Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/27/2007 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
SB85 | |
HB108 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | SB 85 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | HB 108 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED |
9:09:36 AM CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 108(L&C) "An Act extending the termination date for the Board of Marine Pilots; and providing for an effective date." This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance Committee. Co-Chair Stedman announced his intent to report this bill from Committee at this hearing unless concerns were raised to warrant additional consideration. REPRESENTATIVE KURT OLSON, Chair, House Labor and Commerce Committee, sponsor of this legislation, testified that this bill would extend the term of the Board of Marine Pilots to June 30, 2013. 9:10:44 AM ELEANOR WOLFE, Staff to Representative Kurt Olson, informed of those present to respond to questions. 9:11:14 AM RICK URION, Director, Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, encouraged passage of this bill. The Board had completed its audit process. Recommendations made in the audit report regarding corrections to drug testing procedures had been implemented. 9:11:57 AM Senator Dyson noticed the audit recommended that the Legislature should consider "clarifying statutes" pertaining to drug testing. He asked what measures had been taken to accomplish this. 9:12:28 AM Mr. Urion explained that questions were raised about whether "enough people were being tested". Corrections had been made to ensure that the "appropriate number of people" would be tested. Senator Dyson understood the recommendation to extend the mandatory drug testing to include trainees and apprentices and asked if statutory changes had been considered. 9:13:17 AM Mr. Urion responded that these members had been added "in the mix" to receive random drug testing. He was unsure whether statutory changes would be necessary. 9:13:27 AM Senator Dyson next asked about the audit recommendation concerning investigative functions, which were not occurring during long absences of investigative personnel. Some accidents were not investigated until six months after occurring. 9:13:48 AM Mr. Urion knew of one such incident. A change in staffing was deemed to be the cause. A vacancy occurred and when filled, the new investigator was unaware that the case had existed. No harm resulted from this delay. 9:14:24 AM Senator Dyson asked if such vacancy occurred in the future if action was taken to ensure that the duties would be delegated to another position. Mr. Urion assured that the current chief investigator was better apprised of the cases. 9:14:54 AM Senator Olson assumed that the drug tests were administered to a "random consortium". Mr. Urion affirmed. 9:15:04 AM Senator Olson asked how often a member was tested and whether the tests were of urine or blood. Mr. Urion was unsure of the details of the testing procedures. 9:15:18 AM Senator Olson asked if this applies to all marine pilots including those employed by the Alaska Marine Highway System. Mr. Urion replied marine pilots employed by the State were not included. This Board governs those marine pilots affiliated with private enterprise. 9:15:32 AM Senator Olson asked the number of violations and the disciplinary actions taken in the past year. 9:15:44 AM Mr. Urion told of one case that had been ongoing. Otherwise he estimated the number of cases to be three. 9:16:20 AM Co-Chair Stedman commented that the fiscal note appeared in order. 9:16:28 AM Co-Chair Hoffman offered a motion to report the bill, 24- LS0445\C, from Committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal note. There was no objection and CS HB 108(L&C) was REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE, with fiscal note #2 from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. 9:16:59 AM
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