kane, 4/18/07, as the working document. There being
no objection, Version M was before the committee.
1:42:26 PM
SONIA CHRISTENSON, Staff to Representative Johansen, Alaska
State Legislature, pointed out that the first change can be
found on page 2, line 12, where the language "and would
implement fees with the National Airspace System" was added.
The language on page 2, from lines 14-16 was added as was the
language "and federal oversight of the Federal Aviation
Administration" on line 24. These were the changes proposed by
the Alaska Air Carriers Association, she noted.
1:43:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DOOGAN surmised then that the title change
reflects the addition of the FAA sections.
MS. CHRISTENSON replied yes.
1:44:01 PM
WILFRED RYAN, President, Alaska Air Carriers Association (AACA);
President, Arctic Transportation Services, noted his
appreciation for the changes in Version M and recommended that
it be forwarded. Mr. Ryan said, "While we cannot fully support
the fuel tax issue, we can join you to oppose any user fee
associated with the use of the National Airspace System and the
removal of Congressional oversight over the FAA."
1:45:37 PM
CHAIR JOHANSEN, upon determining no one else wished to testify,
closed public testimony.
1:45:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN moved to report CSHJR 18, Version 25-
LS0830\M, Kane, 4/18/07, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being
no objection, CSHJR 18(TRA) was reported from the House
Transportation Standing Committee.
1:46:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING recognized the service of former
legislator Jim Elkins, whose memorial service is today.
1:47:06 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
1:47:07 PM.
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