04/17/2018 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB259 | |
| HB82 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 259 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 82 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 17, 2018
1:27 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bert Stedman, Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator David Wilson
Senator Dennis Egan
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Anna MacKinnon
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 259(JUD) AM
"An Act relating to containing or confining loads being
transported on highways."
- MOVED SCS CSHB 259(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 82(STA) AM
"An Act relating to vehicle registration; relating to off-
highway restricted areas; and relating to motor vehicle
liability insurance."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 259
SHORT TITLE: CONFINING VEHICLE LOADS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STUTES
01/08/18 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/18
01/16/18 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/18 (H) TRA, JUD
01/25/18 (H) TRA AT 1:15 PM BARNES 124
01/25/18 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
01/30/18 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
01/30/18 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/01/18 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
02/01/18 (H) Heard & Held
02/01/18 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
02/08/18 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
02/08/18 (H) Moved CSHB 259(TRA) Out of Committee
02/08/18 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
02/09/18 (H) TRA RPT CS(TRA) 1DP 5AM
02/09/18 (H) DP: STUTES
02/09/18 (H) AM: KOPP, CLAMAN, DRUMMOND, EASTMAN,
WOOL
02/21/18 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/21/18 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
02/23/18 (H) JUD AT 1:30 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/23/18 (H) Heard & Held
02/23/18 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
03/05/18 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/05/18 (H) Moved CSHB 259(JUD) Out of Committee
03/05/18 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
03/07/18 (H) JUD RPT CS(JUD) 5DP 1NR 1AM
03/07/18 (H) DP: KOPP, KREISS-TOMKINS, STUTES,
LEDOUX, CLAMAN
03/07/18 (H) NR: REINBOLD
03/07/18 (H) AM: EASTMAN
03/15/18 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/15/18 (H) VERSION: CSHB 259(JUD) AM
03/16/18 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/16/18 (S) TRA, JUD
03/29/18 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/29/18 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/03/18 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/03/18 (S) Heard & Held
04/03/18 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
04/05/18 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: HB 82
SHORT TITLE: OFF HWY DRIVER'S LIC.; REGISTRATION; INSUR.
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KREISS-TOMKINS
01/25/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/25/17 (H) STA, TRA
02/02/17 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/02/17 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
02/23/17 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/23/17 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
02/28/17 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/28/17 (H) Heard & Held
02/28/17 (H) MINUTE(STA)
03/09/17 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/09/17 (H) Heard & Held
03/09/17 (H) MINUTE(STA)
03/14/17 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/14/17 (H) Moved CSHB 82(STA) Out of Committee
03/14/17 (H) MINUTE(STA)
03/20/17 (H) STA RPT CS(STA) NT 3DP 2NR
03/20/17 (H) DP: KNOPP, TUCK, KREISS-TOMKINS
03/20/17 (H) NR: WOOL, LEDOUX
03/28/17 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/28/17 (H) Heard & Held
03/28/17 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
03/30/17 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/30/17 (H) Moved CSHB 82(STA) Out of Committee
03/30/17 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
03/31/17 (H) TRA RPT CS(STA) NT 5DP 1NR
03/31/17 (H) DP: CLAMAN, DRUMMOND, SULLIVAN-LEONARD,
KOPP, WOOL
03/31/17 (H) NR: NEUMAN
04/08/17 (H) NOT TAKEN UP 4/8 - ON 4/9 CALENDAR
04/10/17 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/10/17 (H) VERSION: CSHB 82(STA) AM
04/11/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/11/17 (S) TRA, STA
03/01/18 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/01/18 (S) Heard & Held
03/01/18 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
04/05/18 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
DAVID SCOTT, Staff
Senator Stedman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the Senate committee substitute
for HB 259.
MATT GRUENING, Staff
Representative Stutes
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Summarized HB 259.
REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN KREISS-TOMKINS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 82.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:27:47 PM
CHAIR BERT STEDMAN called the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:27 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Egan, Wilson, Bishop, and Chair Stedman.
CHAIR STEDMAN reviewed agenda.
1:28:36 PM
At ease.
HB 259-CONFINING VEHICLE LOADS
1:29:05 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN called the committee back to order and announced
the consideration of [CSHB 259(JUD)AM.] "An Act relating to
containing or confining loads being transported on highways."
Noting that the bill was previously heard, he asked for a motion
to adopt the Senate committee substitute (SCS).
1:29:38 PM
SENATOR BISHOP moved to adopt the Senate CS for CSHB 259,
version 30-LS0917\S, as the working document.
1:29:55 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN objected for discussion purposes.
1:30:08 PM
DAVID SCOTT, Staff, Senator Stedman, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, explained that the Senate committee substitute
makes just one change. On page 2, lines 17-18, language was
added to exempt commercial motor vehicles that are subject to
federal motor carrier cargo securement standards implemented
through state or federal law.
CHAIR STEDMAN asked if there were questions.
1:30:40 PM
SENATOR BISHOP stated support for the amendment.
