ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE  April 19, 2007 1:31 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Kyle Johansen, Chair Representative Mark Neuman, Vice Chair Representative Anna Fairclough Representative Vic Kohring Representative Mike Doogan MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Craig Johnson Representative Woodie Salmon COMMITTEE CALENDAR  SENATE BILL NO. 130 "An Act relating to the registration of certain vehicles owned by ranchers, farmers, or dairy workers." - MOVED SB 130 OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18 Opposing the enactment of the provisions in the Next Generation Transportation System Financing Reform Act of 2007 that increase aviation fuel and aviation gas taxes. - MOVED CSHJR 18(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 130 SHORT TITLE: RANCH, FARM, DAIRY VEHICLE REGISTRATION SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) GREEN 03/21/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/21/07 (S) TRA, FIN 03/27/07 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 03/27/07 (S) Moved SB 130 Out of Committee 03/27/07 (S) MINUTE(TRA) 03/28/07 (S) TRA RPT 3DP 2NR 03/28/07 (S) DP: KOOKESH, WIELECHOWSKI, COWDERY 03/28/07 (S) NR: WILKEN, OLSON 04/02/07 (S) FIN RPT 5DP 1NR 04/02/07 (S) DP: STEDMAN, ELTON, THOMAS, DYSON, HUGGINS 04/02/07 (S) NR: OLSON 04/02/07 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532 04/02/07 (S) Moved SB 130 Out of Committee 04/02/07 (S) MINUTE(FIN) 04/10/07 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 04/10/07 (S) VERSION: SB 130 04/11/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/11/07 (H) TRA 04/19/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17 BILL: HJR 18 SHORT TITLE: OPPOSE FED AIR TRANSPORT ACT PROVISIONS SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) JOHANSEN 04/05/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/05/07 (H) TRA 04/12/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17 04/12/07 (H) Heard & Held 04/12/07 (H) MINUTE(TRA) 04/19/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17 WITNESS REGISTER DARWIN PETERSON, Staff to Senator Lyda Green Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 130 on behalf of the sponsor, Senator Green. STEVEN VAN TROBA Horse Rancher Palmer, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 130. SONIA CHRISTENSON, Staff to Representative Johansen Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed the changes encompassed in CSHJR 18, Version M. WILFRED RYAN, President Alaska Air Carriers Association (AACA); President, Arctic Transportation Services Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Recommended that CSHJR 18, Version M, be forwarded. ACTION NARRATIVE CHAIR KYLE JOHANSEN called the House Transportation Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:31:57 PM. Representatives Johansen, Fairclough, Kohring, and Doogan were present at the call to order. Representative Neuman arrived as the meeting was in progress. SB 130-RANCH, FARM, DAIRY VEHICLE REGISTRATION 1:32:26 PM CHAIR JOHANSEN announced that the first order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 130, "An Act relating to the registration of certain vehicles owned by ranchers, farmers, or dairy workers." 1:32:27 PM DARWIN PETERSON, Staff to Senator Lyda Green, Alaska State Legislature, explained that SB 130 will increase the maximum allowable weight for registered farm vehicles in Alaska by 4,000 pounds, from 16,000 pounds to 20,000 pounds because newer farm vehicles are larger due to more safety features and general improvements. Prior to 1978 the maximum allowable weight for a farm vehicle was 12,000 pounds, which was later increased for basically the same reasons as stated for the current proposal. Current statute, AS 28.10.181, establishes the criteria for the registration of these unique and special vehicles. Mr. Peterson mentioned that the impetus from SB 130 was a farmer in Palmer who spoke with the sponsor. 1:35:09 PM STEVEN VAN TROBA, Horse Rancher, began by informing the committee that he sought introduction of SB 130, which he said he supports. He mentioned that the weight of farm equipment is rising in order to haul more product and is related to the new safety features. He related that he has a tractor weighing in excess of 19,000 pounds, which limits his ability to travel. He also related that he travels into Canada and since [his vehicle is in excess of the weight limits of a farm vehicle] he has to have a commercial license plate and has to pay fuel fees and trip permits. Therefore, this weight increase will allow him to utilize a farm license plate and not have to pay the aforementioned fees in Canada. 1:37:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING inquired as to the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities' (DOT&PF) position on SB 130. He asked if the proposed increase in weight is of concern with regard to the use of highways and bridges. MR. PETERSON said that he did speak with DOT&PF and the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within the Department of Administration prior to the introduction of the legislation. Currently, there are 460 vehicles registered as farm vehicles in the state. Due to the size of the farm industry in the state, no one expects the number of farm vehicles to increase very much with the passage of SB 130. He related that DOT&PF isn't concerned with the additional impact on the roads and that DMV is in support of SB 130. 1:38:16 PM CHAIR JOHANSEN, upon determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony. 1:38:24 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN related his support for SB 130 and related his understanding that farmers around the state are also in support of the legislation. 1:39:01 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN moved to report SB 130 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SB 130 was reported from the committee. The committee took an at-ease from 1:39 p.m. to 1:41 p.m. HJR 18-OPPOSE FED AVIATION FUEL TAX INCREASE 1:41:43 PM CHAIR JOHANSEN announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18, Opposing the enactment of the provisions in the Next Generation Transportation System Financing Reform Act of 2007 that increase aviation fuel and aviation gas taxes. 1:42:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN moved to adopt CSHJR 18, Version 25- LS0830\M, Kane, 4/18/07, as the working document. There being no objection, Version M was before the committee. 1:42:26 PM SONIA CHRISTENSON, Staff to Representative Johansen, Alaska State Legislature, pointed out that the first change can be found on page 2, line 12, where the language "and would implement fees with the National Airspace System" was added. The language on page 2, from lines 14-16 was added as was the language "and federal oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration" on line 24. These were the changes proposed by the Alaska Air Carriers Association, she noted. 1:43:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE DOOGAN surmised then that the title change reflects the addition of the FAA sections. MS. CHRISTENSON replied yes. 1:44:01 PM WILFRED RYAN, President, Alaska Air Carriers Association (AACA); President, Arctic Transportation Services, noted his appreciation for the changes in Version M and recommended that it be forwarded. Mr. Ryan said, "While we cannot fully support the fuel tax issue, we can join you to oppose any user fee associated with the use of the National Airspace System and the removal of Congressional oversight over the FAA." 1:45:37 PM CHAIR JOHANSEN, upon determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony. 1:45:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN moved to report CSHJR 18, Version 25- LS0830\M, Kane, 4/18/07, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHJR 18(TRA) was reported from the House Transportation Standing Committee. 1:46:19 PM REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING recognized the service of former legislator Jim Elkins, whose memorial service is today. 1:47:06 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:47:07 PM.