Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
04/20/2023 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB128 | |
| HB124 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 124 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 128 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 20, 2023
1:19 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Kevin McCabe, Chair
Representative Sarah Vance, Vice Chair
Representative Tom McKay
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Genevieve Mina
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Jesse Sumner
Representative Louise Stutes
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 128
"An Act relating to the definition of 'oil terminal facility.'"
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 124
"An Act relating to commercial motor vehicle drivers' license
requirements; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 124 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 128
SHORT TITLE: OIL TERMINAL FACILITY
SPONSOR(s): TRANSPORTATION
03/22/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/22/23 (H) TRA
03/30/23 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/30/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/30/23 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
04/18/23 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/18/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/18/23 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
04/20/23 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 124
SHORT TITLE: LICENSE REQUIREMENTS: COMM. DRIVERS
SPONSOR(s): COULOMBE
03/17/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/17/23 (H) TRA, L&C
04/12/23 (H) BILL REPRINTED
04/18/23 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/18/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/18/23 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
04/20/23 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
BUDDY WHITT, Staff
Representative Kevin McCabe
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the changes in a proposed
committee substitute for HB 128 on behalf of the sponsor, the
House Transportation Standing Committee, on which Representative
McCabe serves as chair.
REPRESENTATIVE JULIE COLOUMBE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 124.
DANIEL ROBBINS, Staff
Representative Julie Coloumbe
Alaska State Legislature
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on HB
124 on behalf of Representative Coloumbe, prime sponsor.
KATI CAPOZZI, President
Alaska Chamber
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 124.
TETYANA ROBBINS, CEO
Ukraine Relief Program
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 124.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:19:34 PM
CHAIR KEVIN MCCABE called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:19 p.m. Representatives C.
Johnson, McKay, Vance, Mina, and McCabe were present at the call
to order.
HB 128-OIL TERMINAL FACILITY
1:20:09 PM
CHAIR MCCABE announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 128, "An Act relating to the definition of 'oil
terminal facility.'"
1:20:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HB 128, Version 33-LS0634\U,
Gunther/Radford, 4/20/23, as a working document.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE objected for the purpose of discussion.
He asked Buddy Whitt to address the changes proposed in the CS.
1:21:21 PM
BUDDY WHITT, Staff, Representative Kevin McCabe, Alaska State
Legislature, explained the changes in the proposed CS for HB
128, Version U, on behalf of the sponsor, the House
Transportation Standing Committee, on which Representative
McCabe serves as chair. He reviewed that the original bill
contained a definition of "oil terminal facility" that included
two instances where a vessel would be considered an oil tank
facility, and this caused concerns among fuel handlers in the
state. He stated that Version U was drafted based on feedback
from stakeholders, but said he is currently awaiting feedback
from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
MR. WHITT paraphrased the sectional analysis for Version U
[included in the committee packet], which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
Section 1 Page 1, lines 4 through 11 adds language
that an approved contingency plan for a tank vessel or
oil barge satisfies the requirement in (a) of this
section for contingency plans for oil terminal
facilities.
Section 2 Page 1, line 12 through Page 2, line 6
adds language that proof of financial ability for a
tank or oil barge that is approved under this
subsection satisfies the requirements of (a) of the
section for proof of financial ability for oil
terminal facilities.
Section 3 Page 2, lines 12 through 26 changes the
definition of oil terminal facility to confirm to the
additions of sections one and two; specifying that
when a tank vessel or oil barge are operating with
approved contingency plans and proof of financial
ability, they are not considered "oil terminal
facilities".
Section 4 Page 2, line 27 Added an immediate
effective date to the bill.
1:25:22 PM
CHAIR MCCABE removed his objection to the motion to adopt the
proposed CS for HB 128, Version U. There being no further
objection, Version U was before the committee.
CHAIR MCCABE announced that HB 128 was held over.
1:27:03 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 1:27 p.m.
HB 124-LICENSE REQUIREMENTS: COMM. DRIVERS
1:27:35 PM
CHAIR MCCABE announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 124, "An Act relating to commercial motor vehicle
drivers' license requirements; and providing for an effective
date."
1:28:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JULIE COLOUMBE, Alaska State Legislature, as
prime sponsor, stated that HB 124 would repeal the requirement
that a person hold a driver's license for one year before
applying for a commercial driver's license (CDL). She said she
considers HB 124 a "workforce bill," in that the bill helps
people start their CDL training faster.
1:28:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE pointed out that the section that contains
the one-year requirement also states: "or meets experience
qualifications established by the department". She asked
Representative Coloumbe if she has insight on that provision in
statute.
REPRESENTATIVE COLOUMBE deferred to her staff, Daniel Robbins.
DANIEL ROBBINS, Staff, Representative Julie Coloumbe, on behalf
of Representative Coloumbe, prime sponsor of HB 128, answered
that there have been no other qualifications developed regarding
experience.
1:30:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY raised concern with language barriers,
specifically whether individuals coming from other countries
understand English well enough to get an Alaska driver's
license.
REPRESENTATIVE COLOUMBE answered that language barriers are not
addressed under HB 124. She shared that there are some language
barriers, but people with such barriers use phone apps as
translators. She said it would be up to the people giving the
training as to whether the person could communicate clearly, and
that if there is too much of a language barrier, the person
would not be able to undergo the training.
