04/19/2009 11:00 AM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 151(FIN)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act amending  the termination date of  the statewide                                                                   
     boating safety  and education program; providing  for an                                                                   
     effective date  by amending the effective  date of secs.                                                                   
     3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18,  20, 23, 26, and 27, ch. 28,                                                                   
     SLA  2000, as amended;  and providing  for an  effective                                                                   
     date."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     CS HB 151(FIN) was REPORTED  out of Committee with a "do                                                                   
     pass" recommendation and  with attached fiscal note 2 by                                                                   
     the Department of Natural Resources.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
11:18:11 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MARK  NEUMAN, SPONSOR spoke in  support of the                                                                   
legislation,  which   would  continue  the  program   to  put                                                                   
lifejackets  at boat  launches,  and teach  children to  swim                                                                   
through school programs.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
JAMES  ELLIS, STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE  MARK NEUMAN,  explained                                                                   
that the legislation  would extend the Alaska  Boating Safety                                                                   
program. Under  the legislation's  current form,  the program                                                                   
would be  extended for  one year. The  program began  in 2000                                                                   
and is  funded through  a mix of  federal grants  and license                                                                   
receipts. The program will terminate  before the next session                                                                   
due to  a conflict with the  federal fiscal year  grant cycle                                                                   
if  the legislation  is not  passed. The  program has  taught                                                                   
boating  safety  to  over 63,000  children  and  over  14,000                                                                   
adults and has 104 instructors  across the state. Training is                                                                   
also provided  to state  troopers and  other law  enforcement                                                                   
officers. The program has distributed  over 20,000 kids don't                                                                   
float  life  vests at  514  stations  in 153  communities  in                                                                   
partnerships  with  local organizations.  He  concluded  that                                                                   
there has  been a 20 percent  decrease in boating  fatalities                                                                   
and  increased compliance  with basic  boating standards  and                                                                   
rules.   Seventeen children have  been rescued  while wearing                                                                   
these life vests.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins  noted that the  provision had been  in place                                                                   
for eight  years and commented  on the lives  saved. Co-Chair                                                                   
Stedman commented  on the  importance of protecting  children                                                                   
in coastal communities.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  observed  that  the  legislation  has  one                                                                   
attached fiscal  note for  $364.5 thousand  for FY 10  and FY                                                                   
11.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
11:22:11 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JEFF  JOHNSON,   MANAGER,  ALASKA   BOATING  SAFETY   PROGRAM                                                                   
(testified via teleconference) offered to answer questions.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
JAMES  KING,  DIRECTOR,  DIVISION  OF  PARKS  AND  RECREATION                                                                   
testified via  teleconference in support of  the legislation.                                                                   
He  pointed out  that  the fiscal  note  would  be funded  by                                                                   
boater registration  fees. The rest  of the program  would be                                                                   
funded through a  federal grant. He described  the success of                                                                   
the program  and emphasized the  decline in deaths  resulting                                                                   
from boating.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
11:24:27 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  MOVED to  report  CS  HB 151(FIN)  out  of                                                                   
Committee   with    individual   recommendations    and   the                                                                   
accompanying fiscal  note. There  being NO OBJECTION,  it was                                                                   
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CS  HB 151(FIN)  was REPORTED  out  of Committee  with a  "do                                                                   
pass" recommendation  and with attached fiscal note  2 by the                                                                   
Department of Natural Resources.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
11:24:54 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
^PRESENTATION: STAMPEDE STATE RECREATION AREA                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Thomas, Sponsor,  presented  an  overview, "SB  108-                                                                   
Stampede State Recreation Area," (copy on file).                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Thomas   noted  that  Stampeded  Road   corridor  is                                                                   
northwest of Healy  and flanked on three sides  by the Denali                                                                   
National  Park and  is a  traditional place  for Alaskans  to                                                                   
pursue recreational activities:                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
   · Hunting and trapping                                                                                                       
   · Dog mushing                                                                                                                
   · All-terrain vehicles                                                                                                       
   · Watercraft use                                                                                                             
   · Snowmachining                                                                                                              
   · Horseback riding                                                                                                           
   · Dog sledding                                                                                                               
   · Camping                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Thomas explained that  legislation would preserve the                                                                   
traditional  use  of  the  area   by  creating  the  Stampede                                                                   
Recreation Area. Several years  ago former Governor Murkowski                                                                   
proposed  a  road  through the  area,  which  was  vehemently                                                                   
opposed  by  residents  and recreational  users.  The  Denali                                                                   
Borough  Assembly designated  the  corridor  as the  Stampede                                                                   
State  Recreational  area  with  a strong  emphasis  on  self                                                                   
determination by the residents  and users of the area for its                                                                   
protection.  The  current  use  includes  off  road  and  all                                                                   
terrain  vehicle  use,  hunting and  trapping,  dog  mushing,                                                                   
watercraft use, hiking, bicycling,  snow machining, horseback                                                                   
riding,  cross   country  skiing,   dog  sledding,   camping,                                                                   
wildlife viewing and photography.  All these activities would                                                                   
be  protected and  preserved.  Recreational  users come  from                                                                   
Fairbanks,  Denali Borough,  Anchorage,  and Matsu.  Tourists                                                                   
and adventurers  travel to  the area  from across the  globe.                                                                   
The  area  supports  several   tourism  businesses  including                                                                   
several lodges,  and road touring companies.  The legislation                                                                   
has wide support.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
11:29:25 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Thomas explained  that  the area  contains a  RS2477                                                                   
trail,  which  existed  before statehood  and  is  considered                                                                   
public domain.  The trail provides  access to Denali  Park by                                                                   
horseback or snow machines (in the winter).                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  noted the issue  would be addressed  in the                                                                   
future.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
11:32:43 AM    RECESSED                                                                                                       
3:21:37 PM     RECONVENED