CHAIR STEDMAN asked the sponsors representative if he had any
comments on the Senate CS.
1:31:05 PM
MATT GRUENING, Staff, Representative Stutes, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 259, thanked Chair
Stedman for hearing the bill and passing it along if it was the
will of the committee.
CHAIR STEDMAN quipped, For making it better?
MR. GRUENING replied, Yes sir.
1:31:14 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN removed his objection. Finding no further
objection, he stated the Senate CS is adopted.
CHAIR STEDMAN asked Mr. Gruening to remind the committee what
version S does.
MR. GRUENING explained that the bill updates the confined load
statutes to include materials other than sand, dirt, rock, and
gravel. It establishes respective class A and class B
misdemeanor penalties if someone, with criminal negligence,
fails to secure a load that results in the serious physical
injury of another person or it results in $5,000 or more in
property damage. The bill also provides sliding scale fines for
other circumstances. A number of exemptions in the bill deal
with municipal vehicles that are maintaining the roadway for
traction, the natural accumulation of snow, dirt, ice, mud, and
similar materials. The Senate CS adds an exemption for vehicles
regulated under the federal commercial motor vehicle standards.
1:33:06 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN found no questions and asked the will of the
committee.
1:33:17 PM
SENATOR EGAN moved to report SCS CSHB 259(TRA), version 30-
LS0917\S, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
1:33:40 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN found no objection and it was so ordered.
HB 82-OFF HIGHWAY DRIVER'S LICENSE; REGISTRATION; INSURANCE
1:33:59 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN announced the consideration of [CSHB 82 (STA)AM];
"An Act relating to vehicle registration; relating to off-road
system restricted noncommercial drivers' licenses; relating to
off-highway commercial drivers' licenses; relating to off-road
system eligible areas; and relating to motor vehicle liability
insurance." He noted the bill was previously heard and that
there were possible amendments. He asked the sponsor to review
the bill for the committee.
1:34:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN KREISS-TOMKINS, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 82, stated that the
bill clarifies the eligibility criteria for the long-standing
off-highway drivers program. He explained that several
communities that had been eligible for the program for several
decades became ineligible because of a new Division of Motor
Vehicles interpretation of eligibility. When he looked into the
matter, he saw the opportunity to tighten and clarify the
eligibility criteria.
CHAIR STEDMAN asked Senator Wilson if he had a proposed
amendment.
1:35:54 PM
SENATOR WILSON moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 30-
LS0367\J.A.2.
30-LS0367\J.A.2
Martin
3/5/18
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR WILSON
TO: CSHB 82(STA) am
Page 5, lines 1 - 18:
Delete all material.
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
Page 5, line 29:
Delete all material and insert:
"* Sec. 7. AS 28.22.011(a)(1) and 28.22.011(b) are
repealed."
1:36:18 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN objected for discussion purposes and asked Senator
Wilson what the amendment does.
SENATOR WILSON explained that the purpose of the amendment is to
require off-road motorists to carry vehicle insurance. The
intent is to make sure that assessments of property damage are
levied equally and that all lives are valued equally. The
amendment simply requires vehicles to be insured. He pointed out
that anyone can insure a vehicle they drive, not just the
registered owner. He also highlighted that coverage can be
obtained remotely.
SENATOR EGAN asked how remotely would be applied under the
amendment.
SENATOR WILSON explained that the amendment would require the
294 off-highway communities the sponsor identified to comply
with the same insurance coverage requirements for motor vehicle
as communities on the road system.
SENATOR EGAN asked if the idea is that someone who is in a
community that does not have an insurance agent could...
SENATOR WILSON interjected, They could call any provider of
their choice, statewide, to be covered through insurance.
CHAIR STEDMAN asked the bill sponsor to comment.
1:39:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said he opposed the proposed
amendment, primarily because it goes beyond the scope of the
bill. He reiterated that the bill seeks to clarify and tighten
the eligibility criteria for the off-highway drivers program.
Whether insurance is required to operate a motor vehicle in
villages in Alaska, is a long-standing but separate question.
1:40:34 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN removed his objection. Finding no further
objection, he announced that Amendment 1 was adopted. He asked
the sponsor to comment.
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS restated the explanation of the
purpose of the bill that he provided earlier. He said the bill
is a product of discussions with DMV regarding the off-highway
drivers program. Amendment 1 changes it to require everyone in
all villages in Alaska to carry vehicle insurance.
CHAIR STEDMAN asked if he continues to support the bill.
1:41:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS replied he supports the underlying
bill but has concerns with the amendment. He opined that most
legislators from rural Alaska would likely have similar
concerns.
1:42:16 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN found no further questions and announced he would
hold HB 82 in committee.
1:42:19 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Stedman adjourned the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting at 1:42 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 259 - version.S.pdf |
STRA 4/17/2018 1:30:00 PM |
HB 259 |
| J.A.2.pdf |
STRA 4/17/2018 1:30:00 PM |
HB 82 |
| J.A.1.pdf |
STRA 4/17/2018 1:30:00 PM |
HB 82 |