1:31:52 PM
MR. ROBBINS shared that since the start of the Russia-Ukraine
conflict, he has had family members come to Alaska, and they are
doing fine despite English not being their first language. He
stated that the language barrier shouldn't be an issue.
1:32:25 PM
CHAIR MCCABE referenced comment from the previous hearing of HB
124, in that the person must undergo four checkpoints, the first
of which is attaining the driver's license, and that one of the
first requirements of the license is that the person must be
able to speak and understand enough English to read signs and
follow police officer instructions. He said that HB 124 could
aid in "filling the gaps" that are coming in the CDL and
operator areas.
CHAIR MCCABE opened public testimony on HB 124.
1:33:34 PM
KATI CAPOZZI, President, Alaska Chamber, said that the Alaska
Chamber ("the Chamber") is in support of House Bill 124. She
said the Chamber was founded in 1953 and is Alaska's largest
statewide business advocacy organization. She stated that the
Chamber's mission is to promote a healthy business environment
in Alaska. She reported that the Chamber has more than 700
members and represents businesses of all sizes and industries
from across the state, representing 58,000 Alaska workers and
$4.6 billion in wages. She shared that the Chamber has a formal
policy position to support workforce development to increase the
number of qualified employees needed to fill positions in
resource industries, and that HB 124 would eliminate one of the
many barriers to entry for individuals seeking a career in
trucking and transportation.
MS. CAPOZZI said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA) recently implemented its entry level driver training
(ELDT) program, which establishes "minimum training requirements
for entry-level commercial motor vehicle operators." She stated
that this program was a result of years of engagement with
safety organizations, industry, and other stakeholders. She
explained that ELDT provides a checklist of over 100 different
skills, inspection, and knowledge requirements an applicant must
prove to be proficient in before they are allowed to test for a
CDL. In considering these new requirements, she stated, the
requirement of holding of a regular driver's license for a
calendar year is a redundant barrier to entry into the
transportation industry. She relayed that the Chamber members
know firsthand how vital trained and licensed CDL drivers are to
the Alaska economy, not only in the resource industry, but
across all industry sectors that rely on transportation of goods
and services. She reiterated that the Chamber supports HB 124,
in that it is straightforward and good for business, and she
urged passage of the bill.
1:36:15 PM
TETYANA ROBBINS, CEO, Ukraine Relief Program, said that since
May 2022, the Ukraine Relief Program has provided transportation
and support to over 1,000 Ukrainians that have fled the war.
She stated that Ukrainian refugees are coming to Alaska because
"they are trying to stay alive." She said that an important
phase of the operation is employment, and that, in reviewing the
professional skills of the refugees coming to Alaska, the
program discovered that many of the refugees have experience
driving busses and heavy equipment. She said there was
excitement in seeing 500 open positions available for CDL
licensed drivers; however, Alaska's statute is out of sync with
federal law, forcing the Ukrainians to wait a year before being
able to apply for a CDL. She said she'd hate to see such
professionals leave the state or switch industries. She stated
that passage of HB 124 would help fill the vacancies in the
transportation industry and help new arrivals to Alaska work in
their chosen field.
1:38:41 PM
CHAIR MCCABE, after ascertaining there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 124.
1:39:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE moved to report HB 124 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 124 was reported out of the
House Transportation Standing Committee.
1:39:30 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:39
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 124 Reseach EconomicPotential_of_AKs_Mining.pdf |
HTRA 4/18/2023 1:00:00 PM HTRA 4/20/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 124 |
| HB 124 Research Alaska Public Media Article 4.11.2023.pdf |
HTRA 4/18/2023 1:00:00 PM HTRA 4/20/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 124 |
| HB 124 Sectional Analysis version A.pdf |
HTRA 4/18/2023 1:00:00 PM HTRA 4/20/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 124 |
| HB 124 Sponsor Statement version A.pdf |
HTRA 4/18/2023 1:00:00 PM HTRA 4/20/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 124 |
| HB 124 version A.PDF |
HTRA 4/18/2023 1:00:00 PM HTRA 4/20/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 124 |
| HB 124 Testimony - Alaska Technical Center.pdf |
HTRA 4/18/2023 1:00:00 PM HTRA 4/20/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 124 |
| HB 124 Testimony - Alaska Trucking Assoc..pdf |
HTRA 4/18/2023 1:00:00 PM HTRA 4/20/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 124 |
| HB 124 Alaska Public Media Article 4.11.2023.pdf |
HTRA 4/18/2023 1:00:00 PM HTRA 4/20/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 124 |
| HB124 Testimony - Alaska Chamber of Commerce 4.19.23.pdf |
HTRA 4/20/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 124 |
| HB 124 Fiscal Note DOA.pdf |
HTRA 4/20/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 124 |
| CSHB128.Version.U.pdf |
HTRA 4/20/2023 1:00:00 PM HTRA 4/25/2023 1:00:00 PM STRA 5/2/2023 1:30:00 PM |
HB 128 |
| HB128.Explanation of Changes.Version A to B.pdf |
HTRA 4/20/2023 1:00:00 PM |