Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/13/2021 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB63 | |
| SB117 | |
| HB34 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 117 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 63 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 63-ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY OPERATIONS BOARD
1:53:59 PM
CHAIR MYERS announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
63(STA), "An Act relating to the duties of the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities; renaming the Alaska Marine
Transportation Advisory Board the Alaska Marine Highway
Operations Board; relating to the membership and duties of the
Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board; and relating to the
comprehensive, intermodal, long-range transportation plan for
the state."
1:54:31 PM
KERRY CROCKER, Staff, Representative Louise Stutes, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided the sponsor statement and
sectional analysis on behalf of the sponsor of HB 63. He
paraphrased the sponsor statement, which read:
[Original punctuation provided.]
This bill would establish a nine-member Alaska Marine
Highway (AMHS) Operation's Board, with members having
the skills and experience of a ferry commission or a
marine business board. The board would have the
ability to assess and suggest marine business
practices that enhance revenue and reduce costs.
Members of the board would be chosen based on
experience in personnel management, ship maintenance,
construction and repair, plans and activities, and
they would also have insight on fleet strategy,
reliability and other service objectives.
A continuing challenge for AMHS has been frequent
change in policy direction, coupled with insufficient
appreciation of long-term implications of such
changes. Lack of clarity and long-term planning
objectives such as fleet design, vessel deployment
strategy, and marine business expertise have also been
a hindrance.
A Marine Advisory Board was established under Alaska
Statute (AS) 19.65.110, and though formed with capable
individuals, it is not structured to effectively
direct AMHS with its large marine business operations,
planning, or solutions for issues it currently faces.
Recent agendas suggest the Marine Advisory Board has
kept community stakeholders informed of AMHS
activities and budges and provided them with general
feedback about AMHS service. Currently the board is
comprised of members from ferry service areas, which
brings public transparency and community engagement,
however the system cannot survive with community
feedback alone. The members must additionally weigh
business practices and have expertise in strategic
planning.
1:56:37 PM
MR. CROCKER continued:
The AMHS Marine Operations Board would provide
professional advice focused on business and financial
practices of the ferry system, including fleet
planning, maintenance, pricing, service models, and
capital asset investment. The board would be
comparable to a board of directors providing business
leadership and long-term strategic planning for a
corporation.
1:57:11 PM
MR. CROCKER read the sectional analysis for HB 63.
Section 1: Changes 19.05.030 by adding two duties to
the Department of Transportation. 19.05.030 (8) which
requires the Department to review and respond to
recommendations by the Marine Operations Board and (9)
to report whether or not the Alaska Marine Highway is
meeting performance goals.
Section 2: Requires the Board to create comprehensive
long term and short-term plans and provides them the
framework detailing what should be included in the
plans. Requires the Department to submit both the
short-term and long-term plans, revisions, and updates
to the legislature and the governor and make the plans
available to the public.
1:57:58 PM
MR. CROCKER continued:
Section 3: Changes the name of the board from "Marine
Transportation Advisory Board" (MTAB) to "Alaska
Marine Highway Operations Board".
Section 4: Repeals AS 19.65.120(a) and is reenacted to
do the following: (a) Creates a nine-member board
instead of twelve, which includes the deputy
commissioner of transportation and public facilities
and requires each member to be an Alaska resident. (1)
Requires one member to be a recognized union employee
from the Alaska Marine Highway, to be appointed by the
governor. Page | 2 (2) Requires one member from an
Alaska native organization or tribe, appointed by the
governor (3) Requires six members of the public: (A)
That have experience in marine business and
procurement practices, marine personnel management,
commercial service options, ship maintenance,
construction, and repair, fleet strategy, reliability,
and regulatory compliance, or risk management (B) Two
of which are appointed by the governor, two by the
speaker of the house and two by the president of the
senate.
1:59:20 PM
Section 5: Creates staggered six-year terms on the
board instead of three-year terms, with exception of
the deputy commissioner. If a vacancy arises, it
allows for a new appointment to be made to serve out
the remaining term of the vacant seat.
Section 6: Exempts the deputy commissioner from being
removed from the board.
Section 7: Requires the board to provide orientation
about the Alaska Marine Highway System to the newly
appointed members. Also allows for regional
development associations to make recommendations for
appointments to the board.
2:00:06 PM
MR. CROCKER continued:
Section 8: Requires the Department to provide
information at the request of the board in a timely
manner.
Section 9: The board will provide recommendations to
the commissioner of the department. (f) creates a
mechanism for reporting if the recommendations are not
followed. (g) allows the board to create a taskforce
consisting of non-board members to investigate matters
relevant. (h) Requires the board to annually make
recommendations regarding preparation of the "STIP" to
the department.
Section 10: Changes the name of the board from "Marine
Transportation Advisory Board" (MTAB) to "Alaska
Marine Highway Operations Board".
Section 11 AS 44.0Section 11: Amends 44.42.050(a) to
require the commissioner to incorporate the
comprehensive long-term plan recommended by the board
into the long-range plan required under the statute.
2:01:19 PM
Section 12: Repeals 19.65.120(B)
Section 13: Once this bill is enacted, this section
directs the terms of members of the current Marine
Transportation Advisory Board to expire on the
effective date and sets new staggered terms for the
members of the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board.
2:01:53 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked whether the intention was for the board to
only consider vessels or if it would also include shoreside
activities, such as strategy, reliability and reservations.
MR. CROCKER responded that the sponsor's intent was that all
aspects of AMHS would be covered, including terminals and
marketing.
2:03:06 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE recalled that the committee previously
considered and amended [SB 103] with respect to the board
composition for an Alaska Native from a coastal community that
is served by the AMHS. However, that language does not seem to
be part of this bill. The committee agreed it was important that
the Alaska Native participant be from a coastal community that
the AMHA serves.
MR. CROCKER answered that was covered in HB 63 [in AS
19.65.120(a)(2)], which read "one representative of an Alaska
Native organization or tribe who is currently from a community
served by the Alaska marine highway system, appointed by the
governor;".
2:04:13 PM
SENATOR KIEHL referred to another change the committee made to
[SB 103] was to require the Alaska Marine Highway Operations
Board to propose an operating and capital budget ahead of the
governor's usual budget schedule. He asked whether the sponsor
considered this.
MR. CROCKER answered that the sponsor believed this would
inherently happen when developing the short and long-term plans.
The sponsor did not think it was possible to craft the plans
without considering a budget.
2:05:31 PM
CHAIR MYERS opened public testimony on HB 63.
2:05:49 PM
SHANNON ADAMSON, Alaska Regional Representative, International
Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots, Juneau, Alaska, said
she serves on the current Marine Transportation Advisory Board
(MTAB). She spoke in support of HB 63 because it created a more
diverse board membership than the current MTAB. MM&P believes
this will help depoliticize the board and isolate AMHS from some
political infighting, she said. HB 63 also includes language to
require that DOTPF incorporate the board's short and long-term
plans, which would help the board with existing management and
create better solutions. As a current MTAB member, she found
that aspect invaluable because DOTPF has not adopted MTAB's
recommendations. She offered her view that increasing funding to
AMHS would not produce significant positive changes in service
or sustainability unless AMHS's management structure were to
change. Every report related to AMHS has recommended changes to
its management structure. This bill starts that process and MM&P
looks forward to that change.
2:07:36 PM
SENATOR SHOWER asked whether MM&P would support moving AMHS out
of DOTPF.
MS. ADAMSON responded that MM&P would support any positive
change to AMHS's current structure. The current system does not
work, so that any change would be positive.
2:08:32 PM
BEN GOLDRICH, representative, Marine Engineers Beneficial
Association (MEBA), Juneau, Alaska, said MEBA represents the
engineers on board AMHS vessels and shoreside. He said he was
fully supportive of Ms. Adamson's comments. Although he does not
work on the vessels, he has worked closely with AMHS for 18
years. He said Governor Dunleavy appointed him to serve on
AMHS's Reshaping Work Group. One recommendation of the group was
to change AMHS's management structure, which MEBA views as
necessary.
2:09:42 PM
SENATOR SHOWER asked if he would support moving AMHS being out
of DOTPF.
MR. GOLDRICH answered that MEBA would support such a change.
2:10:12 PM
CHAIR MYERS, after first determining no one wished to testify,
closed public testimony on HB 63.
[HB 63 was held in committee.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB34 Sponsor Statement 2.25.2021.pdf |
STRA 5/13/2021 1:30:00 PM |
HB 34 |
| HB34 Bridge Images 2.7.2020.pdf |
STRA 5/13/2021 1:30:00 PM |
HB 34 |
| HB34 Additional Info - Vietnam Helicopter Memorial - Time Magazine 2.7.2020.pdf |
STRA 5/13/2021 1:30:00 PM |
HB 34 |
| HB34 Additional Info - VHPA Honored 2.7.2020.pdf |
STRA 5/13/2021 1:30:00 PM |
HB 34 |
| HB34 Additional Info - Helicopters in Vietnam 2.7.2020.pdf |
STRA 5/13/2021 1:30:00 PM |
HB 34 |
| HB34 Additional Info - Air & Space Magazine Article 2.7.2020.pdf |
STRA 5/13/2021 1:30:00 PM |
HB 34 |
| HB34 Additional Info - VHPA Website 2.7.2020.pdf |
STRA 5/13/2021 1:30:00 PM |
HB 34 |
| SB 117 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
STRA 5/13/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 117 |
| SB 117 Sectional Analysis 3.31.2021.pdf |
STRA 5/13/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 117 |
| CMGC Award Process - Flow Chart STEP 2.pdf |
STRA 5/13/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 117 |
| CMGC Award Process - Flow Chart STEP 1.pdf |
STRA 5/13/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 117 |