ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE  May 6, 2004 1:30 p.m. TAPE(S) 04-39  MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Con Bunde, Chair Senator Ralph Seekins, Vice Chair Senator Gary Stevens Senator Bettye Davis MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Hollis French COMMITTEE CALENDAR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 474(JUD) am "An Act relating to civil liability associated with aircraft runways, airfields, and landing areas." MOVED CSHB 474(JUD) am OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION BILL: HB 474 SHORT TITLE: LIABILITY FOR AIRPORTS AND AIRSTRIPS SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HOLM 02/16/04 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/16/04 (H) JUD 03/26/04 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 03/26/04 (H) Heard & Held 03/26/04 (H) MINUTE(JUD) 03/29/04 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 03/29/04 (H) Bill Postponed To 3/30/04 03/30/04 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 03/30/04 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard 03/31/04 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 03/31/04 (H) Moved CSHB 474(JUD) Out of Committee 03/31/04 (H) MINUTE(JUD) 04/05/04 (H) JUD RPT CS(JUD) 4DP 1DNP 1NR 04/05/04 (H) DP: SAMUELS, HOLM, OGG, MCGUIRE; 04/05/04 (H) DNP: GARA; NR: GRUENBERG 04/28/04 (H) MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR 04/28/04 (H) NOT TAKEN UP 4/28 - ON 4/29 CALENDAR 04/29/04 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 04/29/04 (H) VERSION: CSHB 474(JUD) AM 05/01/04 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 05/01/04 (S) L&C 05/06/04 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211 WITNESS REGISTER Mr. Todd Larkin Staff to Representative Jim Holm Alaska State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 474 for the sponsor. ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 04-39, SIDE A  CSHB 474(JUD) am-LIABILITY FOR AIRPORTS AND AIRSTRIPS    CHAIR CON BUNDE called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:50 p.m. Present were Senators Gary Stevens, Ralph Seekins, Bettye Davis and Chair Con Bunde. The first order of business to come before the committee was CSHB 474(JUD) am. MR. TODD LARKIN, staff to Representative Jim Holm, sponsor, said HB 474 clarifies statute by removing the word "natural" before "individual" that currently only protects individuals who operate and maintain airstrips without compensation. By deleting "natural" it will include groups, organizations and corporate neighbors also as long as they don't receive compensation. CHAIR BUNDE noted that this is a good neighbor bill. SENATOR GARY STEVENS asked what happens when the X on the runway is covered up by snow in relation to language on page 2, line 6. MR. LARKIN said that change was requested by pilots who referenced Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines for marking airstrips. SENATOR SEEKINS said he had a companion bill to this one and explained that FAA guidelines say if an X is there, it can be covered up with snow; but if a person closes his strip, he can't use it either and the FAA has to be notified of the closure. SENATOR SEEKINS moved to pass CSHB 474(JUD) am from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. Senators Gary Stevens, Davis, Seekins and Chair Bunde voted yea and CSHB 474(JUD) am moved from committee. There being no further business to come before the committee, CHAIR BUNDE adjourned the meeting at 1:55 p.m.