Legislature(2019 - 2020)BUTROVICH 205

04/02/2019 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ HB 34 NAMING SCOTT JOHNSON MEMORIAL BRIDGE TELECONFERENCED
Moved HB 34 Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
*+ HB 88 NAMING TROOPER GABE RICH MEMORIAL BRIDGE TELECONFERENCED
Moved HB 88 Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
            SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                          
                         April 2, 2019                                                                                          
                           1:30 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Shelley Hughes, Chair                                                                                                   
Senator Mike Shower, Vice Chair                                                                                                 
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
Senator Jesse Kiehl                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Peter Micciche                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 34                                                                                                               
"An Act naming the Scott Johnson Memorial Bridge."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED HB 34 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 88                                                                                                               
"An Act naming the Trooper Gabe Rich Memorial Bridge."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED HB 88 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB  34                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: NAMING SCOTT JOHNSON MEMORIAL BRIDGE                                                                               
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TALERICO                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
02/20/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/20/19       (H)       STA, TRA                                                                                               
02/28/19       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
02/28/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/28/19       (H)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
03/07/19       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
03/07/19       (H)       Moved HB 34 Out of Committee                                                                           
03/07/19       (H)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
03/08/19       (H)       STA RPT 6DP                                                                                            
03/08/19       (H)       DP: VANCE, LEDOUX, SHAW, STORY, KREISS-                                                                
                        TOMKINS, FIELDS                                                                                         
03/21/19       (H)       TRA AT 1:30 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/21/19       (H)       Moved HB 34 Out of Committee                                                                           
03/21/19       (H)       MINUTE(TRA)                                                                                            
03/22/19       (H)       TRA RPT 7DP                                                                                            
03/22/19       (H)       DP: STORY, RASMUSSEN, DRUMMOND, CLAMAN,                                                                
                         TALERICO, WOOL, STUTES                                                                                 
03/27/19       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
03/27/19       (H)       VERSION: HB 34                                                                                         
03/29/19       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/29/19       (S)       TRA                                                                                                    
04/02/19       (S)       TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB  88                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: NAMING TROOPER GABE RICH MEMORIAL BRIDGE                                                                           
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TALERICO                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
03/08/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/08/19       (H)       TRA                                                                                                    
03/21/19       (H)       TRA AT 1:30 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/21/19       (H)       Moved HB 88 Out of Committee                                                                           
03/21/19       (H)       MINUTE(TRA)                                                                                            
03/22/19       (H)       TRA RPT 7DP                                                                                            
03/22/19       (H)       DP: STORY, RASMUSSEN, DRUMMOND, CLAMAN,                                                                
                         TALERICO, WOOL, STUTES                                                                                 
03/27/19       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
03/27/19       (H)       VERSION: HB 88                                                                                         
03/29/19       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/29/19       (S)       TRA                                                                                                    
04/02/19       (S)       TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAVE TALERICO                                                                                                    
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Speaking as sponsor, introduced HB 34 and HB
88.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
JULIE MORRIS, Staff                                                                                                             
Representative Talerico                                                                                                         
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided supporting information about HB 34.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DAVE STANCLIFF, representing self                                                                                               
Tok, Alaska                                                                                                                     
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 34.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
THOMAS STUDLER, Staff                                                                                                           
Representative Dave Talerico                                                                                                    
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided supporting information about HB 88.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
RODIMUS MERCADO, Intern                                                                                                         
Senator John Coghill                                                                                                            
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Stated support for HB 34 and HB 88.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:30:00 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHELLEY  HUGHES called  the Senate  Transportation Standing                                                             
Committee meeting  to order at 1:30  p.m. Present at the  call to                                                               
order  were  Senators  Kiehl and  Chair  Hughes.  Senator  Shower                                                               
arrived soon thereafter.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
          HB  34-NAMING SCOTT JOHNSON MEMORIAL BRIDGE                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:30:49 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR HUGHES  announced the  consideration of  HOUSE BILL  NO. 34                                                               
"An Act naming the Scott Johnson Memorial Bridge."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
She reminded the  members that they heard the  companion bill, SB
