Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/25/1993 05:00 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 25, 1993
5:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Richard Foster, Chair
Representative Gary Davis, Vice-Chair
Representative Eldon Mulder
Representative Al Vezey
Representative Jerry Mackie
Representative Curt Menard
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Bill Hudson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Marine Pilots Board Confirmation Recommendations
*HB 207: "An Act relating to the organization of the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
into four regions."
MOVED FROM COMMITTEE WITH INDIVIDUAL
RECOMMENDATIONS
HB 61: "An Act relating to the offense of operating a
motor vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft while
intoxicated; and providing for an effective date."
MOVED FROM COMMITTEE WITH INDIVIDUAL
RECOMMENDATIONS
(* First public hearing.)
WITNESS REGISTER
LARRY LABOLLE, Chief of Staff
Representative Richard Foster
Alaska State Legislature
Room 611 - Court Building
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
465-3789
Position Statement: Provided overview on HB 207.
RON B. LIND, Director
Plans, Programs and Budget
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
3132 Channel Drive
Juneau, Alaska 99801-7898
465-2171
Position Statement: Provided testimony re:fiscal note,
HB 207.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM NORDLUND
Alaska State Legislature
State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
465-4712
Position Statement: Sponsor of HB 61.
JUANITA HENSLEY, Chief, Driver Services
Division of Motor Vehicles
Department of Public Safety
P.O. BOX 20020
Juneau, Alaska 99802-0200
465-4371
Position Statement: Answered questions regarding proposed
amendment to HB 61.
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 207
SHORT TITLE: ESTABLISH FOUR DOTPF REGIONS BY LAW
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) FOSTER,Hoffman,Mackie
TITLE: "An Act relating to the organization of the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities into four
regions."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
03/08/93 569 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
03/08/93 570 (H) TRANSPORTATION, FINANCE
03/25/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: HB 61
SHORT TITLE: LOWER ALCOHOL LIMIT TO 0.08 FOR OMVI'S
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) NORDLUND,Ulmer,Brown
TITLE: "An Act relating to the offense of operating a motor
vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft while intoxicated; and
providing for an effective date."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/15/93 73 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
01/15/93 74 (H) TRANSPORTATION,JUDICIARY,FINANCE
01/27/93 169 (H) COSPONSOR(S): BROWN
02/25/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
02/25/93 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
03/25/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-11, SIDE A
Number 015
CHAIR FOSTER called the meeting to order at 5:23 p.m.
CHAIR FOSTER referred to the first item he wanted to bring
up on the agenda, the CONFIRMATION OF THE MEMBERS TO THE
MARINE PILOTS BOARD. He referred to the files and asked
each member to take a moment to look at the resumes for the
following individuals: Mark E. Springer, John C. Klepper,
and Donna Bumgardner.
Number 027
REPRESENTATIVE MACKIE moved for the confirmation of Mark E.
Springer, John C. Klepper and Donna Bumgardner and moved
that the three be moved from the committee with individual
recommendations.
Hearing no objection, CHAIR FOSTER moved to the next item on
the agenda, HB 207.
HB 207 - ESTABLISH FOUR DOTPF REGIONS BY LAW
Number 039
CHAIR FOSTER indicated to the committee that he was prime
sponsor of this resolution and introduced LARRY LABOLLE, his
Chief-of Staff, and indicated he would be providing
testimony on HB 207.
Number 042
LARRY LABOLLE began his testimony stating that HB 207 was
introduced to generate discussion related to the need for
more emphasis on rural airport and road maintenance and
construction. He described how neglected the roads and
airports were, particularly in the Central Region. He
stated, "not only are many rural airports in serious need of
being upgraded; airport roads, roads to safe water sources,
roads to sewage disposal sites and roads to land fill sites
are nonexistent or in bad repair in many villages." The
district described by Mr. Labolle is envisioned to encompass
the part of Northern Alaska not connected to the Dalton
Highway, Western Alaska, the Lower Yukon River, the
Kuskokwim River, South Western Alaska and the Aleutian
Islands. Kodiak would probably still best be served by the
Central Region, he said.
Number 046
CHAIR FOSTER indicated that he hoped that as this bill was
discussed, people would give thought as to how the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT\PF)
might be reorganized to better develop the necessary
transportation infrastructure in that rural part of the
state not connected to the core highway system. He said it
was distressing to travel and see the shape of the airports
and roads in many parts of rural Alaska.
Number 098
RON LIND, DIRECTOR, PLANS, PROGRAMS AND MANAGEMENT, DOT/PF,
discussed the high costs attached to the proposed fiscal
note and mentioned that some of the administrative services
could be provided by the Central Region, etc. However, he
mentioned that anyplace these offices would be located
beyond Anchorage would increase the costs.
