Legislature(2021 - 2022)ADAMS 519
05/17/2022 09:00 AM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB5 | |
| HB31 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 31 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 31
"An Act relating to daylight saving time; and
providing for an effective date."
9:56:34 AM
Acting-Chair Josephson noted that it was the second hearing
for HB 31.
9:56:47 AM
AT EASE
9:57:09 AM
RECONVENED
Acting-Chair Josephson asked the members if they had
questions.
Representative Carpenter asked to briefly explain why he
chose Daylight Savings Time (DST) over Standard Time.
Vice-Chair Ortiz replied that there had been discussions
both nationwide and in Alaska regarding ending changing
clocks in the spring and fall. He relayed that his
constituents preferred longer daylight time in the summer
evenings mostly for economic reasons such as tourism and
fishing. Currently, Alaska had long daylight hours. He
offered the bill in support of his constituents.
Representative Carpenter asked if there was any analysis
whether children would benefit from the change or if
families preferred morning daylight. He wondered whether
there was a dilemma about whether the time change would
affect children and families negatively. Vice-Chair Ortiz
observed that children were already going to school in the
dark in his district. If HB 31 passed, children would go
home with daylight hours remaining. He was unaware of any
studies about being able to go to school in the light
versus the dark.
10:02:10 AM
Representative Rasmussen asked when the tourism business
started in Southeast Alaska. Vice-Chair Ortiz answered that
it began in early May. Representative Rasmussen observed
that given how much daylight was experienced by May, she
was unsure if an additional hour was necessary for
extending tourist activities. Vice-Chair Ortiz remarked
that extending daylight into the summer impacted tourism
later in the season. He noted that the tourism season was
solid until around the 24th of September and businesses
were impacted in their ability to do flight seeing and
ocean activities; they were curtailed due to lack of
daylight. He noted that typically cruise ships stayed in
Ketchikan until 10:00 P.M.
10:05:04 AM
Acting-Chair Josephson asked if the proposal meant Alaska
would still remain four hours from New York. Vice-Chair
Ortiz answered that part of the year the state would have a
three hour difference and part of the year it would be at a
four hour difference. Acting-Chair Josephson asked if the
state would be on Seattle time. Vice-Chair Ortiz answered
in the affirmative but noted that the bill would be enacted
when several West Coast states adopted permanent DST that
also had to be approved by the federal government.
10:06:07 AM
Acting Chair Josephson opened public testimony.
JAY PEA, PRESIDENT, SAVE STANDARD TIME, SAN FRANCISCO (via
teleconference), opposed the bill for several reasons. He
pointed out that in federal law, the Uniform Time Act,
Title 15 forbade permanent Daylight Savings Time, and it
could not be implemented without federal approval.
Permanent Standard Time was pre-approved by the federal
government. He underlined that Arizona, Hawaii, and all 5
US territories avoided the biannual time change by staying
on permanent Standard Time. He spoke to the health issues.
He maintained that many studies showed that permanent
daylight time impacted health and stated that some
countries tried it to ill effects. He voiced that permanent
daylight time was like "forcing ourselves to wake earlier
in the dark." He discussed current sunrises and sunsets in
Anchorage and did not think the extra evening daylight was
necessary. He did not support the legislation.
10:09:11 AM
DR. ANDREW BINDER, SLEEP SPECIALIST, CALIFORNIA (via
teleconference), opposed the legislation. He acknowledged
that it was universally agreed that many people loathed the
biannual time change. He stated that it created sleep
disorders. He listed some reasons his patients hated
changing clocks. He declared that permanent Daylight
Savings Time was a crime against human physiology. People
suffering with insomnia and mood disorders were exacerbated
by waking in the dark and needed to sleep more on weekends.
The bodys internal clock was set by sunlight. He believed
that it was dangerous for adolescents who were prone to
circadian misalignment. He opined that Arizona and Hawaii
lacked problems with tourism. He doubted there was a sleep
specialist who would defend permanent DST. He supported
permanent Standard Time.
Acting Chair Josephson CLOSED public testimony.
Representative Rasmussen commented that the bill would move
daylight to 11:00 A.M. in Anchorage in the winter. She did
not want her kindergarten aged son to have morning recess
in the dark at 10:45 A.M. She did not support the concept.
HB 31 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Acting Chair Josephson notified members amendments for both
bills heard during the meeting were due as soon as
possible. He recessed the meeting [the meeting never
reconvened].
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 5 Public Testimony Rec'd by 051722.pdf |
HFIN 5/17/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 5 |