Legislature(2011 - 2012)HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/14/2011 08:30 AM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB131 | |
| HB49 | |
| SB108 |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 131 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 108 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 58 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 84 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 49 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 131
"An Act establishing the Alaska Community and Public
Transportation Advisory Board and relating to a long-
range community and public transportation plan; and
providing for an effective date."
8:52:54 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CATHY MUNOZ, SPONSOR, explained the
legislation. House Bill 131 established a permanent task
force coordinating community based transportation. The task
force was first established by Governor Palin and continued
by Governor Parnell. The task force would become a
permanent advisory board. The task force would address
public and community transportation needs and serve people
with specialized travel requirements, such as seniors, low
income individuals, the transit dependent and persons with
disabilities. She listed the groups supporting the
legislation: the Alaska Mobility Coalition, the Governor's
Council on Disabilities and Special Education, Advisory
Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the Alaska Commission
on Aging, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Alaska
Brain Injury Network, and the Alaska Suicide Prevention
Council. She added that the board would consist of 13
members. The fiscal note totaled $110 thousand per fiscal
year comprised of: $90 thousand in federal funds, $10
thousand state match, and $10 thousand in general fund
money from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.
Co-Chair Stoltze OPENED public testimony.
DAVID LEVIE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA MOBILITY COALITION
(via teleconference), spoke in support of the HB 131. He
described his organization. The Alaska Mobility Coalition
(AMC) was a statewide private non-profit that represented
and advocated for community transportation needs. The
coalition felt that the legislation was a great step
towards coordinating transportation statewide. He pointed
out that transportation in Alaska was unique, and the task
force was a first step in state involvement.
8:56:56 AM
Co-Chair Stoltze remarked that the task force was funded by
an 80 percent to 20 percent match of federal and state
funds. He warned that federal funds were facing budget
cuts. He qualified that his support of the legislation was
based on the large federal match.
Mr. Levie recognized the concern. He was informed that
support for community and public transportation from the
federal government would continue.
Representative Gara acknowledged Mr. Levie's hard work on
providing transportation for people with disabilities and
other transportation challenges.
Representative Munoz noted that the legislation provided a
sunset date of December 31, 2016.
JEFF OTTESEN, DIRECTOR, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES, spoke in support of
HB 131. He defined coordinated transportation. He informed
the committee that approximately 60 federal programs funded
community transportation; the dollars flow through state
government to non-profits and local government to deliver
the services. The lack of coordination resulted in multiple
individualized service providers without integration to
share services. The result was a dysfunctional, unorganized
system. Coordinated transportation would integrate the
services at the local level to create efficient use of the
resources. The efficiencies would save federal and state
money and provide improved service for Alaskans.
9:00:37 AM
Mr. Ottesen furthered that it was difficult for the various
state and local entities and non-profits to coordinate and
"work across their natural boundaries". He believed that a
board was necessary to achieve coordinated community
transportation services. He explained that a coordinating
body would break down barriers and make community
transportation more practical. He exemplified a story from
task force public testimony. He related that an elderly
woman from rural Alaska traveled to Anchorage for medical
purposes. She was wheelchair bound and was unable to obtain
community transport. She had to travel to her destinations
by ambulance. Each ambulance trip cost over $1 thousand. He
surmised that coordinated transport provided a notable
opportunity for savings.
CAMILLE FERGUSON, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, SITKA
TRIBE OF ALASKA (via teleconference), testified in support
of the legislation. She revealed that she served on the
transportation taskforce and oversaw a coordinated public
transportation operation in Sitka. She related that the
taskforce was examining community need, available
resources, and identifying the barriers to coordination.
She discovered much unmet need. She believed the taskforce
was very important to the entire state. A permanent
taskforce could implement the work the taskforce
accomplished. She felt all special needs should be analyzed
and carefully considered.
9:04:58 AM
Co-Chair Stoltze CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Thomas MOVED to report CSHB 131(TRA) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CSHB 131(TRA)was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with attached new fiscal impact note by
the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
9:06:56 AM
AT EASE
9:08:08 AM
RECONVENED