Legislature(2021 - 2022)
2021-03-10 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2021-03-10 House Journal Page 0304 HB 134 HOUSE BILL NO. 134 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: "An Act repealing the Alaska Marine Transportation Advisory Board; establishing the Alaska Marine Highway System Operation and Planning Board; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Transportation and State Affairs Committees. The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Transportation & Public Facilities The Governor's transmittal letter dated March 9 follows: "Dear Speaker Stutes: Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill repealing the Alaska Marine Transportation Advisory Board and establishing the Alaska Marine Highway Systems Operation and Planning Board. 2021-03-10 House Journal Page 0305 In 2019, I established the Alaska Marine Highway Reshaping Working Group to deliver recommendations that would allow for the Alaska Marine Highway System to provide essential ferry services to Alaskan coastal communities in the future while reducing state General Fund support. The Alaska Marine Highway Reshaping Working Group suggested starting fresh with the new Alaska Marine Highway Systems Operation and Planning Board. This restructured Board can provide the skills and experience of long-term operators, with an enhanced ability to increase revenue and reduce costs. Upon initial appointment, these members would serve staggered terms of one to five years. These terms will help the new board create and maintain institutional knowledge, as board membership could not be completely changed in a single administrative term after the members' initial appointment. This Board would also have a new duty – to prepare a long-term operations plan and provide an annual report on its implementation to the governor, the legislature, and the public. The annual reports will address financial information, scheduling, maintenance, regulatory compliance, and other matters. The long-term operations plan should cover long-term marine transportation system objectives, planning assumptions, a timeline for major operations milestones, and new initiatives. The focus will be on initiatives that provide strategic and operational guidance for transportation systems of a similar size and complexity. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor"