Legislature(1999 - 2000)
02/07/2000 01:50 PM House FIN
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE BILL NO. 108
An Act relating to the use, operation, and regulation
of boats; establishing a uniform state waterway marking
system; and providing for an effective date.
MIKE TIBBLES, STAFF, REPRSENTATIVE GENE THERRIUALT, spoke to
Amendment #1, 1-LS0445\U.1, Ford, 2/7/00. [Copy on File].
The amendment would insert "by a person who has not
established residency as described under AS 01.10.055". He
noted that original language did not address the difference
between residents and non-residents and would have exempted
all paddleboats. The amendment adds the language, that if
you are a non resident, you would have 90 days before you
would be required to register your boat, however, if you are
a resident, you would be required to register your paddle
boat regardless of the amount of time intended to use the
boat.
Vice Chair Bunde MOVED to adopt Amendment #1. There being
NO OBJECTION, Amendment #1 was adopted.
Mr. Tibbles spoke to Amendment #2, 1-LS0445\U.3, Ford,
2/7/00. [Copy on File]. He explained in the current draft,
the director of Legislative Finance would be responsible to
notify the reviser of the statute. If no federal receipts
were received by the State, the language of the amendment
would speak to that. Amendment #2 would remove the director
of the Legislative Finance Division and would specify the
Chair of Legislative Council. Additionally, there would be
language added which would speak to the federal funds
received during the year. Co-Chair Therriault clarified
that this should be action approved by the majority of the
Legislative Council.
MELINDA HOFSTAD, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BILL HUDSON,
testified that Representative Hudson did support Amendment
Vice Chair Bunde MOVED to adopt Amendment #2. There being
NO OBJECTION, it was adopted.
Co-Chair Therriault questioned the fiscal note.
Ms. Hofstad spoke to the Department of Administration's
fiscal note. She commented on the potential to bring in
federal dollars somewhere between $400,000 and $600,000
dollars per year to operate the boating safety program and
the registration of the vessels. Ms. Hofstad reiterated,
following the initial set-up costs, the State could expect
to receive these funds to be used for the boating safety
program. She clarified that it was expected that the funds
would be used for that program, however, added that would be
decided by future legislatures.
Co-Chair Therriault asked if the amount should be indicated.
Ms. Hofstad replied that it should represent total operating
costs. She added that the program would be a potential
moneymaker for the State and would be revenue positive after
the first year.
In response to queries by Co-Chair Therriault, Ms. Hofstad
stated that she was referring to the total operating costs.
She pointed out that changes in revenue are indicated on the
note. Ms. Hofstad repeated that the intent of the proposed
legislation was to get people into the safety aspect of the
program.
Co-Chair Mulder referenced the non-motorized boats such as
canoes, 10' and over, and asked if they were currently
required to be registered with the Coast Guard. Ms. Hofstad
noted that they are not. She added that one reason they
were included in the registration section is that a large
percentage of the deaths which occur in recreational
boating, happen in non-motorized vessels. She stated it is
important that those boat owners are contributing and
registered in the program in order that lives can be saved.
Co-Chair Mulder interjected if these people will be taxed so
that "they can be saved". Ms. Hofstad replied that there
are two different programs which address the safety aspects.
Additionally, there are two types of vessel groups, the
motorized and the non-motorized. The intent is to include
all boat users.
Co-Chair Mulder emphasized that the pool of people being
required to pay would be expanded through the proposed
legislation. He pointed out that currently there are 33,300
non-powered boat registrations processed each year at $10
dollars. He believed his constituents would not appreciate
the legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE BILL HUDSON advised that the majority of
accidents in the State of Alaska take place in small
vessels. When providing search and rescue, it is difficult
to determine who owns these boats. He pointed out that many
times boats are found drifting. Through the proposed
legislation, the boat owner would be required to have on
their boat, a small decal with large numbers so that they
could be quickly recognized. He emphasized that this is not
a matter of the money to be generated, but rather an
opportunity to help identify in the search and rescue
situations. He understood the concerns voiced by Co-Chair
Mulder. Representative Hudson clarified that the cost would
be $10 dollars for three years. He reiterated that this
legislation would help to save lives.
Co-Chair Mulder noted that he had based his statement upon
information included in the fiscal note. Representative
Hudson clarified that the note stipulates only one third of
the boats would register each year. Ms. Hofstad pointed out
that Representative Hudson had worked with the two largest
non-powered boat groups and that both of those groups had
endorsed the legislation. They believe these safety
benefits will help boat users.
Co-Chair Mulder understood why the large groups would
endorse the bill but he did not believe that group
represented the general rank of the casual user. He stated
that those constituents will resist the proposed
legislation. He suggested that a good safety educational
program could be provided without including that group under
the umbrella of the bill. He recommended using the fiscal
note to buy life jackets and then place them on the ends of
each dock. He advised that would save more money than the
proposed education program.
Representative Grussendorf reminded members of previous
testimony and the support voiced by specific groups. He did
agree that the "paddle boat aspect" would be a concern for
the individual users.
Co-Chair Therriault referenced the fiscal note provided by
the Department of Administration, Page 3, which would
require three-year registration. He reiterated that
language was not clear regarding the length of time for the
registration renewals. He asked the total number of
paddleboats in use throughout the State. Ms. Hofstad
clarified that there are 90,000 paddleboats in the State,
and noted that information had been specified in the bill.
Co-Chair Therriault explained that the Department would
address this work in much the same manner as it does with
the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). He advised that if
the municipalities wanted access to the raw data regarding
the information, they would then be responsible to refine it
at their at their own expense.
Representative Austerman MOVED to report CS HB 108 (FIN) out
of Committee with individual recommendations and with the
accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CS HB 108 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with a fiscal note by the
Department of Administration and zero notes by the
Department of Public Safety and the Department of Natural
Resources.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|