4, sponsored by Senator Coghill.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:31:16 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE DAVE  TALERICO, Alaska State  Legislature, Juneau,                                                               
sponsor of HB  34, introduced the bill speaking  to the following                                                               
sponsor statement:                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     The legislation  amends Alaska Statute 35.40  by naming                                                                    
     bridge number  506 over the  Tok River at mile  1309 of                                                                    
     the  Alaska  Highway  to be  named  the  Scott  Johnson                                                                    
     Memorial Bridge.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Scott was a person who led  from the front. He set very                                                                    
     high  standards  for   himself.  After  graduating  his                                                                    
     recruit  class as  valedictorian,  he  was assigned  to                                                                    
     Fairbanks  patrol.  Scott   became  involved  with  the                                                                    
     Special  Emergency  Response  Team  (S.E.R.T.)  for  19                                                                    
     years  and held  positions  of  perimeter team  leader,                                                                    
     entry team leader and acting  team leader. He was a K-9                                                                    
     handler,  instructor  and   coordinator.  In  addition,                                                                    
     Scott  trained at  least 33  dual  purpose and/or  drug                                                                    
     detection  canine  teams  throughout  Alaska.  He  also                                                                    
     worked  in the  Alaska Bureau  of Investigation  and at                                                                    
     the age of  36 was promoted to  sergeant. Scott oversaw                                                                    
     patrol  shift  and  later  transferred  to  the  Alaska                                                                    
     Bureau of  Alcohol and  Drug Enforcement.  Scott earned                                                                    
     at  least 43  letters  of  commendation, including  two                                                                    
     commendations for honorable service during his career.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Scott  Johnson was  an Alaska  State Trooper  killed in                                                                    
     the line  of duty  on May  1, 2014.  He had  served the                                                                    
     State of Alaska 23 years.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Let this  be a lasting memorial  to a man who  gave his                                                                    
     life in the  line of duty to the citizens  of the State                                                                    
     of Alaska                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:32:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR SHOWER joined the committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TALERICO  highlighted  that the  packets  contain                                                               
signature pages from community members who support this bill.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HUGHES  asked if Trooper  Johnson's widow was aware  of the                                                               
petitions expressing  community support. She noted  that when the                                                               
committee  heard  the  companion  bill,  Mrs.  Johnson  expressed                                                               
reservations about  the effort unless  there was  broad community                                                               
support.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:34:20 PM                                                                                                                    
JULIE  MORRIS,  Staff,   Representative  Talerico,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau, clarified that Mrs.  Johnson is aware of the                                                               
petitions  and  the  support the  community  has  exhibited.  She                                                               
credited  Dave  Stancliff  and  his  wife  for  distributing  the                                                               
petitions and gathering signatures.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:34:59 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR HUGHES opened public testimony on HB 34.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:35:24 PM                                                                                                                    
DAVE STANCLIFF,  representing self, Tok, testified  in support of                                                               
HB 34.  He said  you can never  tell how people  will react  to a                                                               
petition,  but when  this one  was circulated  around Tok  nearly                                                               
one-tenth  of  the  population   quickly  signed.  He  noted  how                                                               
emotional this  has been for  Scott's parents and said  he wanted                                                               
everyone  to  know  how  supportive the  community  is  and  "how                                                               
wonderful it  will be when we  finally dedicate that bridge  to a                                                               
great Alaskan."                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HUGHES  thanked him for  gathering the signatures as  a way                                                               
to honor Scott Johnson's widow.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:37:35 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  HUGHES  found  no  further   comments  and  closed  public                                                               
testimony.  Finding no  discussion,  she asked  the  will of  the                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:37:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR SHOWER  moved to  report HB  34, work  order 31-LS0313\A,                                                               
from committee with individual  recommendations and attached zero                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HUGHES announced  that without objection, HB  34 moved from                                                               
the Senate Transportation Standing Committee.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:38:12 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
        HB  88-NAMING TROOPER GABE RICH MEMORIAL BRIDGE                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:39:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   HUGHES  reconvened   the   meeting   and  announced   the                                                               
consideration of  HOUSE BILL  NO. 88 "An  Act naming  the Trooper                                                               
Gabe Rich Memorial Bridge."                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:39:58 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE DAVE  TALERICO, Alaska State  Legislature, Juneau,                                                               
sponsor of HB 88, introduced  the bill paraphrasing the following                                                               
sponsor statement:                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     The legislation  amends Alaska Statute 35.40  by naming                                                                    
     bridge  number 392  over the  Chatanika  River at  mile                                                                    
     38.8  of the  Steese Highway  to be  named the  Trooper                                                                    
