04/04/2013 02:30 PM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 22(L&C)                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of                                                                     
     Marine Pilots; and providing for an effective date."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:22:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANNA  LATHAM, STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE  KURT OLSEN,  testified                                                                    
that the  legislation would extend  the termination  date of                                                                    
the  Board of  Marine Pilots  to June  30, 2014.  She shared                                                                    
that the Division of Legislative  Audit (LB&A) had concluded                                                                    
that the  board had been  running efficiently and  should be                                                                    
extended.    She  explained that  regulating  and  licensing                                                                    
qualified   marine  pilots   benefited  public   safety  and                                                                    
protected the marine environment.  She highlighted that LB&A                                                                    
had  recommended that  the marine  pilot coordinator  should                                                                    
improve  procedures over  the administration  of operational                                                                    
activities;    public   meeting    notification,   licensing                                                                    
documentation and oversight of  the pilot association's drug                                                                    
and  alcohol programs  were noted.  She said  that when  the                                                                    
audit was  conducted the Marine  Pilot Coordinator  had been                                                                    
in the position  for less than one-year, and  was unaware of                                                                    
the  operational  deficiencies  noted   by  the  audit.  She                                                                    
assured the  committee that the  coordinator was  working on                                                                    
developing  the  appropriate   documentation  to  ensure  an                                                                    
adequate oversight process. She  stated that the most recent                                                                    
version   of    the   legislation   was   the    result   of                                                                    
recommendations from LB&A.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:24:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Meyer observed  the fiscal  note  attached to  the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:25:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KRIS CURTIS,  DIVISION OF LEGISLATIVE AUDIT,  testified that                                                                    
the division  had recommended a  six-year extension  and the                                                                    
one recommendation of improving the operational activities.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:25:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Meyer   understood   that  LB&A   supported   the                                                                    
extension.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:25:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Fairclough queried the  power structure of the of                                                                    
the board.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Curtis  replied  that  the board  had  a  Marine  Pilot                                                                    
Coordinator  that served  a similar  purpose to  that of  an                                                                    
Executive Director.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:26:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Fairclough believed  that the  qualifications of                                                                    
the  people managing  various listened  boards needed  to be                                                                    
examined.   She pointed  out to  the committee  the personal                                                                    
services cost for the Marine  Pilot Coordinator was $110,000                                                                    
annually. She  wondered what the  board was doing  to ensure                                                                    
that  the coordinator  was compliant  in  all the  necessary                                                                    
qualifications for the position.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:26:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Curtis explained that the  personal services line on the                                                                    
fiscal note  reflected the salary  of the position,  as well                                                                    
as health insurance and retirement contributions.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:27:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  stated that  the board  was important  in his                                                                    
district. He testified in support of the legislation.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:27:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:29:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Kelly MOVED  to REPORT HB 22 out  of committee with                                                                    
individual  recommendations  and   the  accompanying  fiscal                                                                    
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:29:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CSHB  22 (L&C)  was REPORTED  out  of committee  with a  "do                                                                    
pass" recommendation and with  a previously published fiscal                                                                    
impact note: FN2(CED).                                                                                                          
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:31:04 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED