Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 17
03/22/2011 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB131 | |
| Overview by the Alaska Moose Federation | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 131 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 131-COMMUNITY AND TRANSPORTATION ADV. BOARD
1:05:13 PM
CHAIR P. WILSON announced that the first only order of business
would be 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."
1:05:39 PM
KENDRA KLOSTER, Staff, Representative Cathy Munoz, Alaska State
Legislature, recapped HB 131 on behalf of the prime sponsor.
She explained that HB 131 would create a Community and
Transportation Advisory Board (CTAB), which was recommended by
the Governor's Coordinated Transportation Task Force (GCTTF).
The GCTTF has been doing an excellent job in addressing
community transportation needs across the state, but it decided
having a permanent board, the Community and Transportation
Advisory Board (CTAB) would be advantageous. She explained that
nearly seven million trips are provided by the communities
annually. The proposed CTAB member composition would be similar
to the GCTTF except for the addition of a representative from
the Denali Commission. She reiterated the additional CTAB
members. She explained the fiscal note, relating the Department
of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) indicated that
$90,000 in costs would be covered by federal receipts, $10,000
in state matching funds, and an additional $10,000 from the
Alaska Mental Health Trust general fund monies.
1:07:39 PM
PAT BRANSON, Executive Director, Senior Citizens of Kodiak;
Member; Alaska Commission on Aging (ACG); Member; Governor's
Coordinated Transportation Task Force(GCTTF), stated that the
Senior Citizens of Kodiak is the lead agency for the Kodiak
Coordinated Transportation System. She related that it provides
1,500 rides to seniors and Alaska Mental Health Trust
beneficiaries each month. The transit system provides a link to
senior services and routine trips for dental, medical or
shopping. Access to these activities helps keep senior citizens
active in the community. The added community transportation
system adds to the local economy and helps provide a balanced
community. She asked members to imagine returning to their home
communities and not have a car or the ability to travel to
places they wished to go. She said people cannot always count
on friends and relatives for rides. She indicated the goal of
these organizations is to help people retain a sense of
remaining in their own community, no matter what age, and living
independently for as long as possible. She maintained that this
goal is one the GCTTF wants for all Alaskans. She reported that
with respect to the ACG, of the 2,797 seniors who responded to
an ACG survey, 47 percent rated transportation of great
importance. Recent surveys in Kodiak also rated transportation
of even higher importance in Kodiak. She explained that one of
the positive results from participating in the GCTTF has been to
discuss and review funding and approaches with various agencies
to provide efficient transportation to communities.
1:09:57 PM
MS. BRANSON explained the importance of having a full scope of
connecting agencies that understand funding streams,
transportation needs, and availability. Many state agencies
fund transportation services but do not connect or understand
transportation funding. The Department of Transportation &
Public Facilities (DOT&PF) receives federal pass through funds
directed to transit systems for public and coordinated transit
systems. However, state funding does not support transit
systems, she said. The Department of Health and Social Services
(DHSS) also obtains federal pass through funding for senior
transportation. Other agencies, such as the Department of Labor
& Workforce Development (DLWD) and Vocational Rehabilitation, or
Medicaid provide transportation services, but the services are
not coordinated or streamlined to provide efficient
transportation for dollars spent. The GCTTF has held long-range
planning discussions statewide, including public input. The
public has clearly identified transportation as a key issue for
residents no matter where they live in the state or which mode
of transportation they use.
1:11:01 PM
MS. BRANSON highlighted the importance of HB 131 since it would
provide a permanent board to continue to improve agency
coordination, efficiencies, cost saving measures for the
delivery of transit services, and removal of barriers that
prevent Alaskans from traveling within their communities so they
can remain in Alaska.
1:11:31 PM
CHAIR P. WILSON, after first determining no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony on HB 131.
1:12:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG made a motion to adopt Amendment 1,
which read, as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Page 3, line 7, following "year"
Insert, ", or is otherwise unable to serve."
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG explained that proposed Amendment 1
would allow the majority of the board the right to petition the
governor to remove a board member if a member misses more than
two meetings in a calendar year or is not able to serve. This
would make it clear that the board is not limited to the ability
to petition for any reason other than missing meetings.
There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
1:13:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG made a motion to adopt Amendment 2,
labeled 27-LS0418\M.1, Kane, 3/15/11, which read, as follows:
Page 4, line 3, following "available":
Insert "(1)"
Page 4, line 6, following "funding":
Insert "; and
(2) from federal sources for the expenses
of the board and report that information to the
governor, the chairs of the senate and house finance
committees, and the chairs of the senate and house
transportation committees"
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG explained Amendment 2 would expand the
annual review to include examining the effective use of funding
from federal sources, plus it would further identify the
specific committees who would receive the report. He explained
that this would help identify an issue in which the federal
funds were pulled and the legislature was not aware of the
change.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON removed his objection. There being no
objection, Amendment 2 was adopted.
1:15:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to report HB 131, as amended, out
of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, the CSHB
131(TRA) was reported from the House Transportation Standing
Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 131 JEDC Resolution 03-11.pdf |
HTRA 3/22/2011 1:00:00 PM |
HB 131 |
| HB131 JEDC Letter.pdf |
HTRA 3/22/2011 1:00:00 PM |
HB 131 |
| JEDC Support Letter HB131.pdf |
HTRA 3/22/2011 1:00:00 PM |
HB 131 |
| HB 131 ACoA support ltr.pdf |
HTRA 3/22/2011 1:00:00 PM |
HB 131 |