     Gabe Rich Memorial Bridge.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     On May  1, 2014,  Gabriel "Gabe"  Lenox Rich,  gave his                                                                    
     life while answering  the call of duty  in Tanana. Gabe                                                                    
     attended Lathrop  High School,  graduating in  2006. He                                                                    
     attended  Montana State  University and  the University                                                                    
     of Alaska Anchorage before  pursuing his lifelong dream                                                                    
     of  entering  the  ranks   of  law  enforcement.  After                                                                    
     graduating from  the Fairbanks Police Academy  in 2007,                                                                    
     he went  to work for  the North Pole  Police department                                                                    
     until being  accepted by the  Alaska State  Troopers in                                                                    
     2011.  Of  all of  his  achievements,  the greatest  of                                                                    
     these soon followed when he became a father.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Integrity  was  the  foundation  of  his  career  as  a                                                                    
     trooper,  and love  was his  foundation at  home. As  a                                                                    
     father and spouse,  you couldn't have asked  for a more                                                                    
     dedicated and  compassionate man.  In his  career, Gabe                                                                    
     was  dependable,  kind and  had  an  innate ability  to                                                                    
     bring  comfort in  difficult situations.  He loved  his                                                                    
     work and those he worked with.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Gabe Rich  was an  Alaska State  Trooper killed  in the                                                                    
     line of  duty on May 1,  2014. He had served  the State                                                                    
     of Alaska over 7 years.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Let this  be a lasting memorial  to a man who  gave his                                                                    
     life in the  line of duty to the citizens  of the State                                                                    
     of Alaska.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
He highlighted that his peers  spoke very highly of Trooper Rich,                                                               
which speaks volumes about his character.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HUGHES ask Mr. Studler if he had anything to add.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:42:14 PM                                                                                                                    
THOMAS  STUDLER,  Staff,  Representative  Dave  Talerico,  Alaska                                                               
State  Legislature, Juneau,  said he  fully supports  this effort                                                               
and he knows  that the family solicited signatures  on a petition                                                               
to support the  renaming. In a matter of days  they received more                                                               
than 125 signatures.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HUGHES  related that the committee  spoke extensively about                                                               
both Scott  Johnson and Gabe  Rich when they heard  the companion                                                               
bills.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:43:16 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR HUGHES opened public testimony on HB 88.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:43:34 PM                                                                                                                    
RODIMUS  MERCADO,  Intern,  Senator John  Coghill,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau,  said he worked  on the companion  bills and                                                               
it was an honor to hear  the stories about both Trooper Gabe Rich                                                               
and Trooper  Scott Johnson. He will  think of them every  May 1st                                                               
and he  hopes everyone who sees  the names on these  bridges will                                                               
have the same experience.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  HUGHES asked  if  there has  been  any conversation  about                                                               
having the bill signing on the fifth anniversary.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. MERCADO said he hadn't  heard anything about the signing, and                                                               
he might not  be there when it  happens, but he will  be there in                                                               
spirit.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  HUGHES  commented that  regardless  of  when the  bill  is                                                               
signed, she's sure that May 1 will be a day of remembrance.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:46:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  HUGHES  closed  public  testimony on  HB  88.  Finding  no                                                               
further discussion, she asked the will of the committee.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:46:21 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR SHOWER  moved to  report HB  88, work  order 31-LS0658\A,                                                               
from committee with individual  recommendations and attached zero                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HUGHES stated that without  objection, HB 88 moved from the                                                               
Senate Transportation Standing Committee.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WILSON  thanked   Representative  Talerico  and  Senator                                                               
Coghill for their due diligence.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:47:30 PM                                                                                                                    
There being  no further  business to  come before  the committee,                                                               
Chair  Hughes   adjourned  the  Senate   Transportation  Standing                                                               
Committee meeting at 1:47 pm.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
STRA Agenda 4.2.19.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 34 Bill Text Version A.PDF STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 34
HB 34 Sponsor Statement.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 34
HB 34 Fiscal Note - DOT&PF.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 34
HB 34 Scott Johnson Memorial Bridge.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 34
HB 34 Supporting Documents Petition Packet.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 34
HB 34 Scott Johnson Memorial Scholarship Biography-3.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 34
HB 34 Supporting Documents Tok River Bridge 11 5 18 FDNM Article.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 34
HB 88 Bill Text Version A.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 88
HB 88 Sponsor Statement.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 88
HB 88 Fiscal Note - DOT&PF.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 88
HB 88 Photo of Trooper Rich.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 88
HB 88 Supporting Document - Petition of Support.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 88
HB 88 Bridge 392 Map.pdf STRA 4/2/2019 1:30:00 PM
HB 88