05/03/1994 01:40 PM Senate L&C

              SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE                              
                          May 3, 1994                                          
                           1:40 p.m.                                           
                                                                               
                                                                               
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
 Senator Tim Kelly, Chairman                                                   
 Senator Steve Rieger, Vice-Chairman                                           
 Senator Bert Sharp                                                            
 Senator Georgianna Lincoln                                                    
 Senator Judy Salo                                                             
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
 All Members Present                                                           
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                           
                                                                               
 CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 301(L&C)                         
 "An Act prohibiting the sale of certain studded tires or the sale             
 of certain studs to be installed in tires; and providing for an               
 effective date."                                                              
                                                                               
  PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION                                             
                                                                               
 HB 301 - See Transportation minutes dated 4/26/94.                            
                                                                               
  WITNESS REGISTER                                                             
                                                                               
 Curtis Smith, Staff to Representative Mark                                    
   Hanley                                                                      
 State Capitol                                                                 
 Juneau, AK 99801-1182                                                         
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Offered information on HB 301                          
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
 TAPE 94-34, SIDE A                                                            
 Number 001                                                                    
  CHAIRMAN TIM KELLY  called the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee           
 meeting to order at 1:40 p.m.  He brought  CSSSHB 301(L&C)  (BAN SALE    LE   
 OF SOME STUDDED TIRES AND STUDS) before the committee as the only             
 order of business.                                                            
                                                                               
 CURTIS SMITH, staff to Representative Mark Hanley, said that                  
 according to the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities,            
 studded tires are currently causing about $5 million per year in              
 road maintenance damage to Alaska highways.  The ruts caused by the           
 studs have decreased the expected life span of Alaska highways by             
 about ten-fold.  On top of that, road depreciation is not the only            
 side effect as water-filled ruts left by these studs has made                 
 traveling in the summer months, especially when its raining,                  
 extremely unsafe.                                                             
                                                                               
 In researching the problem, Representative Hanley found that in               
 Northern Europe they have developed a light weight stud that has              
 been found to cut road wear up to 50 percent.  This stud wears the            
 same as the studs currently found on tires, is just as effective              
 and icosts the same, but on the roads it has a significant effect             
 by reducing road wear by about 50 percent.                                    
                                                                               
 Mr. Smith added that these studs are currently available and that             
 Johnson Tire Service of Anchorage will be using them in next year's           
 tire lines.                                                                   
                                                                               
 Number 029                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR KELLY asked if any other states have enacted similar                  
 legislation.  CURTIS SMITH responded that he is not aware of it               
 being enacted by any other state, but Washington is pursuing this             
 legislation after hearing of the intent of HB 301.                            
                                                                               
 Number 040                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR KELLY asked for the pleasure of the committee.                        
                                                                               
 SENATOR RIEGER moved that HB 301 be passed out of committee with              
 individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so                  
 ordered.                                                                      
                                                                               
 There being no further business to come before the committee, the             
 meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.