Number 177
REPRESENTATIVE MENARD asked Chair Foster if the main purpose
of the bill was in response to the lack of attention
currently given to the rural region of the state.
Number 186
CHAIR FOSTER responded that the rural areas really lost out
in federal road money provided by the Intermodel Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) in the past.
Currently, due to the lack of roads in rural Alaska that
qualify for the "core" definition type roads money attached
to the ISTEA program, rural Alaska gets a minor amount on
this ISTEA money.
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER felt that the Finance Committee could
narrow down and make the fiscal impact considerably smaller.
He felt that the cost of shifting personnel and merging some
of the duties could help lessen the impact.
Number 244
REPRESENTATIVE JERRY MACKIE asked to be shown as a sponsor
of HB 207. He indicated that he shared a lot of the same
frustrations as discussed by Chair Foster, and also felt
that the Finance Committee could do a lot of work in looking
at this legislation, and the fiscal impact could be more
adequately addressed there.
Number 279
REPRESENTATIVE MACKIE stated that he felt HB 207 had a lot
of merit and felt that the Finance Committee would be the
logical place for the bill to go at this time.
REPRESENTATIVE MACKIE moved that HB 207 pass from committee
with individual recommendations. No objections were heard;
it was so ordered.
HB 61 - LOWER ALCOHOL LIMIT TO 0.08 FOR OMVI'S
Number 296
CHAIR FOSTER requested REPRESENTATIVE NORDLUND, as sponsor
of the next item on the agenda, HB 61, to come forward and
offer any new testimony or information he would like to
present to the committee.
CHAIR FOSTER indicated that at the last meeting there were
still a lot of questions regarding HB 61 and he felt an
adequate amount of time had gone by for those interested to
address their concerns and present them at this time.
Number 300
REPRESENTATIVE JIM NORDLUND stated he did not have anything
new. However, he mentioned there was currently a law being
introduced in Congress which provided for passage of a .08
alcohol level. He referred to JUANITA HENSLEY, CHIEF OF
DRIVER SERVICES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, to
answer questions about the new federal .08 law proposal.
MS. HENSLEY stated that in order for a state to obtain and
qualify for federal safety funding money in addition to the
highway funds, the .08 option was one of six requirements
currently proposed. In order to comply and receive the
money, the state must meet at least five of these
requirements.
Number 369
REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY objected to federal control and felt
there gets to be a point where the state should tell the
federal government to keep their money.
MS. HENSLEY stated that she has been dealing with a lot of
this frustration in a lot of areas lately.
Number 430
CHAIR FOSTER brought up a proposed amendment which had been
brought to his office by representatives of the Alaska
Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant & Retailers Association. The
proposed amendment was to add a new section 5: "This Act
takes effect only if the state fails to become eligible
before January 1, 1995, the commissioner of public safety
shall notify the revisor of statutes regarding the
eligibility of the state to receive a basic grant as
described in this section."
Number 468
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER described the amendment, saying that
basically, if we have the other five items, the proposed
amendment would not be necessary in order to comply and
obtain the federal funding.
Number 475
REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY said that as a commercially licensed
driver, he was mandated to drive at a .04 level.
Number 497
REPRESENTATIVE NORDLUND said that the main thrust of HB 61
was to arrest more drunk drivers, and the capture of federal
funds was secondary.
Number 504
CHAIR FOSTER noted that he was neutral on the legislation
and asked the committee what their will and intentions on HB
61 were.
Number 507
REPRESENTATIVE MACKIE suggested that the amendment be sent
with the bill to the Judiciary Committee.
Number 512
REPRESENTATIVE MENARD moved for passage of HB 61 with
individual recommendations.
REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY objected.
Upon a roll call vote, the motion failed.
YEAS (3): MENARD, MACKIE, DAVIS
NAYS (3): MULDER, FOSTER, VEZEY
Number 520
REPRESENTATIVE NORDLUND stated that if it was the will of
the committee, he would request the amendment be
incorporated into a committee substitute.
Number 523
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER moved the amendment into HB 61.
Number 545
REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY objected.
Number 550
A roll call vote of the committee passed the motion made by
Representative Mulder which incorporated the proposed
amendment into a committee substitute.
YEAS (5): Foster, Mulder, Mackie, Davis, Menard
NAYS (1): Vezey
Number 550
REPRESENTATIVE MENARD moved for passage of CSHB 61(TRA) with
individual recommendations.
REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY objected.
Upon a roll call vote, the bill was passed from committee
with individual recommendations.
YEAS (5): Foster, Mulder, Mackie, Davis, Menard
NAYS (1): Vezey
Number 565
CHAIR FOSTER adjourned the meeting at 5:50 p.m.
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