Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/30/1999 01:40 PM Senate TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
March 30, 1999
1:40 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Jerry Ward, Chairman
Senator Drue Pearce, Vice Chair
Senator Rick Halford
Senator Georgianna Lincoln
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Mike Miller
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 12(FIN) am
"An Act relating to a utility corridor and railroad right-of-way
between the Alaska Railroad and the Alaska-Canada border."
-MOVED CSSSHB 12(FIN) am OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 2
"An Act relating to issuance of a motor vehicle registration plate
to or parking permit for a person who is disabled."
-MOVED HB 2 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS SENATE ACTION
HB 12 - No previous action to report
HB 2 - No previous action to report
WITNESS REGISTER
Representative Jeanette James
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99811-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 12 and HB 2
Ms. Juanita Hensley
PO Box 110200
Juneau, AK 99811-0200
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 2
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 99-07 , SIDE A
Number 001
HB 12-RAIL/UTILITY EASEMENT TO AK-CANADA BORDER
CHAIRMAN WARD called the Senate Transportation Committee meeting to
order at 1:40 p.m. He brought up HB 12 and invited Representative
James to present it.
Number 025
REPRESENTATIVE JEANETTE JAMES explained the bill is subject to
legislative appropriation and would reauthorize a corridor
connecting the existing rail line in Alaska to the Canadian
railroad in British Columbia, or wherever it is determined to be.
It reauthorizes the bill put into statute in 1982, because the
applications were dropped by DOTPF in 1996.
The addition made in House Finance Committee on page 2, lines 9-11,
provides the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) shall promptly
delineate the corridor that was previously identified on all of the
maps and records maintained by DNR. She said that's the only
difference in the CS and the original bill.
CHAIRMAN WARD asked the pleasure of the committee.
SENATOR PEARCE moved CSSSHB 12(FIN)am from committee with
individual recommendations.
SENATOR LINCOLN interjected that she would like to ask a question.
She asked if the Canadians are enthused about the extension from
Alaska into Canada, because the residents she has spoken with in
Whitehorse were not enthused.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES replied that her discussions with Canadians
have conveyed their excitement about this. A public teleconference
with interested parties is scheduled for the latter part of April
to discuss the problems and benefits of that railroad connection.
The Canadian Arctic Railroad has shown an interest in this issue.
Number 108
SENATOR LINCOLN said it was a couple weeks ago when she spoke to
the Yukon officials. She also found that some of the First Nations
people are not too excited about the railroad extension, and she
asked if it crosses Native lands in Canada, or in Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES answered, there are some Native lands in
Alaska identified on this corridor, and she sent out letters asking
for their comments. Six years ago she found a big resistance from
the Native community to legislation providing any kind of access
from Fairbanks to the Seward Peninsula. Now the attitude has
changed. She said, "They don't want roads but they would consider
rails." This piece of legislation simply authorizes the
delineation of a corridor, subject to legislative appropriation.
SENATOR LINCOLN withdrew her objection.
CHAIRMAN WARD stated for the record that the Canadian government
has supported the corridor since 1982 when he took part in passing
the original corridor as a member of the House. He is surprised
the First Nations are not supportive because they played an active
part in it in 1982.
SENATOR LINCOLN clarified that only some of the First Nations
people were opposed to it.
CHAIRMAN WARD noted that the objection is not maintained, and HB 12
passed out of committee with individual recommendations.
HB 2-REGISTRATION PLATES FOR DISABLED
CHAIRMAN WARD brought up HB 2.
Number 159
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES stated it pleased her "to be able to present
this simple little bill." It originated from a request from the
Veterans and asks that a nurse practitioner be able to certify that
individuals are disabled in order to obtain a parking permit or the
benefits of the motor vehicle registration plate. In other parts of
the state where there are not physicians, nurse practitioners have
the knowledge and ability to make these determinations.
CHAIRMAN WARD asked for questions.
MS. JUANITA HENSLEY, Administrator with the Division of Motor
Vehicles, stated for the record that the division has no opposition
at all to this bill.
SENATOR HALFORD moved HB 2 from committee with individual
recommendations. Without objection, it was so ordered. The
meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m.
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