Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 17
05/10/2007 01:30 PM House TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB139 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 139 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
May 10, 2007
1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Kyle Johansen, Chair
Representative Mark Neuman, Vice Chair
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Woodie Salmon
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Mike Doogan
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 139
"An Act repealing a limitation on the liability of certain
airfield owners or operators."
- MOVED SSSB 139 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 139
SHORT TITLE: LIABILITY FOR AIRPORTS AND AIRSTRIPS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) OLSON
03/28/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/28/07 (S) TRA
04/12/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
04/18/07 (S) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS
04/18/07 (S) TRA
04/26/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
04/26/07 (S) Moved SSSB 139 Out of Committee
04/26/07 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
04/27/07 (S) TRA RPT 5DP
04/27/07 (S) DP: KOOKESH, WILKEN, COWDERY,
WIELECHOWSKI, OLSON
05/02/07 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
05/02/07 (S) VERSION: SSSB 139
05/03/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/03/07 (H) TRA
05/10/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR DONNY OLSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as the sponsor of SSSB 139.
DAVE GRAY, Staff
to Senator Donny Olson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SSSB 139 on behalf of the
sponsor, Senator Olson.
TOM GEORGE, Alaska Representative
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Encouraged the committee's support of SSSB
139.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR KYLE JOHANSEN called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:33:10 PM. Representatives
Johanson, Fairclough, Johnson, Kohring, and Salmon were present
at the call to order. Representative Neuman arrived as the
meeting was in progress.
SB 139-LIABILITY FOR AIRPORTS AND AIRSTRIPS
1:33:16 PM
CHAIR JOHANSEN announced that the only order of business would
be SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 139, "An Act repealing
a limitation on the liability of certain airfield owners or
operators."
1:33:23 PM
SENATOR DONNY OLSON, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SSSB
139, characterized SSSB 139 as cleanup legislation. He reminded
the committee that the original legislation [addressing the
liability of certain airfield owners] included a confusing
section that lead to the introduction of SSSB 139.
1:34:17 PM
DAVE GRAY, Staff to Senator Donny Olson, Alaska State
Legislature, informed the committee that the committee packet
should include a letter from Tom George, Aircraft Owners and
Pilots Association, who was a principal sponsor of the earlier
effort in 2004 for meaningful limited liability legislation. In
the earlier effort there was broad support in the Senate in the
House. However, since the legislation isn't doing what it was
intended to do, some cleanup is necessary.
The committee took an at-ease from 1:36:20 PM to 1:39:27 PM.
1:39:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON said he wanted to be clear that this
legislation doesn't subject a private owner of an airstrip to
any additional liability.
SENATOR OLSON clarified that the intent of the legislation is to
ensure that private airstrip owners are not held liable, except
for gross negligence. He mentioned the need to encourage the
construction of more airports.
1:41:23 PM
TOM GEORGE, Alaska Representative, Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association (AOPA), testified that airports are very important
to the 4,200 members of AOPA in Alaska. In addition to those
airports operated by DOT&PF, there are many runways, airstrips,
and landing areas that provide access across the state. In many
cases, these airstrips are maintained by dedicated individuals,
groups, or organizations who volunteer their time and effort.
This statute is intended to provide some limits on civil
liability for those willing to support these facilities on
either public or private land. Although significant gains were
made with the passage of legislation three years ago, AS
09.65.093(b) has caused confusion. That portion of the statute
lead [airstrip owners] to believe that they had to close their
airstrip to be protected, which is the opposite of the intent.
Therefore, the change proposed in SSSB 139 would remove the
language causing the confusion and leave the emphasis on
protection provided by those willing to construct, maintain, or
repair airfields on an uncompensated basis. In conclusion, Mr.
George encouraged the committee's support of SSSB 139.
1:42:46 PM
CHAIR JOHANSEN, upon determining no one else wished to testify,
closed public testimony.
1:42:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON moved to report SSSB 139 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
1:43:20 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:43
p.m.
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