SB 193-ELECTRIC UTILITY LIABILITY  4:22:36 PM CHAIR MICCICHE announced that the first order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 193, "An Act relating to liability of an electric utility for contact between vegetation and the utility's facilities; and relating to vegetation management plans." He recapped that the bill was previously heard and public testimony remains open. RYNNIEVA MOSS, Staff, Senator John Coghill, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, advised that Christian English was carrying the bill for the sponsor and would present the committee substitute. 4:23:16 PM CHRISTIAN ENGLISH, Intern, Senator John Coghill, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that the committee substitute (CS) for SB 193 creates a new section that expands language to clarify that people are only responsible for actions that they have committed. CHAIR MICCICHE asked for a motion to adopt the proposed CS. 4:24:11 PM SENATOR KAWASAKI moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for SB 193, work order 31-LS1304\K, as the working document. CHAIR MICCICHE objected for discussion purposes. 4:24:28 PM MS. MOSS explained that Senator Kiehl expressed concern during the previous hearing about a scenario where an employee of a utility company goes on private property, with permission from the land owner, and moved vegetation from the private property into the right-of-way where it could cause damages or a fire. For example, a large tree falls into the powerline and starts a fire. The new [Sec. 09.65.086 (b)(2)(A) and (B) in Section 1 of the CS] makes it clear that the utility would be responsible for those actions. She noted that there was also concern about the definition of a "vegetation management plan." She said she posed the question to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and they pointed out that each utility develops and implements its own vegetation management plan due to terrain and climate variations. She noted that Copper Valley Electric Association testified during the previous hearing that they divide their vegetation plans into northern and southern regions due to the differences in rainfall and growth patterns. She said in researching the definition, she learned that the electric reliability organizations (ERO) that will be established by SB 123 will have the authority to establish standards for a vegetation management plan. She said the bill sponsor feels that the definition fits quite well because the whole purpose is to protect the reliability and the safety of the utilities' electric facilities. SENATOR KIEHL thanked the sponsor for working on the liability issue that he raised. He said he looked forward to reviewing the interface between the language in SB 193 and SB 123 on vegetation management plans. 4:26:52 PM CHAIR MICCICHE removed his objection to the CS. He said without further objection the CS is before the committee. 4:27:38 PM CHAIR MICCICHE closed public testimony and asked the will of the committee. 4:27:50 PM SENATOR REVAK moved to report CSSB 193, work order 31-LS1304\K, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 4:28:03 PM CHAIR MICCICHE said there being no objection, CSSB 193(RES) moved from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.