04/24/1997 08:41 AM Senate FIN

       HB 13 MARINE SAFETY TRAINING & EDUCATION                                
                                                                               
       REPRESENTATIVE  AUSTERMAN testified  on  behalf of  the                 
       bill.   SENATOR ADAMS  MOVED the  bill with  individual                 
       recommendations. COCHAIR SHARP objected for the purpose                 
       of examining the fiscal notes.   SENATOR ADAMS withdrew                 
       his motion.  Teleconference testimony in support of the                 
       bill  was heard from JOE  MACINKO, JERRY DZUGAN and JIM                 
       HERBERT.  Also testifying in support were DEAN PADDOCK,                 
       SUE JORGENSEN and MARK JOHNSON.   BETTY MARTIN answered                 
       questions.    SENATOR  PHILLIPS  MOVED  the  bill  from                 
       committee contingent on  receipt of a new  fiscal note.                 
       Without objection, CSHB 13(FIN)am was REPORTED OUT with                 
       a  previous  zero fiscal  note  from the  Department of                 
       Labor and a forthcoming fiscal note from the Department                 
       of Community and Regional Affairs (150.0).                              
  CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 13(FIN) am                                             
  "An Act  relating to  marine safety  training and  education                 
  programs."                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE ALAN AUSTERMAN stated the purpose of the bill                 
  was to continue the marine safety program in  the state.  He                 
  noted  the  state  did  not  have  a  water safety  program,                 
  although it was mandated by federal law, which resulted in a                 
  program  called  AMSEA   (Alaska  Marine  Safety   Education                 
  Association).   Federal funding was  drying up and  the bill                 
  was an attempt to continue the program with a funding source                 
  through the Fishermen's Fund interest earnings.                              
                                                                               
  SENATOR  ADAMS  inquired  how  much  money  would  be  used.                 
  REPRESENTATIVE  AUSTERMAN replied that  it would  be between                 
  $150 thousand to $235 thousand, depending on the market.                     
                                                                               
  SENATOR   ADAMS   MOVED  CSHB   13(FIN)am   with  individual                 
  recommendations.  COCHAIR SHARP objected  for the purpose of                 
  examining the fiscal notes.   He inquired about the  current                 
  cost of  the program,  noting there  was no  mention of  the                 
  amount in the fiscal note.                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE   AUSTERMAN   responded  that   all  interest                 
  earnings go into the general fund currently.  He pointed out                 
  that  the House Finance Committee zeroed the fiscal note and                 
  put the line  item into the  budget under the Department  of                 
  Community  and  Regional  Affairs.    There  was  additional                 
  discussion and explanation  about the fiscal note.   SENATOR                 
  PHILLIPS expressed his preference to see $150 thousand in  a                 
  fiscal note  rather than the budget.  COCHAIR SHARP directed                 
  a new fiscal note from the department be provided.                           
                                                                               
                                                                               
  SFC-97, # 127,  Side 1 (275)  - Technical error resulted  in                 
  loss of the taped portion of the meeting at this point.  The                 
  following portion of the meeting was taken from log notes.                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR ADAMS withdrew his motion to move CSHB 13(FIN)am.                    
                                                                               
  COCHAIR SHARP announced  he would  next take testimony  from                 
  teleconference participants.                                                 
                                                                               
  JOE MACINKO,  a commercial fisherman from  Kodiak, testified                 
  via teleconference.   He  supported the  bill and  commented                 
  that safety training goes a long way.                                        
                                                                               
  JERRY DZUGAN, of AMSEA, Sitka,  testified via teleconference                 
  in support.  He discussed the AMSEA program.                                 
                                                                               
  JIM  HERBERT,   of  Alaska   Vocational  Technical   School,                 
  testified  via  teleconference  from Seward.    He  spoke in                 
  support of the bill.                                                         
                                                                               
                                                                               
  The following testimony was heard from  participants present                 
  in the committee room.                                                       
                                                                               
  DEAN PADDOCK, Bristol Bay Driftnetters Association, spoke in                 
  support.  He referred to an article in the May 1997 issue of                 
  National  Fisherman  regarding the  grassroots  movement for                 
  marine safety awareness that has  proven effective in saving                 
  lives.   He spoke in  support of AMSEA,  stated the need for                 
  marine safety programs and urged passage of the bill.                        
  SUE  JORGENSEN, 17th  United  States Coast  Guard  District,                 
  testified  in support of  the bill.   Marine safety training                 
  was absolutely necessary not only for those in coastal areas                 
  statewide, but also for inland boaters on lakes and rivers.                  
                                                                               
  MARK JOHNSON, Chief, Community Health and  Emergency Medical                 
  Services,  Department   of  Health   and  Social   Services,                 
  testified in support,  noting that research has  proven that                 
  lives have been saved through knowledge of marine safety.                    
                                                                               
  SENATOR PHILLIPS suggested moving the  bill out of committee                 
  with a forthcoming fiscal note.                                              
                                                                               
  In response to a question  from COCHAIR SHARP, BETTY MARTIN,                 
  Comptroller,  Treasury  Division,  Department   of  Revenue,                 
  responded that  the dedicated  fund was  constitutional, the                 
  interest currently goes  into the general fund, and  she saw                 
  no problem with the bill as written.                                         
                                                                               
  SENATOR PHILLIPS MOVED the bill from committee contingent on                 
  receipt  of  a new  fiscal  note.   Without  objection, CSHB
(FIN)am was  REPORTED OUT with a previous zero fiscal note                 
  from the Department  of Labor and a  forthcoming fiscal note                 
  from  the  Department  of  Community  and  Regional  Affairs                 
  (150.0).